West Indies Cricket Fans Forum
Saint Lucia National Cricket Association complains of exorbitant fees to use Darren Sammy stadium
Bryan Calixte, the Operations Manager of the he Saint Lucia National Cricket Association, has come out swinging against the Government of Saint Lucia. He said today via a press release that the Government agency responsible for the use of the island's principal cricket facility is making it nearly impossible to use that facility for local matches.
Just about two years ago, if not fewer, then Minister of Sports, Shawn Edward, pledged that what was then the Beausejour Cricket Ground and is now the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground, would be made available to local cricketers. Absurdly, that is not the norm. Whereas national cricket teams use the stadium for training, almost no domestic matches have been played there.
With the George Odlum Stadium being used partly as a hospital, and unable to hold substantial numbers of spectators, the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground is the nation's premier sporting venue. Aside from hosting regional and international cricket, the DSCG is home to football, including the Veterans tournament, which gets underway this weekend. It is also the preferred location for schools track and field.
But, with the grand finale of the national cricket competition set for this weekend, and fees ranging from $8,000.00 and up, Saint Lucia's national Cricket Ground, named after the island's most accomplished cricketer, are unlikely to see any cricket anytime soon.
Here is Mr. Calixte's release in its entirety...
The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground may just be up for a name change as local cricket authorities continue to experience difficulty in the usage of the facility.
The latest episode comes as the SLNCA has had to change the venue for their Division One two day cricket final from Daren Sammy Cricket Ground to Mindoo Phillip Park.
This decision had to be made following a response yesterday from Sports Saint Lucia Inc to an October 17th request from the SLNCA for use of the facility. Sports Saint Lucia Inc which has the responsibility for the Daren Sammy Cricket Ground provided the SLNCA with two payment options for usage of the facility:
Option 1 total cost Eight Thousand, Two Hundred and Twenty Five Dollars(EC$8,22
As a result of these astronomical fees the final cared for this weekend between Central Castries and South Castries will now be played at the Mindoo Phillip Park. The Association would be hoping for good weather and that the grass at the Park would be attended too so as to bring closure to the 2017 cricket season.
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