The Opposition People’s National Party said last evening that it was again registering its disappointment with what it called the unequal and haphazard approach to the reopening of the sporting sector.

In a statement, the Opposition accused the Government of continuing to ignore the pleas of itself and other
stakeholders while insisting on “making decisions that do not serve the best interest of the industry”.

From as far back as October 2021, and again in January 2022, the Opposition noted that it had warned the Government against the “ill-advised position” of continuing to prohibit vaccinated spectators from attending sporting events.

“While the announcement that 10,000 vaccinated spectators will be allowed to attend the upcoming Gibson Relays is a welcomed decision, it is a slap in the face to players, spectators and all members of the football fraternity, who were banned from attending the World Cup Qualifiers just days ago,” said Senator Gabriela Morris, Opposition spokesperson on youth and sports.

“We raised concerns in January, prior to the qualifying matches, and have been calling for equitable treatment across the industry. Data coming from the USA – Jamaica match in 2021, confirms that once proper facilities and protocols are in place, spectators can safely attend sporting events. Other countries have found ways to safely stage sporting events, and the Jamaican government must dig deeper to institute appropriate measures that will ensure the survival and viability of the industry.”

The concerns mirror complaints from football lovers and stakeholders, including Reggae Boy and English Premier League footballer Michail Antonio, who recently blasted the Government for failing to allow individuals to come in and support the national football team when it still had a slight opportunity to qualify for the World Cup Finals later this year.

Desmond McKenzie, minister of local government and rural development, in a recent radio interview, rebuked individuals who accused the Government of sabotaging the Reggae Boyz when it did not allow spectators for the match against Costa Rica at the National Stadium on February 2. The 1-0 loss that night meant Jamaica had not statistical chance of moving on to Qatar in November.

McKenzie stressed that the Government’s decision on allowing spectators was based on the circumstances on the ground at the time. At the same time, he suggested during the radio interview that the presence of spectators, or lack therefore, would not have made a difference to the team’s qualification chances as it had failed to make it back to the World Cup since France 1998, even though spectators were always out in their numbers.

Yesterday, the Opposition said it was entreating the Government to consult empirical data when making decisions
that affect the lives and livelihoods of the country’s athletes and those who earn from the sector.

“While the Opposition agrees that proper protocols are needed to respond to the existing challenges of COVID-19, the Government must be fair and balanced in its decision making and place greater emphasis on supporting all our athletes as we learn to live with COVID-19,” the statement read.

“The Opposition is again imploring the Government to establish a committee, comprised of key stakeholders within the sporting industry, that should be consulted on major decisions pertaining to the sector.”