“MCC for Football use only”

“The Prime Minister, Hon. Dean Barrow announced on Wave Radio’s “Fus thing da Mawnin’ that two weeks ago Cabinet made a decision that the MCC grounds will be used exclusively for football and sporting activities. PM Barrow stated that cultural fairs and other events that would have been held on the MCC grounds will no longer be entertained.

“The decision by Cabinet was taken by public complaints by members of the public including the Football Federation of Belize following an anniversary concert held on the MCC by BTL on December 14th. Following the event pictures were circulated of damages done to the field causing concern as to whether or not the field should be used for public gatherings. Now the Cabinet has made a decision and the MCC will no longer be used for public events except they are sporting ones.”

Taken from THE GUARDIAN, Sunday, January 27, 2013

BELIZE CITY, Thurs. Jan. 24, 2013

Is this apparent gesture from Government some sort of gift to the football community for the national team’s success at the Copa Centroamericana?

We find it strange that the PM should wait until the spotlight is on the national team’s great victory in Costa Rica, to reveal Cabinet’s decision taken two weeks earlier.

There has reportedly also been talk of “identifying funds” for “improvements” to the MCC, and that sounds good; but it is still just that, talk.

Besides, the situation is urgent. The MCC field is presently a disaster; it hasn’t been repaired after the huge damage suffered by the most recent concert use. And the surrounding infrastructure is either non-existent or in deplorable condition.

Perhaps Government should re-open negotiations with the FFB towards finding a way to access the already identified FIFA project funds to really turn the MCC into a top quality stadium. Now, that would be something!