The Ministry of Sports has announced plans to impose a ban on cultural shows at the national cricket stadium at Queen's Park, St. George's.

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Sports,
Veda Bruno-Victor, there will be no more shows at the venue following Saturday night's reggae concert to be put on by local entertainment outfit, Q-West.

Bruno-Victor told reporters at a press briefing last Wednesday that the Ministry was forced to act following concerns expressed in some quarters about the use of the cricket stadium to host reggae shows.

Questions were asked of the senior civil servant about the use of the facility to host cultural events in light of Grenada's preparation to host a number of upcoming cricket matches. The island is also looking to attract matches in the 2007 Cricket World Cup to be played in the West Indies.

" I must ... say that this will be the last such event to take place at the Stadium. In fact the entire cricket outfield will have to be relayed in time for the World Cup Cricket in 2007", said Bruno-Victor. Several regional and international cricket commentators who visited Grenada in recent times heaped criticisms at local authorities and the governing body of the stadium for allowing the facility to be used for activities other than cricket.

One of GrenadaÔs leading sports journalist Rae Roberts, in his weekly column published in another local newspaper called for the immediate sacking of the entire Board of the Directors of the stadium.

Roberts contended that they have no vision and sports is doomed under their leadership. He noted that the outfield at the cricket stadium received a poor grading (rating) last year when the West Indies team played Australia in Grenada.

He said that the cricketers on both teams along with international commentators, pointed out several rough and dangerous areas on the field. According to Roberts, since that game, there has been a number of carnival shows held at the facility in August and this did not help the situation.

The top local journalist said that the outfield at the stadium can suffer further deterioration should there be heavy rainfall during the cultural shows given the magnitude of people likely to attend the event.

"Make no mistake about it; the quality of our facilities will determine the games that are awarded to Grenada. The Stadium Authority's role is most pivotal. In fact the stadium holds the key", he added. Saturday night's at the stadium will feature two of Jamaica's top reggae recording artists Junior Kelly and Miguel Collins (Sizzla).