A view of the George Headley Stand at Sabina Park, taken in 2007. - File

Medical officer wants more recognition for role in Sabina lights project ... Sabina Holdings chairman Samuda says everyone should be pleased with team effort

Marc Stamp, STAR Writer

Cricket analyst Dr Akshai Mansingh feels that he was not given enough recognition in getting the Indian government to provide a grant of US$2.1 million, which will be used to finance installation of floodlights at the world-famous Sabina Park.

"There is quite a story that was not told," Dr Mansingh told STAR Sports, two days after the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the Government of Jamaica and the Republic of India for the Sabina Park Lighting Project, recently.

Mansingh is peeved because he was mentioned among other people for their role in getting the project a reality, but not singled out for his crucial part alongside West Indies hard hitting batsman Chris Gayle.

"At the Jamaica Cricket Associ-ation Award dinner last year, Prime Minister, Portia Simpson Miller said the government of Jamaica was committed to the installation of floodlights at Sabina Park," Mansingh said.

"After the dinner, I contacted Indian High Commissioner Shri Pratap Singh about getting his government involved. He was keen to start something in Jamaica.

"I then went to Natalie Neita-Headley, minister without portfolio with responsibility for sport and told her what happened. The high commissioner and the minister then met and discussed plans," he outlined.

The plan was to get the floodlights ready for the tour of India in the West Indies last year. However, there was a breakdown.

"It was blocked for me to go to India in order to expedite the proposal," Mansingh said.

According to Mansingh, Sabina Park Holdings, management team at Sabina Park, rejected the initial proposal to start the project.

"The Government of India was willing to install the lights at Sabina Park. But they (Sabina Park Holdings) wanted the installation to be done by a private company," he related.

According to Mansingh, there was a six-nine months lull and then it resurfaced in October when the Government gave the new JCA administration, led by Wilford 'Billy' Heavens, instruction to reactivate the lighting project.

"At the time, the high Commis-sioner was on leave but I still pushed for it. The Indian government complied," he continued.

"The Indian Government agreed to provide funding for the project," he added.

"It was my idea, but I'm peeved because of the treatment. The board that had rejected the initial proposal was lauded at the signing at Sabina Park," he said. "The minister thanked me, but along with 15 other persons," he stated.

However, Milton Samuda, chairman of Sabina Park Holdings in response believes the success was as a result of a joint effort.

"What has happened is as a result of collaboration between a variety of people and organisations. People worked together, people should be happy that the efforts finally came together," Samuda told STAR Sports.

"My understanding is that Dr Mansingh was instrumental in getting the project off the ground. He was thanked for that. The message is that we can achieve together," the chairman added.