LeVaughn Flynn, Staff Reporter

The entire roof of the upper-most level of Kingston Cricket Club was destroyed by Hurricane Dean. - anthony Foster photo

The historic Kingston Cricket Club, located at Sabina Park, in central Kingston, had its entire roof destroyed by Hurricane Dean, on Sunday.

The Category Four hurricane shredded sheets of zinc on the two-storey building and deposited them into the car park behind the club.

"Dean really did a number on us," said club secretary, Lanny Walters, of the 144-year-old club.

"The entire top floor roof is gone and the ceiling on the verandah is gone as well.

"There is some water damage in the manager's office and one of the concrete columns broke into about six pieces."

Little internal damage was done as the roofs that were damaged covered sitting areas.

The club has had a history of being damaged by natural disasters, primarily by the 1907 earthquake and Hurricane 'Charlie' in 1951.

Hurricane Dean added its tale to the storied history of the old club.

"It is amazing to see the force Dean hit us with," Walters continued. "One of the bathroom doors is now convex as the middle where the lock is located is intact, but the top and bottom have been pushed right in. And this is not a cheap ply door I'm talking 'bout."

Too early

Walters said it was too early to determine the costs of the damage, but that the roof would be the first thing repaired.

The George Headley Stand at the southern end of the park, which was recently renovated for Cricket World Cup, and the newly constructed North Stand, fared better against Dean.

The George Headley Stand lost only a few sheets of zinc, while one of the corporate boxes in the North Stand sustained damage as one of the windows were destroyed.

"The damage is, however, minimal," stated first vice president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Paul Campbell, who was on-site.

Campbell

NPL CLUBS

Meanwhile, National Premier League clubs, Harbour View and Portmore United, had their lights damaged.

Harbour View's general manager, Clyde Jureidini, also said a wall at one of the entrances was blown down.

Portmore, which will have lights for the first time this season, had two of their poles and lamps destroyed. Club director, Horace Reid, said it would cost between $650,000-$700,000 to replace them in time for the scheduled September 16 start to the season.

Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) general secretary, Burchell Gibson, said so far the kick-off date for the league will remain.

"We just have to wait and see what damage has been done and make a decision on that," said Gibson.

Reid pointedout that the surface at Portmore United, which has been labelled as a hard one to play on, "is the best it's ever been".

He said, "We've spent almost $2 million on it and it hasn't been used since our last premier league game on April 29, so it's really looking good."