BUY one, you get one free. That’s the ticket offer Digicel has given to all public service workers in a partnership with the Government to watch the inaugural Limacol Caribbean Premier League T20 tournament for the Jamaica leg.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed yesterday between Digicel’s CEO Barry O’Brien and Horace Dalley, minister with responsibility for the public service.Natalie Neita-Headley, minister with responsibility for sports, was also in attendance to witness the occasion along with heads of the various trade unions at the state-of-the-art Digicel headquarters in downtown Kingston.Ticket prices are $500 for adults and $300 for children to be purchased at Digicel stores only, and O’Brien noted that this will give the civil servants a chance to bring their friends and family to what is expected to be a real carnival atmosphere at Sabina Park when the Jamaica Tallawahs are in action.“This is exciting times ahead and in Digicel we have a long history in cricket and this is a further extension of our commitment to cricket in Jamaica,” O’Brien emphasised.O’Brien believes this tournament can possibly surpass that of the much-watched Indian Premier League (IPL) which attracts all the global cricket stars.“We were saying to ourselves: Couldn’t the Caribbean replicate something similar to this because we have the advantage over India? We have a lot of different nations with a lot of cultural diversity to build a great tournament in different places,” he added.“Part of this success will be in this partnership we have here and getting the people into the grounds. We wanted to ensure that we get that 12th man in the grounds, we want to ensure that we fill the grounds and there are a lot of cricket lovers in the civil service,” said O’Brien.Meanwhile, Dalley praised the public sector workers for their tolerance with the government, having had a wage freeze for three years in an effort to reduce the national debt.He also had good words for Digicel’s initiative in giving back to the public service workers and implored them to take up the offer and enjoy themselves.“This is a very good gesture. With this offer we gladly accept it. We appreciate it and we want to commend you on this step. This what you are offering is very important,” said Dalley.He continued: “On behalf of the Government of Jamaica, I applaud you for stepping up to the plate.”Neita-Headley noted that for the last couple of years the Caribbean has been bracing itself for the onslaught of regional professional and semi-professional sports.She said money was always an issue in getting the fans out to support the teams and it was gratifying to see Digicel’s initiative to the government workers.“There was never going to be any doubt that we as a Government would support the plan and encourage our workforce to avail themselves of the opportunity that this presents,” said Neita-Headley.Jamaica Tallawahs will be captained by Chris Gayle and will play Guyana on Thursday, August 15; Barbados on Saturday, August 17, and on Sunday, August 18 they take on Trinidad and Tobago at Sabina Park.Digicel’s CEO Barry O’Brien (right) signs the Memorandum of Understanding with the assistance of Horace Dalley (left), minister with responsibility for the Public Service, and Shelly-Ann Harris (second right standing), Digicel’s senior communications manager. Sharing in the moment are Natalie Neita-Headley (centre), minister with responsibility for sports, and Robert Chung, vice-president, Jamaica Confederation of Trade Unions. (PHOTO: COLLIN REID)View the original article here
VIDEO: Digicel dials in on public service workers for LCPL
