KINGSTON Mayor Desmond McKenzie has called the National Stadium a "death trap", saying were it not for the importance of the 2010 ISSA/GraceKennedy Boys' & Girls' Athletic Championships which celebrates its centenary this year, the Kingston and St Andrew Corporation (KSAC) would not allow the event to go ahead.

"Its (National Stadium) structural competence is seriously in doubt," McKenzie said during the weekly Observer Monday Exchange meeting of reporters and editors at the newspaper's Beechwood Avenue office yesterday.

He said while repairs had been carried out on the facility -- built in 1962, the year Jamaica gained political independence from Britain -- there is still more to be done by its operators Independence Park Limited (IPL).

"Some piecemeal approach was made by the authorities at the National Stadium, but we are not satisfied, and the only reason Champs is going to take place this year is because of the importance but I am mindful that if anything should happen, it is not ISSA that is going to be held responsible, it is the KSAC," McKenzie said.

The tough-talking mayor reminded reporters that in 2008 he had threatened to close the National Stadium "because of the failure of the management to comply with the safety regulations that were set out, not only by the KSAC, but all the other (relevant) agencies".

There has been concern in recent weeks about the safety of buildings in Kingston in light of several major earthquakes that have hit countries in this part of the world, most notably the catastrophic January strike in Haiti that killed nearly 300,000 people.

"My fear is that the structure could give way in certain sections. When you go in, it is evident," McKenzie said. "Because of how it is situated, it is going to be difficult to get emergency vehicles in and out. A lot needs to be done," he added.

However, IPL General Manager Major Desmon Brown suggested that the mayor's remarks were over the top.

"There is nothing for him to make a statement like that," Brown told the Observer. "There are a number of issues that have not been resolved, but I would never say that it is a death trap."

Brown said that among the issues that had been addressed by IPL were the installation of an alarm system and proper signage at the facility, but an electronic surveillance system which had been recommended had not been installed.

"I don't have the money to do everything, but most of the major issues have been resolved," Brown stated.

Cracks, which the mayor indentified in the structure, Brown claimed were old. "Most of those cracks have been there since 2002," said the IPL boss.

However, in an apparent anticipation of Major Brown's response, Mayor McKenzie said: "I can guarantee that you are going to get a response from Major Brown that they have dealt with the issue, but it is not true."

Meanwhile, the mayor told the Observer that no event of the magnitude of Champs would be allowed to be held at the Stadium for the remainder of 2010 until IPL had sorted out the issues.

"We're going to be monitoring to ensure that the problems that exist be corrected. There are serious infringements in the structure of the National Stadium that leaves much to be desired," he said.

Mayor McKenzie suggested that the National Stadium was no longer suitable for the events that are staged there.

"I think we have outgrown the present location for security purposes... and it is something we need to look at, and look at very, very seriously," he said.

Major Brown agreed that the current facility was "obsolete" and could not be renovated.

"This Champs shows that we need a larger, more modern facility," he said. "No stadium this age is still around, they have all been knocked down."

Insufficient parking, major traffic problems, and too many problems with the surrounding communities were Major Brown's case for a new facility.

He suggested the Caymanas area of St Catherine as a more suitable spot for a new facility.

"A stadium out by Caymanas would be good to reduce traffic problems after an event and we could build a proper stadium with proper seating and all the things a modern stadium has," said Major Brown.

Crowds upwards of 22,000 usually attend the annual Boys' & Girls' Championships on Saturday's final day of competition. This year, the demand for tickets has been greater because of its significance, and testimony to this is that tickets for the grandstand were sold out within 30 minutes on opening day.

The Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association has put close to $40 million into this year's championships which officially begins with an opening ceremony today.