DANIEL TOWN, Jamaica (AFP):  People living near the Trelawny stadium, where the World Cup opening ceremony will take place on Sunday, claim they have been given the cold shoulder by local organisers.

The row centres around complimentary tickets for the four warm-up matches at the new venue which are taking place this week.

"When my officers, who worked tirelessly alongside the LOC called about complimentary tickets, I told them there were none," Falmouth mayor Jonathan Bartley told the Jamaica Observer newspaper.

"Then I find out that there other people with tickets all over the streets and the council's officers who have worked sleepless nights, the LOC haven't paid them the courtesy."

The Falmouth mayor claimed the parish council had contributed close to one million dollars to complete road works and other infrastructural development necessary around the stadium.

The newspaper reported that a spokeswoman for the Jamaica LOC was surprised by the Falmouth mayor's comments, and disclosed that an invitation had been sent to him by the President of the West Indies Cricket Board to attend matches and the opening ceremony.

The Trelawny Multi-Purpose Stadium was built at a cost 30 million dollars, with assistance from the Chinese government.