No threat to new cricket stadium
-- government assures
Guyana Chronicle
July 30, 2004
THE government has slammed a report in yesterday’s Stabroek News which suggested that the new stadium being built for World Cup cricket 2007 matches here could be delayed by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In a statement, the Government Information Agency (GINA) said the Stabroek News front page headline yesterday - `IMF bowls cricket stadium googly’ - seems part of the usual effort of that newspaper to create uncertainty and negative feelings among the population.
“The headline misrepresents the…IMF press release on the successful review of Guyana’s performance under the Poverty Reduction and Growth Facility (PRGF) arrangement”, the agency said.
It said that contrary to the impression being conveyed by the article, the IMF release did not and could not suggest an interruption of the planned construction of the international cricket stadium.
“The construction is proceeding. There will be no delays. The feasibility study will be done simultaneously with the construction work”, GINA said.
“This study is merely intended to confirm that the construction of the cricket stadium is financially sustainable and, if not, to take compensatory financial action.
“If it was the Stabroek News’ attempt to cast doubt in the minds of the visiting World Cup Cricket officials about Guyana’s preparedness and plans, then it was a miscalculation and certainly an unpatriotic act.
“The Government is proceeding with the construction of the international cricket stadium to host World Cup Cricket in 2007”, GINA said.