D-day for Providence Stadium
- World Cup officials carry out final assessment today
Kaieteur News
November 16, 2006
Senior Cricket World Cup Inc. and International Cricket Council (ICC) officials are conducting their final venue tour, as they assess the state of readiness of stadia scheduled to host matches during next year's tournament.
The tour which started yesterday in Barbados , continues here today at the Providence Stadium, and moves on to Grenada , Antigua , Jamaica , St. Lucia , St. Vincent, Trinidad and St. Kitts in that order.
Representatives of the right holders as well as official suppliers for the tournament will also be present at the crucial assessment of the state-of-the-art facility, which was dedicated last week by India 's Vice-President, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, on behalf of his government, in an impressive ceremony.
Meanwhile, the importance of the current tour has been stressed by venue development director Don Lockerbie, who told the Nation newspaper, “It's very important, this tour.
It was 18 months ago when the ICC identified this tour as the most critical tour of all. It is most critical to show the region's readiness.
We are trying to have the officials and assessors share the confidence we have,”
“We are trying to get all venues as ready as possible. . .with all the permanent sections ready.
They will have to be finished by December 31. After that, we will move into the overlay (temporary) aspects of our infrastructure.”
According to Lockerbie, the only stadia completed to date were Warner Park in St Kitts and Beausejour in St Lucia , and time is becoming very important.
”We are at the stage of implementation, we have moved on from the planning. We are moving on at full speed.” Lockerbie said.