It’s crunch time
-- for CWC
By Mark Ramotar
Guyana Chronicle
March 22, 2007
WITH just a few days before Guyana goes on show with the hosting of its leg of Super Eight matches in the Cricket World Cup (CWC) tournament under way, President Bharrat Jagdeo yesterday declared that the “long haul” is over, the “crunch time” is now and the “real test” is about to begin.
“We have a few (days) more and the test is now. All the work that we did over the years, all the nights of worry and the nights of fear that we may not be able to raise the money or we may have to raise it commercially (to build the stadium)…we have passed that stage now,” the President said.
He also lauded the hard work, dedication and tremendous commitment by each and everyone involved, including members of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), in overcoming the “monumental task” of getting to a stage where Guyana can now successfully host the mega event, ranked as the third largest sporting event in the world.
Addressing the launch of the US$1.7M telephone exchange facility installed by the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company Limited (GT&T) in the National Stadium Complex at Providence, East Bank Demerara, Mr. Jagdeo noted that it has been “a long haul” getting to this stage but warned that now is “crunch time” in ensuring that everything is ready.
“I hope that this event will add to the sense of national pride that we have. We are (will be) on show - all of us to the world, and I hope that we will work together to ensure that we become successful.”
“I am always pleased to be present at the opening of facilities that improve the life of our country and our people and I am particularly pleased to be here today because this facility has a special significance since this facility here would allow us to host one of the largest sporting events in the world.”
President Jagdeo also thanked GT&T as a company for undertaking the task and its Chief Executive Officer Major General (rtd) Joe Singh for his commitment to the project.
“I had no fear that this facility would be in place on time because I am aware of the leadership qualities of Major General Joe Singh…and I want to thank him for his enthusiasm and reliance that he displayed throughout it all.”
The President noted that the facility installed by GT&T will be in addition to the some US$1.6M being spent by the government on equipment and cables for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in the stadium, such as in the Media and Press areas, which will make the Providence Stadium one of the most modern in the Caribbean.
“Outside of what GT&T has spent on this facility, the government will be spending or has almost spent some US$1.6M on equipment and cabling for ICT in the stadium…that is to integrate with what GT&T is providing here today.”
“And I am very pleased that from the assessments that we have had, that this will allow our stadium to be one of the most modern in terms of ICT requirements of all the stadia built in the Caribbean,” Mr. Jagdeo proudly declared.
“We have undertaken as a country the monumental task of hosting World Cup Cricket…but I am pleased that we managed to first of all assemble a good team.”
Noting that although it was not a requirement of the International Cricket Council (ICC) to have the political opposition of a country on board, President Jagdeo said the Guyana Government decided to include the political opposition here since it was felt that this should not be a partisan project but a national one.
“There are many countries in the region where the opposition parties were not involved and they are hosting matches but in Guyana’s case, I made it clear from the very beginning that we wanted the political opposition involved so much so that from the very beginning they were represented on the LOC.”
“…and I think this effort has been a team effort because of the broad skills that we drew on as well as ensuring that it was not a partisan project, but rather one that became a national project,” the President asserted.
He also alluded to the many detractors and pessimists who had initially questioned whether Guyana had the confidence and facilities, as a poor Heavily Indebted Poor Country that was declared un-creditworthy just a few years ago and a country that had rundown facilities, would be the host of one of the most important international event in the world.
“(There were those who were questioning) whether we were going to be able to meet the very demanding standards of hosting these games but I had all confidence in our people and their ability and I think today we are vindicated.”
“We have not hosted these games as yet, but we have met all the requirements of the ICC and we have done so largely through using local solutions.”
HISTORIC POINT
President Jagdeo also believes Guyana is at an “historic point” now, with tangible evidence of the growing unity and togetherness among Guyanese and the positive vibes and attitudes being exuded with regards to progress and development in the country.
“I think that we are at a historic point (in Guyana) where our people are coming together more.”
“We have to more and more realise that we face an external world that is often hostile to countries like ours in terms of politics and in terms of international trade and economic relations - a world that has not catered for the needs of small countries but a world that is becoming increasingly xenophobic and selfish.”
“And if we are united as a people, we can face those challenges more because if we do not do that, what we find is that a country like ours would continue to haemorrhage and lose welfare and eventually not be sustainable.”
“So we have to overcome the traditional differences, the things that have kept our people divided for a very long time – the politics and the rumours and the racism and work together as a single people,” he urged.
He said, too, that “we are one people in this country and if we do that we can harness the energy of this country and move forward rapidly because we have the skills here and our people have a special quality about them (and) wherever they are they will succeed.”
Alluding to the seeming lack of ticket sales for matches played so far at the other host venues, President Jagdeo said Guyana has not done badly with regards to the sale of tickets here but urged persons to come out and purchase those tickets still available.
He said Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony highlighted to Cabinet when it met Tuesday, the difficulties experienced by persons from outlying areas wanting to purchase tickets being sold at the LOC office in Georgetown.
He noted that someone wanting to purchase a $5,000 ticket (the lowest priced ticket) if coming from Berbice, for instance, would have to spend about $2,000 to buy a $5,000 ticket.
President Jagdeo however, assured that committed efforts are being made to make it easier for those persons in places such as Berbice and the Essequibo Coast to get easier and less costly access when purchasing their tickets.