Cricket World Cup 2007 – Will We Be Ready?

By Colin E. Croft

 

This extremely important question, a question that can and probably will change the life of every Caribbean inhabitant come 2007, has been asked by so many that maybe we should try to answer it. 

 

I would like to state here categorically that I do fully believe that not only will the West Indies and Caribbean region be ready to host the next cricket World Cup, but I expect that the world would be shocked into understanding that we in the Caribbean are as special as they come when it comes to putting on a wonderful show. 

 

I do have my reservations about our attitudes of accelerating, careening even, at the last minute to get it all done, but despite the traumas that we have suffered, I also know that Caribbean people, individually and collectively, are tremendously resilient people.  I know that we will be ready, spectacularly so!

 

This last week has been very instructive, giving me many additional insights as to how things are with the progress for the next cricket World Cup.  I attended the Caribbean Media Exchange on Sustainable Tourism (CMExPress) one-day workshop in which, among other things, Chris Dehring, the leading Caribbean architect of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, set the stage to look this event and what it means for the Caribbean. 

 

Even after being intimately involved with West Indies cricket in some capacity over the last 35 years or so, and after knowing much more than the average citizen about the plans, aspirations and even doubts about this great event, I could not but be very impressed at the aspirations as explained.

 

Dehring, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the ICC/West Indies Cricket World Cup 2007, the West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) operating entity for the management and execution of the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, led a tremendously distinguished field of experts and analysts in the explanation as to what is required and expected. 

 

He was accompanied by international experts such as Emmy-Award winning journalists, now public relations counsels Gail Moaney and Doug Hoyte; Australian ex-Minister of Government, Tom Roper; Warren Solomon, Trinidad and Tobago's Vice President of Tourism; Ernest Littles, President of the Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association; Bruce Aanensen, Vice President, Queens Park Cricket Club.  My old friend of the Trinidad Guardian Sports, Sports Journalist Everard Gordon, was also there to discuss the World Cup cricket competition in 2007 and the links between the media, sports, tourism and the development and continued sustainability of the sports tourism business; spin-offs of a great event. 

 

It was also very evident that this meeting had great importance, since the Honorable Minister of Tourism, Mr. Howard Chin-Lee, also attended.  His assurances on the need for proper transportation infrastructures and the need to capitalize on the sporting and tourism aspects of this event; indeed, his ministry is starting a separate division to cover this; and so many others like it, were songs to longing ears.  

 
Dehring, the architect and presenter of the Caribbean's successful proposal to host the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007, addressed us on the topic "Cricket World Cup 2007 - The State of Play" in an exciting multi-media format.

 

In this presentation, even I was excited at the sight, for the first time, of all of the eight new or rejuvenated stadia, in seven countries, that would be used for the 2007 Cricket World Cup. 

 

Jamaica would have two of them; a brand new facility in Trelawney that would host the opening ceremonies, while the venerable Sabina Park would be unrecognizable after its proposed facelift. 

 

Barbados, at this time just ahead of Jamaica in the readiness stakes, the two way ahead of the rest of the Caribbean in present preparedness for the 2007 event, are also rejuvenating the Kensington Oval.  Incidentally, both of these countries already have very well developed Local Operation Committees (LOC’s), which would do all of the leg work in the respective countries. 

 

St. Kitts are having a brand new stadium built and construction on the playing surface and the surrounds are going apace.  Their LOC is also operating fully apace.

 

Grenada, the object of hurricane, “Ivan the Terrible” in September last, may have had a blessing in disguise, if that could be called such.  With the terrible devastation of the island, the Queens Park Stadium has to be literally rebuilt, so the opportunity comes directly from adversity.  Talk about a silver lining around a really dark, black even, cloud!!

 

St. Lucia’s Beusejour Stadium may be in the best position at this time, since the stadium in the newest completed one in the Caribbean.  However, that too would get some upgrading and the infrastructure, roads etc., are being built with such alacrity that the Prime Minister of the truly beautiful country, Dr. Kenny Anthony, assures us that we would not even recognize the country during and after the 2007 World Cup, much less that already wonderful stadium.

 

Guyana, like Grenada, has just endured tremendous trauma, after their floods.  What was really ironic about that set of rain in late 2004 in Guyana was to hear Guyanese, people who have lived with rain, water and the occasional floods all of their lives, saying that they have never seen anything like it.  Having endured weeks of continuous rains on several occasions in my high school and young professional life in Guyana, even I was not prepared for the e-mailed photographs that I saw of that devastation.  Yet, Guyana’s stadium, thanks to the large loan and grant from India, is also well on the way.  

 

As of now, Trinidad & Tobago might be, on paper, the least ready of the countries.  Of course, that does not mean that the country will not be ready.  It simply means that the frenetic activity that surrounds carnival would have to be squared, not only duplicated, for them to come up to speed.

 

I do know that the best Manager that the West Indies cricket team has ever had, the indomitable William “Willie” Rodriguez, is ready.  Willie is one of a very select group of people; Dr. Franz Alexander of Jamaica is another, that have played both cricket and soccer for the West Indies, as a single collective unit.  Willie is also the President of the Queen’s Park cricket club, and while the rest around him may not yet be fully ready, or up to speed, he knows that he has everything in gear for his club and wonderful ground to be fully functional.

 

It must be noted that Chris Dehring did suggest, that like a team, the whole is only as good as the least of its parts.  All of the LOC’s and countries will have to come up to scratch, be on the same page.  If they do not, the alternative, a possibility of losing the entire she-bang, is unthinkable.  What an embarrassment that would be to all of us.

 

Delegates also discussed issues related to the World Cup such as accommodation and transportation, disaster management, agro and sex-tourism, enterprise development, health and wellness situations and especially HIV/AIDS linkages.

 

Very pertinent questions have been asked and will continue to be asked.  While the Caribbean and its people are passionate for the sport of cricket, will the sustainable benefits of the World Cup slip by them, especially after the tremendous investments that would have been used to bring off a successful world cup?

 

Will the region be stumped by the aftermath of the Cup?   Cricket World Cup will bring a surge of tourism dollars and development to the Caribbean, but it will also bring great social and economic costs?

 

These are only a few of the issues and questions that should be of concern in anticipation of this great event.

 

Lelei LeLaulu, president of Counterpart International - producers of the CMEx series, and Dr. Basil Springer, that eminent Barbadian thinker, both suggested that they were  pleased to see senior media, travel and tourism, cricket and sports officials making it a priority to attend the regional exchange, which the non-profit development agency launched to improve the quality of media coverage of sustainable tourism in the Caribbean.

 

The meeting also sought to increase the input of the media in the design of sustainable tourism policies and highlight the necessity of tourism to the economies of small island states.

 

According to Jean-Claude Baumgarten, president of the World Travel and Tourism Council, "travel and tourism is without question the most important export sector in the region. It helps to diversify the Caribbean economy, stimulate entrepreneurship, catalyze investments, create sustainable jobs and helps social development in local communities. However, the impact of the industry is generally not understood by public officials, the industry itself, or the communities where it takes place."

Dehring did also note that a sports enthusiast accounts for much more spending money than the “ordinary” tourist.

 

CMExPress sponsors and supporters include American Express, Association of Caribbean Media Workers, Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, Black Entertainment Television, Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism, Caribbean Broadcasting Union, Caribbean Hotel Association, Caribbean Star Airlines, Caribbean Sun, Coca-Cola, Coco Kreole, Continental Airlines, Courtyard by Marriott Hotel Port of Spain, Half Moon Montego Bay, Hilton Trinidad & Conference Centre, Jamaica Pegasus, Jamaica Tourist Board, The East Project, Ruder Finn, Tourism and Industrial Development Company of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TIDCO), Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Tourism, United Nations Development Programme, and the United States Agency for International Development.  The entire proceedings were excellently done.

 

To end my week, I was also invited to be a part of the wonderfully progressive CL Financial San Juan Jabloteh soccer team.  In my mind, that soccer team could be a similar microcosm of what is expected at the 2007 Cricket World Cup. 

 

Jabloteh, trying, as they and Captain Kirk have suggested, “to go where no team (in T&T) has gone before,” has grand plans for the future, maybe even more immediate than the WI cricket fraternity.  They would be hosting the Metro Stars soccer team of New York in two weeks time, with both teams benefiting by these encounters, both on and off the field, in camaraderie and commitment.  Talk about immediacy, that is it.

 

So, while we repartee in lent after the carnival, please remember that the great parties are really still in the future.  Be careful, but of course, enjoy!!