Guyana gets ICC thumbs up for 2007 World Cup

GEORGETOWN, Guyana: Guyana’s World Cup Committee has been given a firm vote of approval by the three consultants from the International Cricket Council (ICC), for the work done so far in preparation for the Cricket World Cup 2007.

Civil engineers Bob Laing, Mahesh Pamar and Eugine Van Vuuren, hired by the ICC to monitor venue development of all the host countries for the Windies 2007 World Cup, said they believed Guyana were on course.

"I would like to congratulate you (Guyana’s World Cup Committee) on the way you developed design and signed contract in record time. I genuinely mean that you’ve made a great leap forward, in signing the contract," Laing said.

The contract, which will see Indian-based Shapoorji Pallonji Group (SPG) of Companies building Providence stadium, was signed last week. The Group is expected to commence building in approximately 30 days.

While stressing that everything was not perfect, he said Guyana was moving in the right direction. "I think that there have been ups and down, but ups have been more than downs and we all had faith in Guyana that they will deliver in the way that they promised, and they certainly have," he noted.

England-based consultant, Laing, said he is also impressed with work by the committee across the country as a whole. "I came to Guyana some nine months ago and travelled from the airport to Georgetown and, nine months later, it is an amazing change with work that has been done," Laing continued. "We certainly had a very smooth passage from airport to stadium. I think everything will work out very well for you (Guyana)."

South African Van Vuuren, who played a role in World Cup in his country, said South Africa had made several mistakes when it hosted event, ones he hoped the Caribbean would not make in 2007. "We made a few mistakes there (South Africa), and we would like to convey that over to you (Caribbean) so that you don’t make same type of mistakes," Van Vuuren said.

He expressed confidence Guyana and rest of the region would reach all the requirements for the World Cup 2007 needed for the event.

Other consultant in the group, Pamar, was also impressed with Guyana’s progress.