LOCKERBIE
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):
THE INTERNATIONAL Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup
2007 has expressed disappointment at cement shortages across the Caribbean affecting
preparation for the tournament.
Don Lockerbie, venue development director for the tournament, said late on Saturday, that the Caribbean was "let down" by the cement industry and called for something to be done immediately to "rebuild the situation".
"The Cricket World Cup office is very seriously monitoring the situation and we have made demands to the Local Organising Committees as to the nature and seriousness," Lockerbie said.
"We are aware of the shortages - there were shortages in nearly every territory. I am personally quite surprised that the industry could let down the region, when in the region of US$300 million has been invested on this project. The stadium development for the tournament deals with cement and blocks should have been a major one on everyone's agenda."
HOSTING MATCHES
Lockerbie said that the Cricket World Cup has called for reports from all nine countries - with 13 stadiums - which will be hosting matches. He said Jamaica and Guyana have been hardest hit, but other countries also faced difficult stages.
The other countries hosting matches are Barbados, St. Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
Lockerbie said the situation was especially worrying as the senior assessors from the ICC will be touring the venues at the end of April to determine readiness.
