Glenroy Sinclair, AssignmentCoordinator - News

Members of the top brass of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) yesterday wrapped up their preparation for the ICC Cricket World Cup which gets going this month, with a major briefing at the Police Officers' Club, St. Andrew, where they discussed the national security plan for the tournament.

"The first batch of [cricket] teams will start arriving tomorrow (today) and we have deployed over 200 police personnel to Trelawny and St. James, to assist those who are already on the ground," Assistant Commissioner Owen Ellington disclosed yesterday.

Strategic training

Reports are that measures related to the country's crime hot spots, intelligence, community safety and traffic management were discussed. As part of the preparation, some of the police personnel have completed strategic training in selected areas.

The 168 young recruits, who graduated from the Police Academy last week, have been drafted into the security plan. They were specifically trained for the World Cup, which begins in another 10 days.

Meanwhile, Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, has said that he is comfortable with the state of Kingston to host the Cricket World Cup.

"We will never be (totally) ready for any occasion," he said, while responding to questions from the media yesterday at a ceremony to officially rename Emerald Road, in Kingston, George Headley Drive. "Where we are now I am comfortable, a lot of work has been done."

The mayor said 45 roads had been rehabilitated, or were in the process of rehabilitation, 300 stop and directional signs have been constructed, and several drains have been cleaned.

He said the work was being done at a cost of $35 million, with an advance from the Parochial Revenue Fund.

"What we are trying to do is to make Kingston presentable. As I said before, we will never be able to be in a position to complete everything. But at least we are there and I am comfortable with the progress so far," the mayor said.

Securing assets

Apart from providing security for the foreigners, the police will also be securing assets being brought into the country for the setting up and staging of the opening ceremony. They will provide escort for VIPs and secure the venues of warm-up matches.

ACP Ellington, the man who is second in charge of the Operations portfolio of the JCF, said that as part of the Regional Security Plan, territories within the region have submitted a watch list with the names of fugitives they are searching for. The international organisation, Interpol, is providing assistance in this regard.