Dennie Quill, Contributor

News that Guyana's president may sue the WICB for its share of gate receipts earned during Cricket World Cup last year threatens to reopen a wound which the Caribbean people have been nursing, and renews haunting questions about the economics of the competition.

President Bharrat Jagdeo accused the West Indies Cricket Board of "sitting on our money" estimated at US$1 million, which represents part of the gate receipts for the Super 8 matches which his country hosted. Apparently, the money is being withheld to square expenses incurred when the now defunct CWC West Indies Inc. called in an international contractor to complete work on the stadium.

It is estimated that the region spent some US$1 billion to stage the competition no one is really sure since the balance sheet of Cricket World Cup has not been opened to the taxpayers.

The consensus among ordinary citizens is that Caribbean governments were duped into committing the region to spending mega bucks, and in so doing failed in their sworn duty to protect the interests of the people they serve. Is there any wonder that the people have driven them all out of office?

Based on snippets of information which has seeped into the public, it is believed that the Jamaican Government allocated US$109 million to the project. Lots of money spent but little accountability.

In a previous article I raised the question about the money being pumped into upgrading Sabina Park, which is a private members club. I asked then whether the money was a loan or a grant, and whether the Government would get equity.

A similar thing happened in Barbados, where the Kensington Oval, sited on lands owned by the Barbados Cricket Association, was upgraded Bajans are not totally satisfied with the arrangements, their Government did sign a memorandum of understanding to reconfigure ownership of Kensington Oval prior to the World Cup.

Dissatisfied with revenue sharing

Then Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller, who also held responsibility for sport, did nothing to enlighten us. Then Finance Minister Omar Davies told the Standing Committee of Parliament that the nine Caribbean host countries were dissatisfied with the revenue-sharing arrangements with the International Cricket Council.

He was quoted as saying: "There is a clear need to examine where there is any legal recourse." Similar sounds were coming from Barbados and Grenada - a bit late in the day, mind you.

From what we can see, Sabina Park has benefited from major improvements enabling the club to earn millions of dollars from selling private boxes. But since there is no transparency there is so much we cannot see. The argument is that infrastructure development will ultimately accrue to the benefit of all Jamaicans. True, but are there other priorities which could have been attended to?

While in opposition the JLP posed tough questions about the staging of CWC, the answers were not forthcoming then. Nine months later, this is a World Cup damned by silence. Accountability is the core of democracy and we cannot close the book on CWC 2007 until taxpayers are told how their money was spent. Many questions remain and the government has a responsibility to unearth the facts.

How much was spent on CWC? How much was earned? Are there deferred payments to be made? Are there loans being repaid? What is the arrangement with Kingston Cricket Club? What will be the fate of the Trelawny stadium?

Don't get me wrong, CWC 2007 was a memorable affair. Bob Woolmer's death and the botched investigations will long be remembered. CWC will be lovingly remembered by Robert Bryan, LOC chairman, for he received national honours.

Those who got television and other marketing rights stuffed their pockets. But for the people of the region who will ultimately have to pay down these debts in the future, what is there to celebrate? What's worse, cricket is a dying game in the region.