Caribbean PMs promise W/Cup upgrade

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada: Caribbean leaders meeting here for their annual summit promised yesterday to speed up planning for the 2007 Cricket World Cup after eight Caribbean countries were chosen to host matches. Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said governments must especially focus on improving air travel, noting that several Caribbean leaders had to travel an entire day to reach the summit in Grenada. There are few direct flights between islands in the Caribbean.

Caribbean officials are discussing using charter flights, ferries and cruise ships to transport players, tourists and journalists during the month-long tournament. The Caribbean’s two biggest airlines, BWIA and LIAT, have struggled since the September 11 attacks in the United States that caused a sharp drop in passengers and higher insurance and security costs. Officials are also considering asking US and British airlines to increase flights in the region during the tournament. Yesterday, the London-based International Cricket Council announced the eight venues for World Cup 2007. Mitchell, who heads a committee of Four Prime Ministers overseeing planning for the World Cup, said officials also needed to assess security, health care, emergency services, immigration and customs in the eight countries. Mitchell said Grenada would spend about US$15 million to upgrade their Queen’s Park Stadium.