Bird: ARG cannot host W/Cup 2007

ST JOHN’S, Antigua:  Antigua and Barbuda could miss out on being a venue for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007. Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird believes it will be a tall order for the his nation to host a CWC 2007 match at the Antigua Recreation Ground, given all of the requirements. “The ARG just won’t cut it, even if we put the US$10 million in there given to us by the Chinese,” Prime Minister Bird said on his return a?fter a Special Meeting of the Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community. Earlier this year, an agreement was signed between the Governments of Antigua and Barbuda and the People’s Republic of China allowing for the complete remodelling of the ARG.

“This would have transformed the ground into one of the finest cricket venues in the region,” Prime Minister Bird said. Acknowledging the shortness of time, his government has now asked the Chinese to move to build a brand new stadium and they are waiting with bated breath for a response. Prime Minister Bird noted that if there is no positive response from the Chinese, then his country won’t be able to participate in the bidding process, adding that the bidding documents would be out by December 30 this year. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Bird indicated that regional governments would be the ones putting up the start-up capital to get the venture off the ground. “It must also be understood that it is the governments that will be signing these agreements and not the local cricket boards,” he said. “It is the governments that will have to guarantee the money, even though I think the Global Cricket Coporation said they will have to borrow about US $79 million to be able to mobilise this effort in the West Indies.
“The onus is on the governments of the region and they are being looked upon to provide funding and, in particular, the infrastructure, such as the stadiums.”

The Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister also expressed concern that there are not enough hotel rooms in the country to accommodate the 20,000-plus visitors who may wish to come to the country, if it is selected as one of the main venues. “The reality is that we do not have enough rooms for those people and so we will have to probably put cruise ships in the port for the duration of the matches,” he said. “It is not a simple thing at all, it is a real complex business operation and we have to be cautious because as you are aware there are people out there saying that the Caribbean cannot mount a proper World Cup.” The International Cricket Council and the West Indies Cricket Board recently signed the Host Agreement formally endorsing the West Indies as host of the CWC 2007.