CATEGORY:SPORTS (CRICKET)
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By Trevor Thwaites
Inside Grenada correspondent
Thursday October 26, 2006


GRENADA - With six months to go before the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 comes to the region, plans are being stepped up here for the country’s hosting of matches in the Super Eight stage or second round of the competition in April next year. The recent Virgin Cricket Classics at Progress Park in St Andrew, which attracted over 3,000 fans, was used as a simulation exercise for the upcoming cricketing extravaganza. It is stipulated by the International Cricket Council (ICC) that venue operating centres be established at host venues to ensure top security during matches.

The Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) was out in full force recently at the Virgin Cricket Classic, with an operation set up to oversee the smooth running of the event. Officials from the Police, the National Disaster Emergency Management Agency (NaDMA), the Ministry of Health, the Grenada Red Cross and other agencies were all activated during the exercise to ensure that top security prevailed during the game. An open line of communication is said to be among the key areas that must be efficiently and effectively executed at the Venue Operating Center (VOC).

This according to the man in charge of the operations –“the Silver Commander”, ASP Godfrey Fleming was carried out to the T. He said that the contingency plan that was developed contained tight security features designed to search and stop undesirables from entering the arena and also designated areas where no loitering and parking of vehicles were allowed. “I must commend the patrons. They adhered to the rules and regulations. I hope that this would be the case when the World Cup comes in 2007”, the senior police officer told members of the press.

Nonetheless, Fleming said that some patrons were still able to come into Progress Park with glass bottles and that some vendors were selling drinks in glass bottles, which are forbidden by ICC rules. He warns vendors and patrons to comply and corporate with the authorities. “We could have closed down the vendors; but we decided to give them another chance to get it right.” Fleming said that the Police are making a concerted effort to provide maximum security for the World Cup.

However, he said that the enabling environment must be created, so that they can perform at optimum. The Assistant Superintendent of Police has identified a weakness in the 2006 Carnival celebrations, which was also used to fine tune the country’s security readiness for the World Cup. “There must be proper infrastructure. That is one of the things that I believe failed during the carnival season. There was not proper fencing at Tanteen, during the Dimache Gras and Soca Monarch Finals. The police cannot do it alone. We must have the proper infrastructure to effectively deliver”, he said.