ICC’s chief executive Malcolm Speed (left) speaking at yesterday’s s conference, while ICC President Ehsan Mani listens in.

Pledging to walk to the crease and have a “positive partnership” with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) in staging the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, the International Cricket Council (ICC) says it won’t allow the regional body to have its stumps shattered.

The green light to host cricket’s most prestigious event came yesterday from ICC president Ehsan Mani and chief executive Malcolm Speed at a s conference at airmont Royal Pavilion in St James.

“Next week will see the ICC signing the host country agreement with the West Indies Cricket Board. It is the first step leading up to the 2007 World Cup and would start a journey that we would take together towards the 2007 World Cup,” Mani said following a historic maiden meeting of the ICC’s Board in the Caribbean.

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Editorial - Monday 05, April-2004

Business people involved in the hospitality industry would have been smiling over the past week as they welcomed the thousands of English visitors who descended on Barbados for the third cricket Test match between England and the West Indies.

The Barmy Army would have given a much-needed boost to hoteliers, owners of guest houses, restaurants and shops of all sizes and types and the economy as a whole.

The Test match provided businesses with a scaled down version of what they can expect if Barbados is chosen to host some of the matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.

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Monday 26, April-2004
by Wendy Burke

BARBADOS’ HOTEL ROOM count will be more than adequate come World Cup Cricket 2007. This assurance has come from Sue Springer, executive vice-president of the Barbados Hotel & Tourism Association (BHTA).

Springer told Business Authority all of the 78 properties registered with BHTA, as well as the unregistered ones, were fully booked for last month’s cricket Test match between West Indies and England, which she regarded as more than an adequate dry run for the World Cup.

The BHTA head described the community tourism approach as “a definite” and said the BHTA would be working with private home-owners to help them offer their houses and apartments as alternative accommodation.

“Within Town and Country Planning, between now and 2007, there are probably about 500 applications going forward for development of this type of accommodation. I also received a number of calls from people saying they had a house at X, or an apartment at Y, could you please tell me how I can put this in the pool,” said Springer. < Read more >

Heads to speed up World Cup plans - Tuesday 06, July-2004

St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (centre) with Barbados Prime Minister Owen Arthur (left) and Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer at the 25th Caribbean Community summit.

ST GEORGE’S – Caribbean leaders have promised to speed up planning for the 2007 Cricket World Cup after eight Caribbean countries were chosen to host matches.

Speaking yesterday at an annual CARICOM Summit, Grenada’s Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said governments must especially focus on improving air travel since 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 tournament.

Officials are also considering asking United States and British airlines to increase flights in the region during the tournament.

Compliments of the Nation News