BERMUDA, The Bahamas, Jamaica, and the Cayman Islands were the first countries to receive the initial drawdown of US$100 000 each as the Stanford 20/20 Tournament got rolling.

Allen Stanford, the Texan billionaire behind the US$28 million project, began his visits and dissemination of funds to the 19 nations participating in the tournament which will climax in Antigua in September.

The winning side will pocket US$1 million.

Last week, Stanford and his team - Lance Gibbs, Ian Bishop, Andy Roberts and Richie Richardson - stopped in each country to present the cheques at each country's airport.

"I wanted to personally present each association with its money but unfortunately time constraints do not permit me to spend much time in each country," Stanford said.

"I am thrilled with the response to the Stanford 20/20 tournament from every country and I am looking forward to visiting each nation despite the restrictions on my time."

The various countries expressed delight with the fundings. Each of the 19 territories participating in the tournament was asked to present an action-plan to allocate the donations.

"I am honoured and pleased to be able to accept this generous investment in Bermuda cricket," said Reg Pearman, president of the Bermuda Cricket Association.

"The tournament has generated a huge amount of interest in Bermuda where, as you may know, cricket is our national sport.

"We are currently riding the crest of the wave of emotion and passion that qualification to the World Cup has brought and to be able to dovetail that accomplishment with the participation in this prestigious event is an outstanding combination."

During the media briefing in the Cayman Islands, the Minister of Sports, Alden McLaughlin, announced the government's commitment to invest in that country's cricket programme to the tune of US$600 000, a decision that Stanford welcomed.

Acknowledging the comparisons to the late Kerry Packer that have arisen, Stanford said his goals are a bit different from the Australian.

"Packer was way ahead of his time but his interests were purely commercial, to sell television time," Stanford said. "My drive is to improve cricket so that we are winners again.

"When cricket rises, the Caribbean rises, our economy rises. When cricket is in the trough, the Caribbean is in the pits too. When West Indies cricket is good, we look good too." (PS)