Guyana may miss CWC mega opening

GUYANA – Guyana is giving Jamaica US$50,000 to help it host the mega opening ceremony of Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 on March 11, but is unlikely to send representatives for the cultural spectacle, a top official said Sunday.

Chief Executive Officer of the Local Organising Committee, Karran Singh, said the nine host venues of CWC 2007 had agreed to help Jamaica foot its US$4M bill for the opening ceremony. The various countries are offering between US$25,000-80,000, he said.{{more}}

Singh, who met his counterparts from across the region, except Jamaica and Barbados, at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast Demerara, said the government here has approved US$50,000 as Guyana’s contribution.

However, he said, due to the high cost, sending a contingent of cultural performers from Guyana to be in the opening ceremony seems doubtful at this time.

Singh noted that this, though, was not the final position.

He said Guyana is thinking of sending a video of local performers to Jamaica for the opening ceremony to add to the “electronic displays” that will form part of the inaugural spectacle.

Further, he said, Guyana would also be selecting Jamaicans to dress in Guyanese costumes to perform at the ceremony, while choreographers from Guyana will employ Jamaicans to do a Guyanese dance.

Even Trinidad and Tobago, which outweighs Guyana in terms of resources, is thinking of scaling down its contingent, Singh said.

Meanwhile, as local preparations continue for hosting the games, Singh said the LOC is implementing a new volunteer programme at the behest of President Bharrat Jagdeo.

He said the CWC volunteer programme is tailored to meet needs at the National Cricket Stadium on match days. However, the new initiative will see volunteers stationed at strategic locations in the city to ensure, among other things, that touts do not harass visitors.

The volunteers would also act as guides for tourists, providing whatever information they may need regarding services that are available in the country, he said.

Singh said the volunteer programme would be tested when Guyana hosts the Rio Summit next month. (Guyana Chronicle).