Indian comedian does great impressions. Check out more of his comedy on Youtube.
Sunday, December 31, 2006
Caribbean - Ten weeks to World Cup 2007
Ten weeks to World Cup 2007
Final squad still to be decided on
Sunday, December 31st 2006
The big year is upon us. There remains so little time to do so much. In ten weeks, the World Cup descends on the cricketing Caribbean.
Only last month, Chris Dehring, 'maximum leader' of the exercise, spelt it out in words that indicated unmistakable urgency.
"This event is about to impact all of our lives and we need every single person, from the workers in the airlines and at the airports, to taxi and bus drivers, workers in hotels, restaurants, on construction sites and in the civil service, to take personal ownership of the tournament and raise their game; much in the same way that we are asking our West Indies team to raise theirs to win the coveted trophy," he declared.
Since then, Kensington Oval in Barbados and Sabina Park in Jamaica have been taken off the rota for the season's Carib Beer and KFC Cup matches so that their extreme makeovers can be completed on time. And Barbados's Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley has acknowledged "we have hit a snag" over the issuing of the Caricom Special Visas in Australia.
Travel companies catering to the thousands coming out to follow the world champions have been thrown into a state of panic and confusion by the development and Trinidad and Tobago's frustrated, long-serving honorary-consul in Sydney has resigned to avoid the flotsam flying from the fan.
These are setbacks that go with the territory. Almost every major game confronts them. There was more concern over whether Athens would be ready for the last Olympics than there are now about the Caribbean and the World Cup.
The Doubting Thomases were certain India and Pakistan, two countries virtually at permanent war with each other, would make a hash of the 1987 event, the first outside England. Instead, it proved one of the best.
The political peculiarities of the Caribbean render us somewhat different but we have been assured by those who should know that the bureaucratic mess over the visas has been sorted out; that the stadiums will be spic, span and ready for the first ball; and that everything will run as smoothly as possible, given the natural limitations of the West Indies.
Not experts ourselves, we must accept such confidence, even if with crossed fingers. read more
Final squad still to be decided on
Sunday, December 31st 2006
The big year is upon us. There remains so little time to do so much. In ten weeks, the World Cup descends on the cricketing Caribbean.
Only last month, Chris Dehring, 'maximum leader' of the exercise, spelt it out in words that indicated unmistakable urgency.
"This event is about to impact all of our lives and we need every single person, from the workers in the airlines and at the airports, to taxi and bus drivers, workers in hotels, restaurants, on construction sites and in the civil service, to take personal ownership of the tournament and raise their game; much in the same way that we are asking our West Indies team to raise theirs to win the coveted trophy," he declared.
Since then, Kensington Oval in Barbados and Sabina Park in Jamaica have been taken off the rota for the season's Carib Beer and KFC Cup matches so that their extreme makeovers can be completed on time. And Barbados's Deputy Prime Minister Mia Mottley has acknowledged "we have hit a snag" over the issuing of the Caricom Special Visas in Australia.
Travel companies catering to the thousands coming out to follow the world champions have been thrown into a state of panic and confusion by the development and Trinidad and Tobago's frustrated, long-serving honorary-consul in Sydney has resigned to avoid the flotsam flying from the fan.
These are setbacks that go with the territory. Almost every major game confronts them. There was more concern over whether Athens would be ready for the last Olympics than there are now about the Caribbean and the World Cup.
The Doubting Thomases were certain India and Pakistan, two countries virtually at permanent war with each other, would make a hash of the 1987 event, the first outside England. Instead, it proved one of the best.
The political peculiarities of the Caribbean render us somewhat different but we have been assured by those who should know that the bureaucratic mess over the visas has been sorted out; that the stadiums will be spic, span and ready for the first ball; and that everything will run as smoothly as possible, given the natural limitations of the West Indies.
Not experts ourselves, we must accept such confidence, even if with crossed fingers. read more
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Caribbean - Get your BMW
Govt to buy 20 luxury BMWs for Rio summit, CWC matches
Saturday, December 30th 2006
The government is buying 20 luxury vehicles from the ICC CWC 2007 official sponsor BMW to use for the upcoming Rio Summit early next year as well as for use by the officials and sponsors of the ICC CWC 2007 Super Eight matches.
The vehicles would then be sold by public tender to interested buyers.
Asked whether the government was going to purchase BMW vehicles from the local dealer, President Bharrat Jagdeo said at his end-of-year press conference held at the Office of the President on Thursday that since the government was "getting some buses and stuff like that," only 20 vehicles were required and not 40 like some of the other host venues.
The 20 vehicles would also be adequate for the Rio Summit and would be acquired in time for the event. They would then be used for the CWC 2007 matches.
BMW, the German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles is one of the most recent official sponsors to come on board for the hosting of the ICC CWC 2007 championships to be held in nine Caribbean countries during March and April next year.
Stabroek News understands that the BMW sponsorship required that every host country buy at least 30 BMW luxury cars. Another condition was that the cars be imported into the country duty-free which means the government stands to lose about $400 million in revenue. Initially, the government had turned the offer down to use cheaper cars after dealers of other automobile manufacturers objected because only one dealer stood to benefit.
Jagdeo explained that the government did not opt out of the deal but changed the terms. He said the local dealer wanted the government to import the vehicles and waive 75% of the taxes or some $400 million in taxes, which "would have led to a windfall to their dealer here."
Instead the government opted to buy the vehicles and sell them back on the local market "with the taxes so we would recover the money and much more," Jagdeo said.
He said that in a couple of weeks, advertisements for their sale would be in the public domain, "so if you want to own one of these BMWs, you could put in a bid and you can give us your money now. We sign an arrangement and as soon as CWC is over we will deliver the vehicle to you."
He said basically the government was advancing the money for the vehicles and recovering it from the sale of the vehicles. "So we don't have to give the single dealer all the concessions. If anyone has to get the concession it would be people who are putting in the bids," he said. (Miranda La Rose)
Stabroek News
Saturday, December 30th 2006
The government is buying 20 luxury vehicles from the ICC CWC 2007 official sponsor BMW to use for the upcoming Rio Summit early next year as well as for use by the officials and sponsors of the ICC CWC 2007 Super Eight matches.
The vehicles would then be sold by public tender to interested buyers.
Asked whether the government was going to purchase BMW vehicles from the local dealer, President Bharrat Jagdeo said at his end-of-year press conference held at the Office of the President on Thursday that since the government was "getting some buses and stuff like that," only 20 vehicles were required and not 40 like some of the other host venues.
The 20 vehicles would also be adequate for the Rio Summit and would be acquired in time for the event. They would then be used for the CWC 2007 matches.
BMW, the German manufacturer of automobiles and motorcycles is one of the most recent official sponsors to come on board for the hosting of the ICC CWC 2007 championships to be held in nine Caribbean countries during March and April next year.
Stabroek News understands that the BMW sponsorship required that every host country buy at least 30 BMW luxury cars. Another condition was that the cars be imported into the country duty-free which means the government stands to lose about $400 million in revenue. Initially, the government had turned the offer down to use cheaper cars after dealers of other automobile manufacturers objected because only one dealer stood to benefit.
Jagdeo explained that the government did not opt out of the deal but changed the terms. He said the local dealer wanted the government to import the vehicles and waive 75% of the taxes or some $400 million in taxes, which "would have led to a windfall to their dealer here."
Instead the government opted to buy the vehicles and sell them back on the local market "with the taxes so we would recover the money and much more," Jagdeo said.
He said that in a couple of weeks, advertisements for their sale would be in the public domain, "so if you want to own one of these BMWs, you could put in a bid and you can give us your money now. We sign an arrangement and as soon as CWC is over we will deliver the vehicle to you."
He said basically the government was advancing the money for the vehicles and recovering it from the sale of the vehicles. "So we don't have to give the single dealer all the concessions. If anyone has to get the concession it would be people who are putting in the bids," he said. (Miranda La Rose)
Stabroek News
Friday, December 29, 2006
Caribbean - Economics by JC Bollers (Guyana's Standing)
Since someone brought up the subject of economy and I'm through with my class work for the semester, I thought that I'd share what I've been learning in economic geography, which is basically economics that realizes that transactions don't take place on the head of a needle. In addition to my studies I've been applying what I've learned to studying the Caribbean and Guyana in particular.
I've been working with the Theil Index, which is an index used to classify which units of a group contribute to the inequality amongst members of the group as a whole. It utilizes a unit's share of population and income to assign a 'Theil number' to each unit.
The most similar units cluster around the zero line. If a unit has a high income share and/or population share then it is considered highly ‘unequal’ and it is assigned a higher absolute value. High positive values mean that a unit has a high share of income relative to the rest (though it could still have a large population) and negative Theil values show that a unit has a very large population share and a proportionately smaller share of the income.
The first thing that I noted upon graphing my calculations is that Guyana is on the tail-end of the 'normal' or even 'equal' countries. That means that in terms of share of population and income that Guyana isn't doing nearly as bad as some of the bigger poor islands.
But every method of economic comparison has its shortcomings. Here's the problem with the Theil index. You can only tell so much utilizing population and income. It says nothing about income distribution. It's also useless when you want to see how developed a country is.
Though I've never personally been to Jamaica or the DR, I assume that the average poor person there has it slightly better in those places than in Guyana. The reason is that those countries' populations are much larger. There are things that a country can do with a much larger population base than otherwise. Public transportation is just one example.
I figured that I'd offer a comparative picture of Guyana based on data rather than anecdotal goings on. It helps to put things in perspective. I walk away from this glad that we've got it better than more than a few places, though worse than every former British colony in the Caribbean.
It helps that some of the countries at the high end of the spectrum are our closest neighbors, namely Trinidad and Barbados.
Sure we've got no oil or Beaches, but with better management and development we should be able to pull into somewhere in the middle of the pack. Surpassing Belize would be a good goal. Belize is a mainland state versus an island. I got my data for my calculations from the CIA world factbook, they seem to update their vital stats fairly frequently.
Guyana Gazzette
Guyana - Hotel Rooms
More top class hotels likely
-- President announces
By Mark Ramotar - Chronicle News
THE current boom in the development and construction of classy hotels in Guyana is expected to continue as the government is in discussion with a few large overseas companies to establish additional hotels here, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday.
There has been a significant boom in the construction of hotels in Guyana, especially in anticipation of the much need accommodation for the major Cricket World Cup (CWC) tournament to be hosted here in April next year .
“If you think that the hotels that are being built today for World Cup Cricket 2007 that that would be the end of the hotel construction process (then you are wrong) because there are others who have seen the possibility of even making more money from further hotel development, and I am speaking about larger groups from overseas,” the President told reporters.
Noting that Guyana’s hosting of the Cricket World Cup tournament in 2007 will be the “biggest boost to the tourism industry in Guyana ever”, the President said the tourism industry has the potential to overtake many of the traditional sectors in terms of revenue and foreign currency earned and employment creation.
Noting several hotels are being built today that will increase the stock of good quality rooms in the country, the President said the establishment of several new and quality hotels will significantly aid in the development of the fledgling tourism industry.
“We have had a limited number of good quality rooms (with most of them largely at Le Meridien Pegasus hotel in Georgetown) and this has limited our ability to host major international events and even meetings,” Mr. Jagdeo told reporters.
The President declared that that scenario is “going to change”.
“I am not just speaking about the Casique Palace Hotel or the Buddy’s International hotel (currently under construction) but there are tens of small hotels that are going up around the country but sometimes we lose sight of what is taking place all around us and especially around the city.”
The President also stressed that CWC 2007 should be seen as more than just an event, given the global magnitude and attraction of the event ranked as the world’s third major sporting event.
“I think CWC could and never should be seen as just an event (but) as an event that allows us to give a boost to a fledgling industry that has significant potential,” he said.
Alluding to the fears by many persons about the future of these hotels going up after the CWC event, the President said his personal feeling is that “they will do well if we have good marketing” and as the tourism market grows.
He also slammed the “big controversy raging” about the government’s assistance to Casique and Buddy’s as nothing but “very narrow minded” negativity being peddled by some in society, including a particular newspaper.
President Jagdeo also lamented the seeming preference being given to foreigners by the local banking system. He lashed out at hotels such as Le Meridien Pegasus for taking away all the money it makes in Guyana without reinvesting here.
“The Le Meridien Pegasus makes a ton of money, they have a monopoly on the market, the rooms are atrocious, they are not reinvesting in the country, they kill the market and they take all the money abroad…” he declared. (This also applies to the Telephone Company, the Electricity Corporation, the Water Authority & Guysuco which are all managed by foreign entities....not to forget exploiters like Barama & Omai. Lets face it Guyana has been plagued with bad Governance for 40 plus years. the question is how do we reverse the process or do we just maintain the status quo and complain? You have the power to do something about it Mr. President, stop talking and ACT.)
He recalled the first time that the hosting of CWC came on the horizon and he met a small group of people who listed all the reasons why Guyana should not play host to the CWC tournament and then he met another team who said they would get the stadium constructed but didn’t have the money.
“…today we are as prepared as many of the other countries that have had blossoming tourism industries and fairly decent stadia like the one in St. Lucia,” he said, adding, “if we had listened to those people, we would never be hosting World Cup cricket here.”
He explained that part of the compulsory requirements to host the tournament was that 450 to 500 good quality rooms must be available for officials and teams.
“These rooms have to be there for you to get the chance to host CWC (but) when we looked around Guyana, we didn’t have those and that is why it is so critical that the Buddy’s International Hotel and the Casique Palace Hotel are completed,” the President said.
“We made a commitment that we will have these rooms ready and this is why we will work with those two hotels…we will assist them to be ready for World Cup cricket,” he declared.
The President also lauded the proprietors of the two hotels for taking the risk and still going ahead and investing, despite the negativity being peddled.
“It takes courage for people like Beverley and Buddy’s, that in spite (of) all this negativity to go forward with their projects. I must say that these people are true pioneers; not the doomsayers and those who constantly see negatives,” the President declared.
The Buddy’s International Hotel is almost completed and committed efforts are under way to complete the exquisitely-designed Casique Palace hotel being constructed just behind Buddy’s and next to the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara before the end of January 2007, according to owner Ms. Beverley Arthur.
-- President announces
By Mark Ramotar - Chronicle News
THE current boom in the development and construction of classy hotels in Guyana is expected to continue as the government is in discussion with a few large overseas companies to establish additional hotels here, President Bharrat Jagdeo said yesterday.
There has been a significant boom in the construction of hotels in Guyana, especially in anticipation of the much need accommodation for the major Cricket World Cup (CWC) tournament to be hosted here in April next year .
“If you think that the hotels that are being built today for World Cup Cricket 2007 that that would be the end of the hotel construction process (then you are wrong) because there are others who have seen the possibility of even making more money from further hotel development, and I am speaking about larger groups from overseas,” the President told reporters.
Noting that Guyana’s hosting of the Cricket World Cup tournament in 2007 will be the “biggest boost to the tourism industry in Guyana ever”, the President said the tourism industry has the potential to overtake many of the traditional sectors in terms of revenue and foreign currency earned and employment creation.
Noting several hotels are being built today that will increase the stock of good quality rooms in the country, the President said the establishment of several new and quality hotels will significantly aid in the development of the fledgling tourism industry.
“We have had a limited number of good quality rooms (with most of them largely at Le Meridien Pegasus hotel in Georgetown) and this has limited our ability to host major international events and even meetings,” Mr. Jagdeo told reporters.
The President declared that that scenario is “going to change”.
“I am not just speaking about the Casique Palace Hotel or the Buddy’s International hotel (currently under construction) but there are tens of small hotels that are going up around the country but sometimes we lose sight of what is taking place all around us and especially around the city.”
The President also stressed that CWC 2007 should be seen as more than just an event, given the global magnitude and attraction of the event ranked as the world’s third major sporting event.
“I think CWC could and never should be seen as just an event (but) as an event that allows us to give a boost to a fledgling industry that has significant potential,” he said.
Alluding to the fears by many persons about the future of these hotels going up after the CWC event, the President said his personal feeling is that “they will do well if we have good marketing” and as the tourism market grows.
He also slammed the “big controversy raging” about the government’s assistance to Casique and Buddy’s as nothing but “very narrow minded” negativity being peddled by some in society, including a particular newspaper.
President Jagdeo also lamented the seeming preference being given to foreigners by the local banking system. He lashed out at hotels such as Le Meridien Pegasus for taking away all the money it makes in Guyana without reinvesting here.
“The Le Meridien Pegasus makes a ton of money, they have a monopoly on the market, the rooms are atrocious, they are not reinvesting in the country, they kill the market and they take all the money abroad…” he declared. (This also applies to the Telephone Company, the Electricity Corporation, the Water Authority & Guysuco which are all managed by foreign entities....not to forget exploiters like Barama & Omai. Lets face it Guyana has been plagued with bad Governance for 40 plus years. the question is how do we reverse the process or do we just maintain the status quo and complain? You have the power to do something about it Mr. President, stop talking and ACT.)
He recalled the first time that the hosting of CWC came on the horizon and he met a small group of people who listed all the reasons why Guyana should not play host to the CWC tournament and then he met another team who said they would get the stadium constructed but didn’t have the money.
“…today we are as prepared as many of the other countries that have had blossoming tourism industries and fairly decent stadia like the one in St. Lucia,” he said, adding, “if we had listened to those people, we would never be hosting World Cup cricket here.”
He explained that part of the compulsory requirements to host the tournament was that 450 to 500 good quality rooms must be available for officials and teams.
“These rooms have to be there for you to get the chance to host CWC (but) when we looked around Guyana, we didn’t have those and that is why it is so critical that the Buddy’s International Hotel and the Casique Palace Hotel are completed,” the President said.
“We made a commitment that we will have these rooms ready and this is why we will work with those two hotels…we will assist them to be ready for World Cup cricket,” he declared.
The President also lauded the proprietors of the two hotels for taking the risk and still going ahead and investing, despite the negativity being peddled.
“It takes courage for people like Beverley and Buddy’s, that in spite (of) all this negativity to go forward with their projects. I must say that these people are true pioneers; not the doomsayers and those who constantly see negatives,” the President declared.
The Buddy’s International Hotel is almost completed and committed efforts are under way to complete the exquisitely-designed Casique Palace hotel being constructed just behind Buddy’s and next to the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara before the end of January 2007, according to owner Ms. Beverley Arthur.
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Guyana - Not going anywhere in a hurry
Some examples known to the subject minister and the President, Green said, include the awarding of contracts involving millions of dollars for goods and services ignoring all tender and administrative procedures with the most recent being monies given by the President for the enhancement of the city including its avenues......read more
Caribbean - Travel companies threaten to boycott
Travel companies threaten Caribbean boycott
Thursday December 28 2006
A growing wave of concern is moving across the region over the suspension of Visa waivers for people travelling to the region for Cricket World Cup and here in Antigua an urgent meeting may be convened as soon as today to address the issue.
The meeting is scheduled to take place between the Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell and interests in the travel and tourism trade.
The suspension of Visa waivers during the period 15 Jan., to 15 May 2007 for Cricket World Cup is causing alarm for travel agencies, tour operators and even cruise lines who may be thinking of boycotting, according to industry insiders. link
Thursday December 28 2006
A growing wave of concern is moving across the region over the suspension of Visa waivers for people travelling to the region for Cricket World Cup and here in Antigua an urgent meeting may be convened as soon as today to address the issue.
The meeting is scheduled to take place between the Minister of Tourism Harold Lovell and interests in the travel and tourism trade.
The suspension of Visa waivers during the period 15 Jan., to 15 May 2007 for Cricket World Cup is causing alarm for travel agencies, tour operators and even cruise lines who may be thinking of boycotting, according to industry insiders. link
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
Caribbean - I see White people
ICC code to be implemented at competition
Racism will not be tolerated at World Cup
Philip Spooner
December 13, 2006
Chris Dehring, the CEO of the World Cup organising committee, has said that racism and obscene gestures will not be tolerated at next year's competition, with stiff penalties awaiting those who do offend....read more
Dis is ow we does treat dem in Guyana ah belive dem bais waitin fuh Austrailian Glen McGrath if he get he Visa fuh-come fuh-cup.
Racism will not be tolerated at World Cup
Philip Spooner
December 13, 2006
Chris Dehring, the CEO of the World Cup organising committee, has said that racism and obscene gestures will not be tolerated at next year's competition, with stiff penalties awaiting those who do offend....read more
Dis is ow we does treat dem in Guyana ah belive dem bais waitin fuh Austrailian Glen McGrath if he get he Visa fuh-come fuh-cup.
Caribbean - (74 days to go for World Cup)
World Cup visa chaos a real possibility
Martin Williamson
December 25, 2006
Mike Agostini, who had been Trinidad and Tobago's honorary consul in Australia since 1981 until his resignation earlier this month, has told Cricinfo that the shambles surrounding the decision to insist on new visas for many visitors to the World Cup caused him to quit.
The implementation of a US$100 visa for many foreigners intending to travel to the Caribbean between January and May has been justified by the local authorities as a measure to ease travel between islands as well as allowing for improved security measures. But it has been attacked by critics as being little more than another move to exploit visitors to a region where travellers already face substantial price hikes ahead of the tournament....read more
Martin Williamson
December 25, 2006
Mike Agostini, who had been Trinidad and Tobago's honorary consul in Australia since 1981 until his resignation earlier this month, has told Cricinfo that the shambles surrounding the decision to insist on new visas for many visitors to the World Cup caused him to quit.
The implementation of a US$100 visa for many foreigners intending to travel to the Caribbean between January and May has been justified by the local authorities as a measure to ease travel between islands as well as allowing for improved security measures. But it has been attacked by critics as being little more than another move to exploit visitors to a region where travellers already face substantial price hikes ahead of the tournament....read more
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Guyana on a Roll (Soccer)
Guyana on a roll
Guyana recently extended their unbeaten streak to 14.
www.fifa.com
(FIFA.com) 29 Nov 2006
When one thinks of perennial powers in the CONCACAF region, names like Mexico and the United States - even new boys Costa Rica - begin to roll from the tongue. Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago are also national teams with some claims to improved status over the years and, in most conversations, go a long way to eclipsing Guyana in terms of footballing prowess. But now football fans in the country currently have something massive to shout about as their team is undergoing an astonishing upswing in footballing fortunes.
The tropical nation is every inch an outsider in North, Central America and the Caribbean. For one reason, it falls geographically outside of the region, occupying the extreme north east corner of South America.
The tiny former Dutch and British Colony with a population of just over 700,000 has not lost a match in over two years, and, on Wednesday, extended their unbeaten run to an amazing 14 games. The smallest nation on mainland South America and one which shares far more, culturally speaking, with the Caribbean than its host continent, have put together a side to be proud of and are in the throes of a wondrous revival.
In a stretch of 14 matches, the team - coached by Jamaal Shabazz (who also incidentally holds the reins the country's women's national team) - have not lost a game since their ill-fated FIFA World Cup™ qualifying run in 2004 where they lost 8-1 on aggregate over two legs to Grenada with suspensions and injuries affecting the side hard. Yet, in the space of two years the side has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Caribbean Cup shockers
Currently hosting one of three second round groups of the Caribbean Cup, which acts as the sub-region's preliminary qualifying tournament for next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, Guyana have kept their impressive run of wins alive.
Antigua & Barbuda were first to suffer in the second round, after Guyana finished the first round with a perfect nine points, seven goals scored and zero conceded in three games, with a thumping 6-0 defeat on the day. Goals from Randolph Jerome - who is considered the nation's best player and Gregory Richardson led the way for the green-clad warriors and brought their undefeated streak in international competition to 12. In their second match, they roared to a tense 3-2 win over Guadalupe.
In first place with six points - three ahead of Guadalupe and the Dominican Republic - Guyana's final group game came on 28 November against a sharp-looking Dominican squad. But true to recent form, Guyana recorded a 4-0 win to finish top of the group, bringing their unbeaten run to 14 and qualifying for final Caribbean qualifying round in Trinidad & Tobago in January.
Their incredible recent run has seen the side jump to a best-ever 105th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking - a boost of nearly 60 spots since 2004 and just three behind Central American powers Guatemala. And if they can keep their form up they just might find themselves playing in their first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup next year.
Four teams from the final field of eight Caribbean participants in T&T at the start of 2007 will book their passage to the 2007 Gold Cup in the USA, and Guyana - currently untouchable and brimming with confidence - will be keen to prove their current renaissance with a place at the big table.
Guyana recently extended their unbeaten streak to 14.
www.fifa.com
(FIFA.com) 29 Nov 2006
When one thinks of perennial powers in the CONCACAF region, names like Mexico and the United States - even new boys Costa Rica - begin to roll from the tongue. Honduras, Jamaica, Guatemala and Trinidad & Tobago are also national teams with some claims to improved status over the years and, in most conversations, go a long way to eclipsing Guyana in terms of footballing prowess. But now football fans in the country currently have something massive to shout about as their team is undergoing an astonishing upswing in footballing fortunes.
The tropical nation is every inch an outsider in North, Central America and the Caribbean. For one reason, it falls geographically outside of the region, occupying the extreme north east corner of South America.
The tiny former Dutch and British Colony with a population of just over 700,000 has not lost a match in over two years, and, on Wednesday, extended their unbeaten run to an amazing 14 games. The smallest nation on mainland South America and one which shares far more, culturally speaking, with the Caribbean than its host continent, have put together a side to be proud of and are in the throes of a wondrous revival.
In a stretch of 14 matches, the team - coached by Jamaal Shabazz (who also incidentally holds the reins the country's women's national team) - have not lost a game since their ill-fated FIFA World Cup™ qualifying run in 2004 where they lost 8-1 on aggregate over two legs to Grenada with suspensions and injuries affecting the side hard. Yet, in the space of two years the side has undergone a remarkable transformation.
Caribbean Cup shockers
Currently hosting one of three second round groups of the Caribbean Cup, which acts as the sub-region's preliminary qualifying tournament for next year's CONCACAF Gold Cup, Guyana have kept their impressive run of wins alive.
Antigua & Barbuda were first to suffer in the second round, after Guyana finished the first round with a perfect nine points, seven goals scored and zero conceded in three games, with a thumping 6-0 defeat on the day. Goals from Randolph Jerome - who is considered the nation's best player and Gregory Richardson led the way for the green-clad warriors and brought their undefeated streak in international competition to 12. In their second match, they roared to a tense 3-2 win over Guadalupe.
In first place with six points - three ahead of Guadalupe and the Dominican Republic - Guyana's final group game came on 28 November against a sharp-looking Dominican squad. But true to recent form, Guyana recorded a 4-0 win to finish top of the group, bringing their unbeaten run to 14 and qualifying for final Caribbean qualifying round in Trinidad & Tobago in January.
Their incredible recent run has seen the side jump to a best-ever 105th in the FIFA/Coca-Cola world ranking - a boost of nearly 60 spots since 2004 and just three behind Central American powers Guatemala. And if they can keep their form up they just might find themselves playing in their first-ever CONCACAF Gold Cup next year.
Four teams from the final field of eight Caribbean participants in T&T at the start of 2007 will book their passage to the 2007 Gold Cup in the USA, and Guyana - currently untouchable and brimming with confidence - will be keen to prove their current renaissance with a place at the big table.
Guyana - As usual "Cart before the Horse"
www.guyanaaccomodations.org in relation to this story Guyana accomodations gone wild
is an inactive website being published in the news with dead end links. At least launch the website before having it published, basic common sense.
Speaking about horse, cart, carrots, donkeys and jackasses.....check out the Berbice Bridge Blog
is an inactive website being published in the news with dead end links. At least launch the website before having it published, basic common sense.
Speaking about horse, cart, carrots, donkeys and jackasses.....check out the Berbice Bridge Blog
www.Guyana Accomodation Story Gone Wild.com
All along the Government was funding these hotel ventures? See if you can make sense of this news story.
Govt advance poses question on Buddy's financing
By Miranda La Rose
Sunday, December 24th 2006
StabroekNews
That the government advanced a large sum to the Buddy's Hotel for the completion of the hotel in time for the world cup has raised the question as to why the investor himself was unable to come up with the funds.
The proprietor, Omprakash Shivraj could not be contacted on Friday or yesterday for comment despite repeated efforts by Stabroek News. Observers say the advance by the government would be tantamount to a bailing out of the investor.
The advancing of the money by the government is being covered by a lien which the government now has on the Providence hotel and the land it has been built on.
According to the latest edition of the Official Gazette, both the Guyana government and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) have a lien on the Buddy's International Hotel and Resort at Providence, the latter via a debt instrument.
While the precise sums the property is mortgaged for is still not known, the Guyana government has advanced the sum of $168.7 million to owners and operators of the Buddy's International Hotel and Resort and the nearby Casique Palace, Suites and Banqueting Halls for accommodation mainly for the media and sponsors of the CWC 2007 championships.
The expense for this accommodation is to be paid for by the International Cricket Council (ICC) which means that the government will be reimbursed.
Stabroek News understands from a source close to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) that funding for the completion of Buddy's and the Casique was a source of concern for the owners and operators, and the need for funding forced the government to advance the sums of money for the rooms to ensure completion of the project in time for the CWC 2007 Super Eight Matches which Guyana has undertaken to host.
Stabroek News was yesterday unable to contact the proprietors of Buddy's International or Casique to verify this issue.
Meanwhile, the November 11 Official Gazette has stated that the owner of Buddy's International Hotel obtained a fourth mortgage on the property from the Guyana Government earlier this year. The Official Gazette states that Omprakash Shivraj of Lot 23 Brickdam, Georgetown ceded to the Guyana government his right, title and interest in, as mortgagor, to a state land lease for the term of 99 years starting from May 13, 2006 "and executed on the 13th day of January, 2006 - No 2648 in respect of tract 'BS' of Block 2 (Cricket Stadium) Providence, East Bank Demerara, containing 7.00 acres as shown on a GL&SC Plan No 38488 by C Bowen, sworn land surveyor… with the buildings and erections thereon and on all future buildings and erections which may hereafter be constructed or erected thereon during the existence of this mortgage, the property of the mortgagor."
According to the Official Gazette, Omprakash Shivraj also known as Buddy Shivraj had earlier taken out a third mortgage from the GBTI in which he ceded his right, title and interest in and to the same lease for a period of 99 years starting from January 1, 2006 - 2648 in respect of a piece or parcel of land situate on tract 'BS' of Block 2 (cricket Stadium) Providence, East Bank Demerara and on the buildings and erections thereon and on all the buildings and erections which might be situated thereon during the existence of the mortgage, the property of the mortgagor, as well as "all and singular, the furniture, fixtures and fittings which are at present or may hereafter be situated on the property described during the existence of the mortgage.
Asked who was ultimately responsible for paying for the accommodation of the teams, officials, media and sponsors (TOMS) for the ICC CWC 2007 event in Guyana and the region, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony told the media on Thursday that it was the responsibility of the ICC through Cricket Logistics.
However, he said the government has contracted the rooms from Buddy's and the Casique "as part of our obligations and we have secured the rooms of those two facilities. The owners and operators of the two have assured us that they would be completing both facilities in time.
Without those rooms we would not be able to meet our obligations. The completion and availability of those rooms are very important to us."
He added that, "Without them we cannot meet our obligations. Ultimately CWC through Cricket Logistics would be paying for the rooms. But we have secured the rooms."
With regard to the room and cost, he said that the government "would not be making a substantial amount of money but we would be making some money" through the arrangement… "At this point we don't want to talk about the details of the transaction. You know the broad sums of money involved."
The money was made available through a supplementary budget in one of two financial papers approved by Parliament on December 14.
Asked whether this was being done by other host venues, Chief Executive Officer of the ICC Local Organising Committee Karan Singh said the arrangement to advance Buddy's and the Casique was "unique to Guyana."
Singh said the contractual obligation was taken with the two facilities because Guyana does not have the kind of accommodation that the other host venues already have in place. "They have adequate hotels and rooms. We do not," he said adding that in advancing monies for the rooms on behalf of Cricket Logistics there are administrative and management fees involved which would be paid for by the ICC.
During the last visit of the ICC CWC West Indies Inc Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring and team to Guyana to inspect the host venue facilities, Dehring had expressed concern about the accommodation facilities and Stabroek News understand that President Bharrat Jagdeo was forced to intervene to assure the ICC CWC West Indies Inc that the rooms would be made completed in time and would be available.
As a host venue for six of the Super Eight series Guyana is required to provide in excess of 400 rooms for the TOMS. Le Meridien Pegasus and the Cara Lodge and Cara Suites would be providing accommodation for the teams and officials. Meanwhile, in terms of other accommodation facilities, Dr Anthony said a number of other hotels and guest houses are completing renovations and expansion for the CWC 2007.
He said while the bed and breakfast (B&B) programme was on target the LOC was trying to make up for a shortfall on the programme by trying to get more people involved in that programme because the trailer park which they had been hoping would be set up in the National Park would not longer be available to Guyana.
The B&B programme has launched its official website which would be linked to the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Hospitality Association and the CWC world cup website.
The B&B website is www.guyanaaccomodations.org and persons could book their accommodation online.
Govt advance poses question on Buddy's financing
By Miranda La Rose
Sunday, December 24th 2006
StabroekNews
That the government advanced a large sum to the Buddy's Hotel for the completion of the hotel in time for the world cup has raised the question as to why the investor himself was unable to come up with the funds.
The proprietor, Omprakash Shivraj could not be contacted on Friday or yesterday for comment despite repeated efforts by Stabroek News. Observers say the advance by the government would be tantamount to a bailing out of the investor.
The advancing of the money by the government is being covered by a lien which the government now has on the Providence hotel and the land it has been built on.
According to the latest edition of the Official Gazette, both the Guyana government and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI) have a lien on the Buddy's International Hotel and Resort at Providence, the latter via a debt instrument.
While the precise sums the property is mortgaged for is still not known, the Guyana government has advanced the sum of $168.7 million to owners and operators of the Buddy's International Hotel and Resort and the nearby Casique Palace, Suites and Banqueting Halls for accommodation mainly for the media and sponsors of the CWC 2007 championships.
The expense for this accommodation is to be paid for by the International Cricket Council (ICC) which means that the government will be reimbursed.
Stabroek News understands from a source close to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) that funding for the completion of Buddy's and the Casique was a source of concern for the owners and operators, and the need for funding forced the government to advance the sums of money for the rooms to ensure completion of the project in time for the CWC 2007 Super Eight Matches which Guyana has undertaken to host.
Stabroek News was yesterday unable to contact the proprietors of Buddy's International or Casique to verify this issue.
Meanwhile, the November 11 Official Gazette has stated that the owner of Buddy's International Hotel obtained a fourth mortgage on the property from the Guyana Government earlier this year. The Official Gazette states that Omprakash Shivraj of Lot 23 Brickdam, Georgetown ceded to the Guyana government his right, title and interest in, as mortgagor, to a state land lease for the term of 99 years starting from May 13, 2006 "and executed on the 13th day of January, 2006 - No 2648 in respect of tract 'BS' of Block 2 (Cricket Stadium) Providence, East Bank Demerara, containing 7.00 acres as shown on a GL&SC Plan No 38488 by C Bowen, sworn land surveyor… with the buildings and erections thereon and on all future buildings and erections which may hereafter be constructed or erected thereon during the existence of this mortgage, the property of the mortgagor."
According to the Official Gazette, Omprakash Shivraj also known as Buddy Shivraj had earlier taken out a third mortgage from the GBTI in which he ceded his right, title and interest in and to the same lease for a period of 99 years starting from January 1, 2006 - 2648 in respect of a piece or parcel of land situate on tract 'BS' of Block 2 (cricket Stadium) Providence, East Bank Demerara and on the buildings and erections thereon and on all the buildings and erections which might be situated thereon during the existence of the mortgage, the property of the mortgagor, as well as "all and singular, the furniture, fixtures and fittings which are at present or may hereafter be situated on the property described during the existence of the mortgage.
Asked who was ultimately responsible for paying for the accommodation of the teams, officials, media and sponsors (TOMS) for the ICC CWC 2007 event in Guyana and the region, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr Frank Anthony told the media on Thursday that it was the responsibility of the ICC through Cricket Logistics.
However, he said the government has contracted the rooms from Buddy's and the Casique "as part of our obligations and we have secured the rooms of those two facilities. The owners and operators of the two have assured us that they would be completing both facilities in time.
Without those rooms we would not be able to meet our obligations. The completion and availability of those rooms are very important to us."
He added that, "Without them we cannot meet our obligations. Ultimately CWC through Cricket Logistics would be paying for the rooms. But we have secured the rooms."
With regard to the room and cost, he said that the government "would not be making a substantial amount of money but we would be making some money" through the arrangement… "At this point we don't want to talk about the details of the transaction. You know the broad sums of money involved."
The money was made available through a supplementary budget in one of two financial papers approved by Parliament on December 14.
Asked whether this was being done by other host venues, Chief Executive Officer of the ICC Local Organising Committee Karan Singh said the arrangement to advance Buddy's and the Casique was "unique to Guyana."
Singh said the contractual obligation was taken with the two facilities because Guyana does not have the kind of accommodation that the other host venues already have in place. "They have adequate hotels and rooms. We do not," he said adding that in advancing monies for the rooms on behalf of Cricket Logistics there are administrative and management fees involved which would be paid for by the ICC.
During the last visit of the ICC CWC West Indies Inc Chief Executive Officer Chris Dehring and team to Guyana to inspect the host venue facilities, Dehring had expressed concern about the accommodation facilities and Stabroek News understand that President Bharrat Jagdeo was forced to intervene to assure the ICC CWC West Indies Inc that the rooms would be made completed in time and would be available.
As a host venue for six of the Super Eight series Guyana is required to provide in excess of 400 rooms for the TOMS. Le Meridien Pegasus and the Cara Lodge and Cara Suites would be providing accommodation for the teams and officials. Meanwhile, in terms of other accommodation facilities, Dr Anthony said a number of other hotels and guest houses are completing renovations and expansion for the CWC 2007.
He said while the bed and breakfast (B&B) programme was on target the LOC was trying to make up for a shortfall on the programme by trying to get more people involved in that programme because the trailer park which they had been hoping would be set up in the National Park would not longer be available to Guyana.
The B&B programme has launched its official website which would be linked to the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Tourism and Hospitality Association and the CWC world cup website.
The B&B website is www.guyanaaccomodations.org and persons could book their accommodation online.
Caribbean - Aircraft movements for World Cup
This is a query from a Pilot:
Today at (BGI) Barbados Grantley Adams airport there were long delays for north bound jet traffic due to congestion in (POS) Trinidad Piarco's airspace, this also occured last week. Today Ground Control in BGI said there was a 10 minute delay between north bound flights however, that 10 minutes turned into hours. As the Air Candad flight to (YYZ) Toronto Pearsons International airport left two hours late and the USAIR flight to (PHL) Philadelphia an hour late all other flights experienced delays over 15 minutes. What is the real issue is this a consequence, of Piarco's lack of a radar? In addition, with the WORLD CUP on our heels how will they be able to cope with the expected increased aircraft movements?
Today at (BGI) Barbados Grantley Adams airport there were long delays for north bound jet traffic due to congestion in (POS) Trinidad Piarco's airspace, this also occured last week. Today Ground Control in BGI said there was a 10 minute delay between north bound flights however, that 10 minutes turned into hours. As the Air Candad flight to (YYZ) Toronto Pearsons International airport left two hours late and the USAIR flight to (PHL) Philadelphia an hour late all other flights experienced delays over 15 minutes. What is the real issue is this a consequence, of Piarco's lack of a radar? In addition, with the WORLD CUP on our heels how will they be able to cope with the expected increased aircraft movements?
Friday, December 22, 2006
Guyana - World Cup prep by Sean Devers
By far Sean Devers is probably the best news reporter in Guyana, read the report below, look at the way it is organized and see what I mean. This report is concise and to the point, unlike the Chronicle (PropagandaPress) report below. Devers was also a good first division cricketer, therefore he knows the requirements for staging cricket matches.
LOC launches Bed & Breakfast website for CWC 2007
-- official says accommodation plans moving smoothly
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News is lucky to have him
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the International Cricket Conference Cricket World Cup 2007 (ICC CWC2007) yesterday launched its Bed and Breakfast website at the LOC office in Georgetown during its final media briefing for the year.
LOC’s Chief Executive Officer Karan Singh, Chairman of the LOC; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony; Minister of Public Works, Robson Benn; Convener of the Local Security Committee for CWC, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slow; and Venue Manager of the Stadium at Providence, Walter Willis addressed the media on a number of issues relating to Guyana’s hosting of six CWC super-eight matches, from March 28 to April 9.
Accommodation
Minister Anthony informed that accommodation plans are “moving smoothly along.” He noted that several hotels are completing renovations and expansions for the mega event.
“Buddy’s and Casique hotels, both at Providence, have assured us (Guyana Government) that their facilities will be ready in time for the World Cup. It is imperative that they are completed, since, without those rooms, we will not meet our obligations to the ICC,” Dr Anthony stressed.
He disclosed that advance payments, for rooms for players and officials, have already been made to the two hotels from the supplementary budget, adding that the ICC will be standing the cost of the rooms.
Although the ICC will pay for the rooms, the Minister explained, Government’s obligation is to have the rooms available. He added that an advance was paid to ensure that the rooms are ready by March.
Dr Anthony said that Government is expected to make a profit from the exercise, but he stressed that it would not be a substantial one.
Bed & Breakfast
Dr Anthony noted that while the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) programme is “on target,” the LOC was trying to make up for the shortfall of no longer having the trailer park option available by offering more rooms to prospective visitors through the B&B initiative.
Dr Anthony said there had been an increase in interest for the B&B in recent weeks. He hopes this would translate into actual rooms being made available.
While owners of houses in the city and close to the stadium are being encouraged to make rooms available for visitors, anyone in Guyana could register their rooms for approval by the LOC.
Once a room is approved and registered, it will be placed on the website, and persons from anywhere in the world can make bookings.
The rooms will be graded and categorised; and the various categories, costs, amenities available, and other relevant information will be posted on the website (www.guyanaaccommodation.org).
Homeowners desirous of making their rooms available can contact the LOC on telephone numbers 226-2052 or 225-9854. Once an inspection is done by the LOC, an arrangement can be worked out with several of the local banks (working in collaboration with the LOC) to grant low-interest loans to upgrade the facilities.
The actual transaction between the home owner and visitor will be exclusive, but the LOC can assist in cases of electronic payment if the homeowner does not have access to such technology.
The LOC will provide free registration, free marketing and promotion, participation in training programmes, access to loans (conditions apply) and an opportunity for the home owner to acquire an extra income.
CWC Promotion
Minister Anthony encouraged locals to capitalise on the final phase of ticket sales, which begins on January 15. He informed that a number of promotional activities have been planned to increase the cricket spirit and promote Guyana as a CWC destination. These, he said, include using past and present Guyana cricketers in promotional campaigns in the Diaspora.
West Indian Community Radio and Television will also be used to promote Guyana’s preparations, and opportunities to those in North America.
The ICC is responsible for promoting the World Cup globally, but the LOC feels that its promotion is inadequate, and has embarked on its own measures, which should intensify as the event draws closer. The B&B website will also have links to the Guyana Tourism Authority and the ICC CWC accommodation websites.
Stadium external work
Minister Benn said his Ministry has been mandated to deliver the Stadium in a completed fashion to the Government. He was confident that the February 28 deadline will be met.
“All external works are 65% completed, and the focus now is on the parking areas, drains, roadways, and fences. The practice pitch concerns are being addressed, and I don’t foresee problems in that area which would affect our hosting of matches,” Benn opined.
Beautification exercise begins
The media was told that the arrivals area at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri has been enlarged, while all unauthorised signage, sand piles, old vehicles, and shacks on the East Bank Demerara Public Road are being removed. This action will also take place in the city and its environs, and on the East Coast of Demerara.
The Public Works Minister also revealed that, with assistance from the private sector and City Council, a beautification exercise has been embarked upon, not only for CWC, but hopefully, long after, as Guyanese develop a new culture regarding how the environment looks, and the role they play in making Guyana beautiful.
A Museum Garden is also being set up near the National Museum in time for CWC.
Security plans
Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe explained that he is responsible for the match-day security operations being delivered. He explained that the ICC mandates that certain things be put in place on match days.
He informed that the training of security personnel who will work at the stadium has already begun, adding that four Guyanese recently returned from a course in Jamaica.
Slowe pointed out that approximately 300 security personnel will be trained, between February 26 and March, to perform specific duties at the Stadium. He disclosed that since each person will have to be certified and accredited for CWC, more than those required will be trained, in the event of sickness or drop-out of security workers.
The ICC also stipulates that the host venues are required to put in place a number of security measures. He said that a national security plan has been documented.
Many of the stipulated measures mandated by the ICC are not normally used in the region, but, Slow said, CARICOM will seek assistance from the bigger countries, like the USA, for specialist assistance in some areas for CWC.
Slow said local security plans for the tournament are ‘well on the way.’ He reminded that while the Stadium will be the hub of activities during the games, the Guyana Police Force will also have to police the tourist resorts, night spots, and other places which visitors may find interesting. They will also have to maintain a high level of security at the Stadium.
He noted that, in the last ICC Security Report, Guyana received favorable reviews.
“Four areas of security were looked at, and we (Guyana) got green (highest marks) or blue (second highest) in all of the areas except one. Because the fence was not yet constructed when the ICC came here recently, we got a yellow (lowest mark) in the area of stadium security, but once the fence is completed, we will have met all the requirements,” he said.
Stadium pitch
Commenting on the ongoing work at the Stadium and the recent ICC report on the venue, Willis said that corrective measures are being taken on all of the defects pointed out by the ICC.
Willis expressed confidence that everything will be completed on time. He said the landscaping team is already on the site, and should commence work shortly.
Of the 28 points listed by the ICC, four areas were deemed unsatisfactory, and Willis assured that those critical areas are being worked on.
President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Chetram Singh, is on record as saying that, contrary to a Kaieteur Sports report on the matter, the ICC inspection team was not referring to the match pitch in their report, but to the practice pitches when expressing their dissatisfaction.
However, an ICC document, yesterday, confirmed that the four areas of dissatisfaction were the match pitch, outfield, sightscreens and practice nets.
Willis said he agreed with the ICC’s assessment that the pitch had no grass and suffered from poor ground keeping, and the outfield had sparse grass covering and was very sandy and soft.
He, however, did not agree that the sightscreen was a concern, explaining that just a small section of the window of the players’ dining area, to the south of the ground, had to be covered.
He said the practice pitch is under construction, and is already grassed, while the bowlers’ run-up is also being prepared, and should be ready on time.
Explaining why the outfield and pitch failed to meet the ICC standards, Willis said, “Four days before the visit, no irrigation was done to the field, which caused a major problem, due to the lack of enough moisture content. The cutting equipment (which is now on the site) had also not yet arrived. The Trinidadian company contracted to prepare the outfield and pitch has since returned to Providence, and already a lot of improvements have been made on the pitch and field.”
Guyana is scheduled to play the Leeward Islands during the final week of January in the regional four-day, first-class competition, while two regional one-day games, against Barbados and the Leeward Islands, will be played at Providence in February.
Name
Meanwhile, Karan Singh yesterday confirmed that the name `Providence Stadium’ has been officially changed to the `Guyana National Stadium at Providence.’
Sources close to the LOC opined that the name change ‘should not be a big thing,’ but felt that those in authority could have waited until the completion of CWC, since the tickets for the Guyana matches have already been printed using the name Providence Stadium, which could cause some confusion.
LOC launches Bed & Breakfast website for CWC 2007
-- official says accommodation plans moving smoothly
By Sean Devers
Kaieteur News is lucky to have him
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the International Cricket Conference Cricket World Cup 2007 (ICC CWC2007) yesterday launched its Bed and Breakfast website at the LOC office in Georgetown during its final media briefing for the year.
LOC’s Chief Executive Officer Karan Singh, Chairman of the LOC; Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony; Minister of Public Works, Robson Benn; Convener of the Local Security Committee for CWC, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Paul Slow; and Venue Manager of the Stadium at Providence, Walter Willis addressed the media on a number of issues relating to Guyana’s hosting of six CWC super-eight matches, from March 28 to April 9.
Accommodation
Minister Anthony informed that accommodation plans are “moving smoothly along.” He noted that several hotels are completing renovations and expansions for the mega event.
“Buddy’s and Casique hotels, both at Providence, have assured us (Guyana Government) that their facilities will be ready in time for the World Cup. It is imperative that they are completed, since, without those rooms, we will not meet our obligations to the ICC,” Dr Anthony stressed.
He disclosed that advance payments, for rooms for players and officials, have already been made to the two hotels from the supplementary budget, adding that the ICC will be standing the cost of the rooms.
Although the ICC will pay for the rooms, the Minister explained, Government’s obligation is to have the rooms available. He added that an advance was paid to ensure that the rooms are ready by March.
Dr Anthony said that Government is expected to make a profit from the exercise, but he stressed that it would not be a substantial one.
Bed & Breakfast
Dr Anthony noted that while the Bed and Breakfast (B&B) programme is “on target,” the LOC was trying to make up for the shortfall of no longer having the trailer park option available by offering more rooms to prospective visitors through the B&B initiative.
Dr Anthony said there had been an increase in interest for the B&B in recent weeks. He hopes this would translate into actual rooms being made available.
While owners of houses in the city and close to the stadium are being encouraged to make rooms available for visitors, anyone in Guyana could register their rooms for approval by the LOC.
Once a room is approved and registered, it will be placed on the website, and persons from anywhere in the world can make bookings.
The rooms will be graded and categorised; and the various categories, costs, amenities available, and other relevant information will be posted on the website (www.guyanaaccommodation.org).
Homeowners desirous of making their rooms available can contact the LOC on telephone numbers 226-2052 or 225-9854. Once an inspection is done by the LOC, an arrangement can be worked out with several of the local banks (working in collaboration with the LOC) to grant low-interest loans to upgrade the facilities.
The actual transaction between the home owner and visitor will be exclusive, but the LOC can assist in cases of electronic payment if the homeowner does not have access to such technology.
The LOC will provide free registration, free marketing and promotion, participation in training programmes, access to loans (conditions apply) and an opportunity for the home owner to acquire an extra income.
CWC Promotion
Minister Anthony encouraged locals to capitalise on the final phase of ticket sales, which begins on January 15. He informed that a number of promotional activities have been planned to increase the cricket spirit and promote Guyana as a CWC destination. These, he said, include using past and present Guyana cricketers in promotional campaigns in the Diaspora.
West Indian Community Radio and Television will also be used to promote Guyana’s preparations, and opportunities to those in North America.
The ICC is responsible for promoting the World Cup globally, but the LOC feels that its promotion is inadequate, and has embarked on its own measures, which should intensify as the event draws closer. The B&B website will also have links to the Guyana Tourism Authority and the ICC CWC accommodation websites.
Stadium external work
Minister Benn said his Ministry has been mandated to deliver the Stadium in a completed fashion to the Government. He was confident that the February 28 deadline will be met.
“All external works are 65% completed, and the focus now is on the parking areas, drains, roadways, and fences. The practice pitch concerns are being addressed, and I don’t foresee problems in that area which would affect our hosting of matches,” Benn opined.
Beautification exercise begins
The media was told that the arrivals area at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri has been enlarged, while all unauthorised signage, sand piles, old vehicles, and shacks on the East Bank Demerara Public Road are being removed. This action will also take place in the city and its environs, and on the East Coast of Demerara.
The Public Works Minister also revealed that, with assistance from the private sector and City Council, a beautification exercise has been embarked upon, not only for CWC, but hopefully, long after, as Guyanese develop a new culture regarding how the environment looks, and the role they play in making Guyana beautiful.
A Museum Garden is also being set up near the National Museum in time for CWC.
Security plans
Assistant Commissioner Paul Slowe explained that he is responsible for the match-day security operations being delivered. He explained that the ICC mandates that certain things be put in place on match days.
He informed that the training of security personnel who will work at the stadium has already begun, adding that four Guyanese recently returned from a course in Jamaica.
Slowe pointed out that approximately 300 security personnel will be trained, between February 26 and March, to perform specific duties at the Stadium. He disclosed that since each person will have to be certified and accredited for CWC, more than those required will be trained, in the event of sickness or drop-out of security workers.
The ICC also stipulates that the host venues are required to put in place a number of security measures. He said that a national security plan has been documented.
Many of the stipulated measures mandated by the ICC are not normally used in the region, but, Slow said, CARICOM will seek assistance from the bigger countries, like the USA, for specialist assistance in some areas for CWC.
Slow said local security plans for the tournament are ‘well on the way.’ He reminded that while the Stadium will be the hub of activities during the games, the Guyana Police Force will also have to police the tourist resorts, night spots, and other places which visitors may find interesting. They will also have to maintain a high level of security at the Stadium.
He noted that, in the last ICC Security Report, Guyana received favorable reviews.
“Four areas of security were looked at, and we (Guyana) got green (highest marks) or blue (second highest) in all of the areas except one. Because the fence was not yet constructed when the ICC came here recently, we got a yellow (lowest mark) in the area of stadium security, but once the fence is completed, we will have met all the requirements,” he said.
Stadium pitch
Commenting on the ongoing work at the Stadium and the recent ICC report on the venue, Willis said that corrective measures are being taken on all of the defects pointed out by the ICC.
Willis expressed confidence that everything will be completed on time. He said the landscaping team is already on the site, and should commence work shortly.
Of the 28 points listed by the ICC, four areas were deemed unsatisfactory, and Willis assured that those critical areas are being worked on.
President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Chetram Singh, is on record as saying that, contrary to a Kaieteur Sports report on the matter, the ICC inspection team was not referring to the match pitch in their report, but to the practice pitches when expressing their dissatisfaction.
However, an ICC document, yesterday, confirmed that the four areas of dissatisfaction were the match pitch, outfield, sightscreens and practice nets.
Willis said he agreed with the ICC’s assessment that the pitch had no grass and suffered from poor ground keeping, and the outfield had sparse grass covering and was very sandy and soft.
He, however, did not agree that the sightscreen was a concern, explaining that just a small section of the window of the players’ dining area, to the south of the ground, had to be covered.
He said the practice pitch is under construction, and is already grassed, while the bowlers’ run-up is also being prepared, and should be ready on time.
Explaining why the outfield and pitch failed to meet the ICC standards, Willis said, “Four days before the visit, no irrigation was done to the field, which caused a major problem, due to the lack of enough moisture content. The cutting equipment (which is now on the site) had also not yet arrived. The Trinidadian company contracted to prepare the outfield and pitch has since returned to Providence, and already a lot of improvements have been made on the pitch and field.”
Guyana is scheduled to play the Leeward Islands during the final week of January in the regional four-day, first-class competition, while two regional one-day games, against Barbados and the Leeward Islands, will be played at Providence in February.
Name
Meanwhile, Karan Singh yesterday confirmed that the name `Providence Stadium’ has been officially changed to the `Guyana National Stadium at Providence.’
Sources close to the LOC opined that the name change ‘should not be a big thing,’ but felt that those in authority could have waited until the completion of CWC, since the tickets for the Guyana matches have already been printed using the name Providence Stadium, which could cause some confusion.
Guyana - Damage control "the crap is starting to hit the fan"
Open your homes
- Cricket World Cup organisers urge Guyanese
- Pitch, outfield problems corrected
By Neil Marks
PropagandaPress
WITH its option of a trailer park knocked out, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 is moving to expand its Bed and Breakfast programme to get Guyanese to accommodate the thousands of visitors likely for the Super Eight round of the tournament.
This accommodation bugbear is one of the major challenges facing the LOC as it prepares to host the event, since the concerns of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the CWC have been met with regards to the pitch and outfield, engineer, Mr. Walter Willis said yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, said the programme of getting accommodation is moving steadily along. He launched an independent website for the Bed and Breakfast initiative –www.guyanaaccommodations.org – to push the idea and to get more Guyanese to register their homes to accommodate guests. (How many Guyanese have access to a computer much less the internet in Guyana? How many times a week does the country get electrical blackout and GT&T cables stolen for computers and the internet to work? If the bed and breakfast program is not succeeding by word of mouth then why would a website at this juncture help?)
An initiative for a trailer park is no longer going forward and thus the need for an expansion of the Bread and Breakfast programme. (Visitors are not even safe with familiy much less a trailer park or in a bed and breakfast accomodation, read what happen to visitors in Canje and the one still stuck in Guyana.)
The government has paid monies in advance to the Buddy’s International Hotel and the Casique Palace Hotel, both of which are under construction. The owners of the hotels have assured the LOC that the hotels will be ready in time to accommodate Teams, Officials, Media and Sponsors (TOMS) for the tournament. (Why pay them monies in advance if these are private projects? Throwing monies at projects is one way of trying to speed them up, but there is no guarantee on the quality of final product. Lets hope there are proper audits done to see how all the World Cup monies have been spent. Judging from the aerial photos - Casique hotel will definitely not be ready in time.)
Anthony said while Cricket Logistics is the company handling accommodation, it is Guyana’s requirement to have rooms available. He said without the two hotels, Guyana would not be able to meet the accommodation needs of TOMS and this was the reason that drove the government to make a down payment to the hotels even though they are yet to be completed. (Let CricketLogistics make the down payment since it would be them reaping the profits from tour packages.)
While the concentration was on rooming, on its last visit here on November 16, the ICC CWC team deemed unsatisfactory the pitch and outfield, along with the sightscreens and the practice nets at the stadium at Providence, which has now been officially named the National Cricket Stadium. According to documents provided by the LOC, the team found that there was no grass on the pitch and there was poor ground keep. The outfield was found to have sparse grass covering and was “very sandy and soft.” (Why so many defects? These are crucial components for cricket - why wasn't there active and controlled inspections to make sure the proper quality was achieved? Where were the inspectors and engineers when these activities were taking place? An audit of the daily narratives and reports need to be done for this project. Now you see why the roads in Guyana fall apart soon after being constructed or resurfaced.)
At a press conference hosted by the LOC in its Georgetown office, Willis said the problems with the pitch have been corrected. He said the reason for the outfield being soft at the time of the last visit of the ICC/CWC official was because there was no irrigation system in place at the time to drain the ground. Now, however, he said, that is now in place. (This doesn't make sense - the drainage and irrigation is one of the first activities which takes place along with the foundation works? How could the irrigation system not be in place? And why was so much sand used? This is not a stadium for beach volley ball. And to think Walter Willis will now be the person in charge of drainage and irrigation across the country. I guess you get promoted for incompetence in Guyana.)
Willis noted that the correct grass cutting equipment has been acquired, and as such, when the ICC/CWC team comes for its final tour on February 6, 2007, all will be completed.
Minister of Public Works and Communication, Mr. Robeson Benn, noted that external works at the stadium are 65 per cent completed, and will be ready. These works include the parking area, drains, and the fence.
The Indian firm Shapoorji Palonji is working to correct all defects.
Meanwhile, Willis noted that the deadline for the extension of the East Bank four-lane highway from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Providence will not meet the December 31 deadline. (What else is new ?, most every thing undertaken by the Government is late, defective, poor quality and bad decisions. About the only thing the Government is adebt at - is corruption and filling their own pockets. Why else would anyone want to become a politician in Guyana? It is certaily not to serve the people and build national pride.)
However, he said major works would be completed by February 28 and Benn said this would include the installation of traffic and street lights. (Not holding our breath. You begin to see the incompetence abound when severly tested. This Cricket World Cup preparation has been a unique infrastructure project in Guyana which is severly testing the Master Planning capabilities of the Government. It doesn't matter how they try to have their media mouthpieces spin it, the shit will always hit the fan, incompetence cannot be disguised for long.)
- Cricket World Cup organisers urge Guyanese
- Pitch, outfield problems corrected
By Neil Marks
PropagandaPress
WITH its option of a trailer park knocked out, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 is moving to expand its Bed and Breakfast programme to get Guyanese to accommodate the thousands of visitors likely for the Super Eight round of the tournament.
This accommodation bugbear is one of the major challenges facing the LOC as it prepares to host the event, since the concerns of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the CWC have been met with regards to the pitch and outfield, engineer, Mr. Walter Willis said yesterday.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, said the programme of getting accommodation is moving steadily along. He launched an independent website for the Bed and Breakfast initiative –www.guyanaaccommodations.org – to push the idea and to get more Guyanese to register their homes to accommodate guests. (How many Guyanese have access to a computer much less the internet in Guyana? How many times a week does the country get electrical blackout and GT&T cables stolen for computers and the internet to work? If the bed and breakfast program is not succeeding by word of mouth then why would a website at this juncture help?)
An initiative for a trailer park is no longer going forward and thus the need for an expansion of the Bread and Breakfast programme. (Visitors are not even safe with familiy much less a trailer park or in a bed and breakfast accomodation, read what happen to visitors in Canje and the one still stuck in Guyana.)
The government has paid monies in advance to the Buddy’s International Hotel and the Casique Palace Hotel, both of which are under construction. The owners of the hotels have assured the LOC that the hotels will be ready in time to accommodate Teams, Officials, Media and Sponsors (TOMS) for the tournament. (Why pay them monies in advance if these are private projects? Throwing monies at projects is one way of trying to speed them up, but there is no guarantee on the quality of final product. Lets hope there are proper audits done to see how all the World Cup monies have been spent. Judging from the aerial photos - Casique hotel will definitely not be ready in time.)
Anthony said while Cricket Logistics is the company handling accommodation, it is Guyana’s requirement to have rooms available. He said without the two hotels, Guyana would not be able to meet the accommodation needs of TOMS and this was the reason that drove the government to make a down payment to the hotels even though they are yet to be completed. (Let CricketLogistics make the down payment since it would be them reaping the profits from tour packages.)
While the concentration was on rooming, on its last visit here on November 16, the ICC CWC team deemed unsatisfactory the pitch and outfield, along with the sightscreens and the practice nets at the stadium at Providence, which has now been officially named the National Cricket Stadium. According to documents provided by the LOC, the team found that there was no grass on the pitch and there was poor ground keep. The outfield was found to have sparse grass covering and was “very sandy and soft.” (Why so many defects? These are crucial components for cricket - why wasn't there active and controlled inspections to make sure the proper quality was achieved? Where were the inspectors and engineers when these activities were taking place? An audit of the daily narratives and reports need to be done for this project. Now you see why the roads in Guyana fall apart soon after being constructed or resurfaced.)
At a press conference hosted by the LOC in its Georgetown office, Willis said the problems with the pitch have been corrected. He said the reason for the outfield being soft at the time of the last visit of the ICC/CWC official was because there was no irrigation system in place at the time to drain the ground. Now, however, he said, that is now in place. (This doesn't make sense - the drainage and irrigation is one of the first activities which takes place along with the foundation works? How could the irrigation system not be in place? And why was so much sand used? This is not a stadium for beach volley ball. And to think Walter Willis will now be the person in charge of drainage and irrigation across the country. I guess you get promoted for incompetence in Guyana.)
Willis noted that the correct grass cutting equipment has been acquired, and as such, when the ICC/CWC team comes for its final tour on February 6, 2007, all will be completed.
Minister of Public Works and Communication, Mr. Robeson Benn, noted that external works at the stadium are 65 per cent completed, and will be ready. These works include the parking area, drains, and the fence.
The Indian firm Shapoorji Palonji is working to correct all defects.
Meanwhile, Willis noted that the deadline for the extension of the East Bank four-lane highway from the Demerara Harbour Bridge to Providence will not meet the December 31 deadline. (What else is new ?, most every thing undertaken by the Government is late, defective, poor quality and bad decisions. About the only thing the Government is adebt at - is corruption and filling their own pockets. Why else would anyone want to become a politician in Guyana? It is certaily not to serve the people and build national pride.)
However, he said major works would be completed by February 28 and Benn said this would include the installation of traffic and street lights. (Not holding our breath. You begin to see the incompetence abound when severly tested. This Cricket World Cup preparation has been a unique infrastructure project in Guyana which is severly testing the Master Planning capabilities of the Government. It doesn't matter how they try to have their media mouthpieces spin it, the shit will always hit the fan, incompetence cannot be disguised for long.)
Monday, December 18, 2006
Guyana - Stadium aerial high resolution
Click on images to enlarge for an up close and personal view.....Stadium has been 99% complete for the past two months.
Malaysia - Escalators in shopping mall
See how these people maximive the profits from their rubber resources (balata) trees? A shopping mall with escalators galore.....I believe they even getting logs from Guyana at a very discounted price, so they are even maximing our resources for their development http://guyanaforestry.blogspot.com/
Guyana - In the year 2006 this is considered a great achievement
FIRST TIME – A ride on this escalator, a signature piece in the new and attractive City Mall at Camp and Regent Streets, Georgetown, and first for Guyana, will be quite an experience for many Guyanese, young and old, having only seen it on television. Access to and exit from the first floor of the mall is by both escalator and stairway but most people Saturday used the new mode, some visibly with uncertain feet which provided much laughter for observers. City Mall, owned by Lennox John who also owns the popular Splasmin’s Fun Park and Resort on the Soesdyke/Linden Highawy, will be formally opened this afternoon by Minister of Tourism, Manniram Prashad. (Quacy Sampson photo) propaganda press
We have certainly set our sites extremely low.
Saturday, December 16, 2006
Guyana - Buddy & Casiquie hotel aerial shot
Lots of work remain for the site, Casiquie hotel doesn't look like it will be finished in time for the Cricket World Cup.
Guyana - Stadium & Buddy's Hotel - Scope, Time, Budget
In construction there is a saying "Lets leave a legacy by bringing the project within scope, on time and on budget." Both the Stadium and Buddy's hotel are full Government controlled / backed projects and these are our thoughts on Scope, Time and Budget.
Stadium:
It has already been proven the Stadium completion is delayed and it is very likely, way over budget. We don't know what scope has been cut to adjust for this. The US$25 Million number being harped on in the news will definitely not be the final number for Stadium cost.
Buddy's hotel:
Completion has now been pushed back to the end of January 2007 from a December 2006 completion. Workers are working around the clock to get this hotel completed. This can only mean one thing, cash flow has to be increased to cover the overtime and cost of an on time completion. Does Buddy Shivraj have the cash to cover this increase or is he getting help from the Government?
Effective project control is all about managing plans to identify problem areas and initiate corrective action through control of scope, cost and schedule. The project control process comprise:
Project Plan
-Define scope and assumptions, identify deliverables and develop the budget / schedule.
Monitoring
-Check progress against plan
-Check commitments / costs against plan / budget
-Check progress against schedule
Reporting
-Report performance
-Report deviations from plan
-Identify issues and necessary actions
Action
-Accept / reject proposed changes
-Search for alternate solutions
-Revise forecast of cost and schedule
-Issue change
Lets hope we can have a final audit of these two projects to see exactly how they performed and their quality.
Stadium:
It has already been proven the Stadium completion is delayed and it is very likely, way over budget. We don't know what scope has been cut to adjust for this. The US$25 Million number being harped on in the news will definitely not be the final number for Stadium cost.
Buddy's hotel:
Completion has now been pushed back to the end of January 2007 from a December 2006 completion. Workers are working around the clock to get this hotel completed. This can only mean one thing, cash flow has to be increased to cover the overtime and cost of an on time completion. Does Buddy Shivraj have the cash to cover this increase or is he getting help from the Government?
Effective project control is all about managing plans to identify problem areas and initiate corrective action through control of scope, cost and schedule. The project control process comprise:
Project Plan
-Define scope and assumptions, identify deliverables and develop the budget / schedule.
Monitoring
-Check progress against plan
-Check commitments / costs against plan / budget
-Check progress against schedule
Reporting
-Report performance
-Report deviations from plan
-Identify issues and necessary actions
Action
-Accept / reject proposed changes
-Search for alternate solutions
-Revise forecast of cost and schedule
-Issue change
Lets hope we can have a final audit of these two projects to see exactly how they performed and their quality.
North America - Fans being ignored for CWC
(Cricket International)
Cricket International
U.S-based Caribbean immigrants are sharply criticizing the marketing of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, contending that organizers of the event are largely ignoring the huge North American immigrant population, even as officials say only half of the tickets for next year’s event have been sold to date. “I am very disappointed that the Cricket World Cup has neglected the West Indian community in a big way. I think they are ignorant to the fact that there is a loyal fan base out here and I think that they have dropped the ball in a big way by not including the marketing of cricket to a huge West Indian market in the U.S.,” President of Irie Jam Media, Bobby Clarke, told HBN Friday. Clarke, the Jamaican-born CEO of the New York-based radio, media and television company, added, “I can’t see how they (the CWC organizing committee) could want to make it prof itable and not want to do some major marketing here.” The CWC, the most important and prestigious tournament in international cricket, is held every four years and is being held in the West Indies for the first time in its history from March 5 to April 28, 2007. Sixteen countries will contest the one-day tournament, which will be played in nine Caribbean countries. But reports continue to surface of only modest ticket sales less than three months from its opening.
Ticket sales have been going at a “moderate” pace, Delroy Taylor, Project Officer in charge of Ticketing for the CWC, told HBN recently, but insisted that sales for the Super 8 group stage, the semi-finals and the final have been brisk. But Clarke feels CWC officials may be satisfied with concentrating on marketing and ticket sales mostly in the Caribbean region, a contention supported by Treasurer of the United States of America Cricket Association, Selwyn Caesar. “I think the CWC could make more money from marketing here in North America than in the Caribbean three times over,” the New York-based Caesar told HBN. “The Caribbean audience cannot sustain cricket in the Caribbean.” Caesar blamed the competition’s poor U.S marketing, especially in New York, on the demise of Caribbean-influenced radio station, WLIB about two year ago. Former Guyana fast bowler and USACA coach, Linden Fraser, also conceded CWC marketing of the showpiece event is poor, saying it may be what is contributing to modest ticket sales. “What I am hearing now is nothing at all. It has left a very bitter taste in the mouth of the West Indian immigrants in the U.S.,” Clarke said. “There is still time for them to make good and reach out and embrace the immigrants.” But marketing executive, Wanda Fisher, who has worked with top companies in reaching out to the Caribbean Diaspora market, believes the lack of buzz and enthusiasm surrounding the sporting spectacle is directly related to a “misunderstanding” of the CWC’s complex licensing regime governing the tournament.
Fisher, a brands marketing specialist for the New York-based C3C Skyque Marketing and Production Inc., said large companies already spend only modest sums on pitching their products to the small Caribbean market and the CWC regime is not making such marketing efforts any easier. “We’re already struggling with sponsorship dollars. The unfortunate part is that some of these companies don’t have large budgets for cricket and for the Caribbean too,” Fisher told HBN. She also conceded “rumors” of a lack of sufficient accommodation for the large numbers of visitors expected in the region is only exacerbating the problem. The Jamaica Tourist Board was recently denied use of the ICC CWC logo in a proposed advertising campaign surrounding the event, amid tight rules prohibiting ambush marketing. But apart from a television spot of CIN TV in New York, there’s been no other advertisement and promotion has been largely limited to a few forums organized by several Local Organizing Committees of the host venues. Officials are hoping that more than 100,000 fans will attend the event that runs from March 13 to April 28, 2007. The first match of the tournament will take place on Tuesday March 13 at the newly renovated Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica between the West Indies and Pakistan in Group D. Fifty-one matches will take place over 47 days in eight countries. Almost all of the countries are building new stadiums for the event.
- Cricket International Services
Cricket International
U.S-based Caribbean immigrants are sharply criticizing the marketing of the 2007 Cricket World Cup, contending that organizers of the event are largely ignoring the huge North American immigrant population, even as officials say only half of the tickets for next year’s event have been sold to date. “I am very disappointed that the Cricket World Cup has neglected the West Indian community in a big way. I think they are ignorant to the fact that there is a loyal fan base out here and I think that they have dropped the ball in a big way by not including the marketing of cricket to a huge West Indian market in the U.S.,” President of Irie Jam Media, Bobby Clarke, told HBN Friday. Clarke, the Jamaican-born CEO of the New York-based radio, media and television company, added, “I can’t see how they (the CWC organizing committee) could want to make it prof itable and not want to do some major marketing here.” The CWC, the most important and prestigious tournament in international cricket, is held every four years and is being held in the West Indies for the first time in its history from March 5 to April 28, 2007. Sixteen countries will contest the one-day tournament, which will be played in nine Caribbean countries. But reports continue to surface of only modest ticket sales less than three months from its opening.
Ticket sales have been going at a “moderate” pace, Delroy Taylor, Project Officer in charge of Ticketing for the CWC, told HBN recently, but insisted that sales for the Super 8 group stage, the semi-finals and the final have been brisk. But Clarke feels CWC officials may be satisfied with concentrating on marketing and ticket sales mostly in the Caribbean region, a contention supported by Treasurer of the United States of America Cricket Association, Selwyn Caesar. “I think the CWC could make more money from marketing here in North America than in the Caribbean three times over,” the New York-based Caesar told HBN. “The Caribbean audience cannot sustain cricket in the Caribbean.” Caesar blamed the competition’s poor U.S marketing, especially in New York, on the demise of Caribbean-influenced radio station, WLIB about two year ago. Former Guyana fast bowler and USACA coach, Linden Fraser, also conceded CWC marketing of the showpiece event is poor, saying it may be what is contributing to modest ticket sales. “What I am hearing now is nothing at all. It has left a very bitter taste in the mouth of the West Indian immigrants in the U.S.,” Clarke said. “There is still time for them to make good and reach out and embrace the immigrants.” But marketing executive, Wanda Fisher, who has worked with top companies in reaching out to the Caribbean Diaspora market, believes the lack of buzz and enthusiasm surrounding the sporting spectacle is directly related to a “misunderstanding” of the CWC’s complex licensing regime governing the tournament.
Fisher, a brands marketing specialist for the New York-based C3C Skyque Marketing and Production Inc., said large companies already spend only modest sums on pitching their products to the small Caribbean market and the CWC regime is not making such marketing efforts any easier. “We’re already struggling with sponsorship dollars. The unfortunate part is that some of these companies don’t have large budgets for cricket and for the Caribbean too,” Fisher told HBN. She also conceded “rumors” of a lack of sufficient accommodation for the large numbers of visitors expected in the region is only exacerbating the problem. The Jamaica Tourist Board was recently denied use of the ICC CWC logo in a proposed advertising campaign surrounding the event, amid tight rules prohibiting ambush marketing. But apart from a television spot of CIN TV in New York, there’s been no other advertisement and promotion has been largely limited to a few forums organized by several Local Organizing Committees of the host venues. Officials are hoping that more than 100,000 fans will attend the event that runs from March 13 to April 28, 2007. The first match of the tournament will take place on Tuesday March 13 at the newly renovated Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica between the West Indies and Pakistan in Group D. Fifty-one matches will take place over 47 days in eight countries. Almost all of the countries are building new stadiums for the event.
- Cricket International Services
UK - Oriel Security Company for CWC
Another example of where a chunk of the World Cup change is going, remember millions spent on the Mello Logo, contract awarded to an Austrailian firm to design the logo.
Training
oriel solutions
Oriel Solutions has teamed with four specialist training companies to augment the extensive portfolio of in-house training expertise, and can fulfil instructional requirements around the world. We offer bespoke training tailored to the client and the task, rather than the generic everyday training offered by the masses. All our training is designed in conjunction with the client, and customized to ensure that attendees receive the maximum benefit from their participation on the course.
With our partners, Oriel can provide training for many aspects of sports security management operations and training. This includes basic and advanced stewarding, Stadium and Arena Security Supervisors Courses, Crowd Control Training, Crisis Management Training and Evacuation Planning. All of the training is SIA and SITO accredited, and students are certified on completion of the courses. There are also distance-learning packages available.
Question: Can Oriel Security train nincompoops on how to recover stolen AK47 guns which were stolen from a military base and which are used by criminal gangs to cause havoc within Guyana? Let me give you an example of the type of security in Guyana - you are likely to be pulled over for a blown bulb in the tail light of your car by a cop standing on the road with a flash light and stopping your car at random, having your car impounded, having your bags searched by a drunken cop looking for a bribe, and having to come back the next day to uplift your car after paying the fine. So X-Nay on the AK47s and criminal gangs ever being found in a timely manner.
Training
oriel solutions
Oriel Solutions has teamed with four specialist training companies to augment the extensive portfolio of in-house training expertise, and can fulfil instructional requirements around the world. We offer bespoke training tailored to the client and the task, rather than the generic everyday training offered by the masses. All our training is designed in conjunction with the client, and customized to ensure that attendees receive the maximum benefit from their participation on the course.
With our partners, Oriel can provide training for many aspects of sports security management operations and training. This includes basic and advanced stewarding, Stadium and Arena Security Supervisors Courses, Crowd Control Training, Crisis Management Training and Evacuation Planning. All of the training is SIA and SITO accredited, and students are certified on completion of the courses. There are also distance-learning packages available.
Question: Can Oriel Security train nincompoops on how to recover stolen AK47 guns which were stolen from a military base and which are used by criminal gangs to cause havoc within Guyana? Let me give you an example of the type of security in Guyana - you are likely to be pulled over for a blown bulb in the tail light of your car by a cop standing on the road with a flash light and stopping your car at random, having your car impounded, having your bags searched by a drunken cop looking for a bribe, and having to come back the next day to uplift your car after paying the fine. So X-Nay on the AK47s and criminal gangs ever being found in a timely manner.
Guyana - CWC Security
300 being trained for stadium security during CWC 2007
- Specialist assistance in counter-terrorism, other areas needed
propaganda press
THREE hundred security personnel, drawn from the Guyana Police Force and private security firms, are being specially trained to man the providence stadium for Super Eight matches of Cricket World Cup 2007, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Paul Slowe announced yesterday.
Slowe, who oversees security preparations for Guyana’s hosting of the mega event, said other general security arrangements are “pretty well advanced” but said Guyana as well as the rest of the Caribbean is looking to the international community for help in establishing Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear (CBRN) capabilities, as well as counter-terrorism specialty.
Mr. Slowe over the past two days with Colonel Anthony Anderson, the regional operations commander of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Operational Planning and Coordinating Staff (COPACS).
Anderson said COPACS, which was created at the behest of CRAICOM heads of government at their St. Kitts meeting in July, aims to coordinate the assets of the region and to meet the needs of deficient countries.
He has been traveling the region to look at security preparations in all the nine host venues and says Guyana is as prepared as any other venue in the region.
With CARICOM heads designating the nine host venues, including Dominica, as a single domestic for six months starting mid-January, Anderson said “everybody would like to know that what is happening in the other country would sufficiently protect them from the things they would normally protect themselves from.”
Three senior officers have already undergone training by Oriel Solutions, which has been contracted by CWC as the security training provider. Further, a team from Oriel Solutions will visit Guyana from February 26 – March 2 to train the stadium security personnel.
Slowe stated that it is a requirement of the International Cricket Council (ICC) that each individual who would work in a security capacity at the stadium must be trained by Oriel Solutions and be certified.
He said on a previous visit to the country, the provider was handed the stadium overlay and had determined that 300 persons would be needed to secure the stadium. So, when they arrive to conduct the training, it would not be confined to classroom work, but they would be “walking the ground”.
Mr. Slowe noted that it is also a requirement of the ICC that there be two testing events before the actual event. Mr. Slowe said Guyana would be using the two one day matches of the KFC Cup, on February 2 and 10, for that purpose. He said the Local Organising Committee is working towards ensuring this happens “as far as practical”.
Mr. Slowe noted that while the staff to adequately secured the stadium has to be trained and certified by the UK-based Oriel Solution, this is not required when it comes to the security team batch needed to cover other areas, such as securing practice venues, hotels where Teams, Officials, Media and Sponsors (TOMS).
He emphasized however that such security preparation is as crucial.
“Even though we are going to have a match at the stadium and we have 300 security personnel, made up of Police and private security, there here are going to be a lot of security issues in the country - tourists who have no interest in the match that is taking place that day, wanting to go see sites, wanting to go do shopping, wanting to visit the night spots, we are very conscious of the challenges that are ahead and in our planning and we are catering for all of that,” Slowe emphasized.
Oriel, a UK company which manages safety and security operations at many top cricket and football grounds, has been recruited to execute various objectives, in conformity with the requirements of the ICC CWC 2007 Master Security Plan, encompassing minimum standards and international best practice and achieving a consistent approach to security service delivery across all Host Venues.
- Specialist assistance in counter-terrorism, other areas needed
propaganda press
THREE hundred security personnel, drawn from the Guyana Police Force and private security firms, are being specially trained to man the providence stadium for Super Eight matches of Cricket World Cup 2007, Assistant Commissioner of Police Mr. Paul Slowe announced yesterday.
Slowe, who oversees security preparations for Guyana’s hosting of the mega event, said other general security arrangements are “pretty well advanced” but said Guyana as well as the rest of the Caribbean is looking to the international community for help in establishing Chemical, Biological, Radioactive and Nuclear (CBRN) capabilities, as well as counter-terrorism specialty.
Mr. Slowe over the past two days with Colonel Anthony Anderson, the regional operations commander of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Operational Planning and Coordinating Staff (COPACS).
Anderson said COPACS, which was created at the behest of CRAICOM heads of government at their St. Kitts meeting in July, aims to coordinate the assets of the region and to meet the needs of deficient countries.
He has been traveling the region to look at security preparations in all the nine host venues and says Guyana is as prepared as any other venue in the region.
With CARICOM heads designating the nine host venues, including Dominica, as a single domestic for six months starting mid-January, Anderson said “everybody would like to know that what is happening in the other country would sufficiently protect them from the things they would normally protect themselves from.”
Three senior officers have already undergone training by Oriel Solutions, which has been contracted by CWC as the security training provider. Further, a team from Oriel Solutions will visit Guyana from February 26 – March 2 to train the stadium security personnel.
Slowe stated that it is a requirement of the International Cricket Council (ICC) that each individual who would work in a security capacity at the stadium must be trained by Oriel Solutions and be certified.
He said on a previous visit to the country, the provider was handed the stadium overlay and had determined that 300 persons would be needed to secure the stadium. So, when they arrive to conduct the training, it would not be confined to classroom work, but they would be “walking the ground”.
Mr. Slowe noted that it is also a requirement of the ICC that there be two testing events before the actual event. Mr. Slowe said Guyana would be using the two one day matches of the KFC Cup, on February 2 and 10, for that purpose. He said the Local Organising Committee is working towards ensuring this happens “as far as practical”.
Mr. Slowe noted that while the staff to adequately secured the stadium has to be trained and certified by the UK-based Oriel Solution, this is not required when it comes to the security team batch needed to cover other areas, such as securing practice venues, hotels where Teams, Officials, Media and Sponsors (TOMS).
He emphasized however that such security preparation is as crucial.
“Even though we are going to have a match at the stadium and we have 300 security personnel, made up of Police and private security, there here are going to be a lot of security issues in the country - tourists who have no interest in the match that is taking place that day, wanting to go see sites, wanting to go do shopping, wanting to visit the night spots, we are very conscious of the challenges that are ahead and in our planning and we are catering for all of that,” Slowe emphasized.
Oriel, a UK company which manages safety and security operations at many top cricket and football grounds, has been recruited to execute various objectives, in conformity with the requirements of the ICC CWC 2007 Master Security Plan, encompassing minimum standards and international best practice and achieving a consistent approach to security service delivery across all Host Venues.
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Guyana - First option to Guyanese for local jobs
Guyanese have to be given first option for local jobs - Nadir
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
Stabroek News
Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir says Guyanese have to be given the first option for local jobs before foreigners are recruited.
Nadir was responding to a question on a report in the Guyana Chronicle in which owner of Buddy's International Hotel, Prakash Shivraj made known his intention to import his management staff from India and a number of other persons from China to fill positions at the hotel.
"The policy with regards to local business people hiring foreigners to work with them is that they must get work permits from the Ministry of Home Affairs which is mandatory under the Immigration Act," Nadir told Stabroek News.
Media reports say the well known businessman will be importing all his management staff for the new hotel, currently under construction, from India and noted too that that he preferred that the hotel be run by a highly trained and expert staff. The reports said also that they were allowed 20 percent overseas staff.
The reports sparked comments and queries in a number of circles, about whether Guyana had a shortage of trained and skilled personnel who could perform the same duties and particularly if any Guyanese would be given a high-ranking position at the hotel. More importantly, these concerns were raised in light of high rates of unemployment among university graduates and skilled persons.
Nadir said that "first choice must go to Guyanese to any service being offered by a local company."
"This is why I urge that local companies make use of the ministry's recruitment and manpower division and help companies to advertise their vacancies and subsequently fill them," the minister added.
"But it is not for an employer alone to decide. Guyanese have the first opportunities to fill vacancies and if the employer so decides that he has advertised enough here and has not found anyone here then they could get people from overseas but the Ministry of Home Affairs is the only place where work permits are granted," Nadir stated.
He added that this goes for any other employer who will want to import employees.
Lip service as usual, nothing will change, mark my words....or better yet bookmark this blog......and this one http://guyanaforestry.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
Stabroek News
Labour Minister Manzoor Nadir says Guyanese have to be given the first option for local jobs before foreigners are recruited.
Nadir was responding to a question on a report in the Guyana Chronicle in which owner of Buddy's International Hotel, Prakash Shivraj made known his intention to import his management staff from India and a number of other persons from China to fill positions at the hotel.
"The policy with regards to local business people hiring foreigners to work with them is that they must get work permits from the Ministry of Home Affairs which is mandatory under the Immigration Act," Nadir told Stabroek News.
Media reports say the well known businessman will be importing all his management staff for the new hotel, currently under construction, from India and noted too that that he preferred that the hotel be run by a highly trained and expert staff. The reports said also that they were allowed 20 percent overseas staff.
The reports sparked comments and queries in a number of circles, about whether Guyana had a shortage of trained and skilled personnel who could perform the same duties and particularly if any Guyanese would be given a high-ranking position at the hotel. More importantly, these concerns were raised in light of high rates of unemployment among university graduates and skilled persons.
Nadir said that "first choice must go to Guyanese to any service being offered by a local company."
"This is why I urge that local companies make use of the ministry's recruitment and manpower division and help companies to advertise their vacancies and subsequently fill them," the minister added.
"But it is not for an employer alone to decide. Guyanese have the first opportunities to fill vacancies and if the employer so decides that he has advertised enough here and has not found anyone here then they could get people from overseas but the Ministry of Home Affairs is the only place where work permits are granted," Nadir stated.
He added that this goes for any other employer who will want to import employees.
Lip service as usual, nothing will change, mark my words....or better yet bookmark this blog......and this one http://guyanaforestry.blogspot.com/
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Guyana - Stadium Field & Pitch (89 days to go)
As reported by Robin Banks:
Major Quality Issues:
The Guyana Providence Stadium (Guyana National Stadium) outfield is dead as a door nail,below the nice green grass lies more sand than the Sahara desert. The pitch itself is more dead than our "National Failures" Cheddi & Forbes. They are now working on the fourth pitch in the hopes of a ressurection, this might require some supernatural dutchman spirits, kalimai puja or jandee to accomplish.On the bright side, sand is good for drainage.
Georgetown
The City Council is on strike, as such the place has more garbage than ever before. They have neglected this country for far too long and now they believe they can do a white wash to cover up the neglect and decay, it doesn't work that way.
Local Organizing Committee
The LOC friendly family unit is running out of time for get things ship shape, things are coming down to the wire.
Click here to see sand
and more sand
Major Quality Issues:
The Guyana Providence Stadium (Guyana National Stadium) outfield is dead as a door nail,below the nice green grass lies more sand than the Sahara desert. The pitch itself is more dead than our "National Failures" Cheddi & Forbes. They are now working on the fourth pitch in the hopes of a ressurection, this might require some supernatural dutchman spirits, kalimai puja or jandee to accomplish.On the bright side, sand is good for drainage.
Georgetown
The City Council is on strike, as such the place has more garbage than ever before. They have neglected this country for far too long and now they believe they can do a white wash to cover up the neglect and decay, it doesn't work that way.
Local Organizing Committee
The LOC friendly family unit is running out of time for get things ship shape, things are coming down to the wire.
Click here to see sand
and more sand
Monday, December 11, 2006
Guyana - Preparations for World Cup continues - security on going
....In a press release last September the group said it lost close to $29M within a ten-month period owing to frequent armed attacks and thefts and the group called on the police to increase their presence in areas where TPL operates.
TPL said then that its labour force is under threat because the attacks have become a burden and it cannot continue to operate in such a damaging environment.
According to the TPL group, certain locations were targeted beginning on July 28 when a consignment of diesel was found to be 500 gallons short when it arrived at the company's concession at Manaka three days later.....read more
TPL said then that its labour force is under threat because the attacks have become a burden and it cannot continue to operate in such a damaging environment.
According to the TPL group, certain locations were targeted beginning on July 28 when a consignment of diesel was found to be 500 gallons short when it arrived at the company's concession at Manaka three days later.....read more
Guyana - Media Critic on "Guyanese Come Backees"
Excellent article titled Guyanese Come Backees by the Guyana Media Crictic over at Living Guyana, almost fell out the chair laughing, this really hit the mark. I wonder if they had some overseas guests from foreign recently showing off their "overseasness." I hope is not the Canje bunch that just get robbed below.
Guyana - Another warm Guyanese welcome.
Don't know the whole story - maybe these overseas Guyanese were flaunting there "overseasness" therefore opening themselves up for robbery, but all it takes is a couple of events like this to continue painting a bad picture of Guyana as regards to tourists and returning Guyanese.
Overseas residents robbed, terrorized at Canefield
-woman breaks hip after jumping through window
Monday, December 11th 2006
Stabroek News
Early yesterday morning masked gunmen stormed a home at Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, terrorized four overseas-based residents and made off with an undisclosed amount of local and foreign currency, jewellery and a Canadian passport.
Khemrai Sirkissoon, called `Chico', said his brother Clement of Canada and an uncle were sitting downstairs around 3 am when they heard loud tramping on the road. Before they realized what was happening four bandits, three of whom were masked, entered. Three of the men carried handguns, while the other bandit had a big gun.
The bandits tied up the two men under the house and gagged them with pieces of cloth. One of them kept guard downstairs. The other three then barged through the open door and ran upstairs where 11 occupants including a sister of the brothers from the USA, Shirley Bisnauth and two other brothers, Hardial and Tarachan and other relatives were.
Bisnauth panicked when she saw the bandits and jumped through the window. She landed on the concrete and broke her hip, according to a relative. She is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
According to reports, she was unable to move and was screaming but the bandits took her back upstairs where she handed over money and jewellery she had in her possession. The bandits menaced the other occupants and shouted "give us everything. Everyone got scared and started handing over their valuables," he said.
Khemrai said he was severely beaten by the bandits since he was unable to get his wallet containing his cash in time. He said it was locked in a drawer and in the confusion he could not find the key.
"The bandits started beating me. They wanted me to open the padlock with my fingers and because I couldn't do that they hit me with the gun in my head even more." He said eventually one of the bandits broke the padlock with his gun and grabbed the wallet containing US$1200.
Khemrai jokingly told Stabroek News that the bandits seemed to like chocolate since they ransacked baggage belonging to the others but only carted off his baggage which contained a quantity of chocolate, his Canadian passport and a valid driver's licence.
The man is deeply distressed over the stolen passport more than anything else. He is hoping that the bandits would at least drop it somewhere so he can pick it up. "I need my passport to get out of here," Khemrai who was treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital for injuries to his head, told this newspaper. (Shabna Ullah)
Overseas residents robbed, terrorized at Canefield
-woman breaks hip after jumping through window
Monday, December 11th 2006
Stabroek News
Early yesterday morning masked gunmen stormed a home at Canefield, East Canje, Berbice, terrorized four overseas-based residents and made off with an undisclosed amount of local and foreign currency, jewellery and a Canadian passport.
Khemrai Sirkissoon, called `Chico', said his brother Clement of Canada and an uncle were sitting downstairs around 3 am when they heard loud tramping on the road. Before they realized what was happening four bandits, three of whom were masked, entered. Three of the men carried handguns, while the other bandit had a big gun.
The bandits tied up the two men under the house and gagged them with pieces of cloth. One of them kept guard downstairs. The other three then barged through the open door and ran upstairs where 11 occupants including a sister of the brothers from the USA, Shirley Bisnauth and two other brothers, Hardial and Tarachan and other relatives were.
Bisnauth panicked when she saw the bandits and jumped through the window. She landed on the concrete and broke her hip, according to a relative. She is now a patient at the New Amsterdam Hospital.
According to reports, she was unable to move and was screaming but the bandits took her back upstairs where she handed over money and jewellery she had in her possession. The bandits menaced the other occupants and shouted "give us everything. Everyone got scared and started handing over their valuables," he said.
Khemrai said he was severely beaten by the bandits since he was unable to get his wallet containing his cash in time. He said it was locked in a drawer and in the confusion he could not find the key.
"The bandits started beating me. They wanted me to open the padlock with my fingers and because I couldn't do that they hit me with the gun in my head even more." He said eventually one of the bandits broke the padlock with his gun and grabbed the wallet containing US$1200.
Khemrai jokingly told Stabroek News that the bandits seemed to like chocolate since they ransacked baggage belonging to the others but only carted off his baggage which contained a quantity of chocolate, his Canadian passport and a valid driver's licence.
The man is deeply distressed over the stolen passport more than anything else. He is hoping that the bandits would at least drop it somewhere so he can pick it up. "I need my passport to get out of here," Khemrai who was treated at the New Amsterdam Hospital for injuries to his head, told this newspaper. (Shabna Ullah)
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Caribbean - Green light for World Cup 2007
.....In Guyana Lockerbie, expressed satisfaction with the work done so far but made no bones about the state of the pitch and outfield after last week's visit stressing that component has some way to go. He added that the best expertise in Guyana and the region will be utilized to get the field "green, hard and fast".
And in St Lucia the country was prepared.
"It is fair to say that this has probably been the easiest of all ICC Venue Tours to date because Saint Lucia has had the good fortune of proper planning and having a venue that is virtually ready and we congratulate them. They certainly have been leaders in the region in this regard and there weren't that many things that needed commenting on," Dehring said...... world cup web
And in St Lucia the country was prepared.
"It is fair to say that this has probably been the easiest of all ICC Venue Tours to date because Saint Lucia has had the good fortune of proper planning and having a venue that is virtually ready and we congratulate them. They certainly have been leaders in the region in this regard and there weren't that many things that needed commenting on," Dehring said...... world cup web
World - World Cup TV Schedule (90 days to go)
maps of the world
2.2 billion people are expected to watch the cricket matches of World Cup 2007. EchoStar Satellite LLC has acquired the rights to distribute on radio, television and the Internet the telecast of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 to be held in the Caribbean islands. The exclusive rights of distribution by EchoStar extend to Central and South America, Canada and Dutch Antilles. In the United States the rights are non-exclusive. In the Indian sub-continent the rights to telecast the matches have been acquired by Sony Entertainment Television. However, Door-Darshan the national channel of India will telecast select matches such as all the matches played by the Indian team as also the Semi-finals and the Final. The BBC has secured the rights to telecast the highlights of World Cup 2007.
2.2 billion people are expected to watch the cricket matches of World Cup 2007. EchoStar Satellite LLC has acquired the rights to distribute on radio, television and the Internet the telecast of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 to be held in the Caribbean islands. The exclusive rights of distribution by EchoStar extend to Central and South America, Canada and Dutch Antilles. In the United States the rights are non-exclusive. In the Indian sub-continent the rights to telecast the matches have been acquired by Sony Entertainment Television. However, Door-Darshan the national channel of India will telecast select matches such as all the matches played by the Indian team as also the Semi-finals and the Final. The BBC has secured the rights to telecast the highlights of World Cup 2007.
Guyana - Channa Man
Ready for CWC 2007: 'Channa Man' seeks vending rights
Sunday, December 10th 2006
Itinerant vendor Leslie Greaves, also known as 'Channa Man' or 'Nut Man', is looking to secure vending rights at the Providence cricket stadium, East Bank Demerara come Cricket World Cup 2007.
Greaves, a popular figure with his basket on the streets of Georgetown, sells parched, salted and unsalted nuts, raisin nuts, channa and fried split peas. He is also a familiar sight at cricket venues, including the Bourda cricket ground during domestic, regional, test and one-day cricket matches....read more
If Channa Man follows the rules and gets the required permit then there should be no reason why he should not be allowed to vend in the stadium.
Sunday, December 10th 2006
Itinerant vendor Leslie Greaves, also known as 'Channa Man' or 'Nut Man', is looking to secure vending rights at the Providence cricket stadium, East Bank Demerara come Cricket World Cup 2007.
Greaves, a popular figure with his basket on the streets of Georgetown, sells parched, salted and unsalted nuts, raisin nuts, channa and fried split peas. He is also a familiar sight at cricket venues, including the Bourda cricket ground during domestic, regional, test and one-day cricket matches....read more
If Channa Man follows the rules and gets the required permit then there should be no reason why he should not be allowed to vend in the stadium.
Guyana - Stadium Documentary (Info that should be included)
Guyana - Providence Stadium Facilities Information
Below is a list of items we would like to see published regarding the Providence Stadium, maybe they can be included in the documentary which is to be made:
Stadium Dimensions:
-Number of pitches
-Type of grass
-Slope of ground
-Drainage information
-Height of stands & buildings
Design & Construction for Stadium & Site:
-Names of General Contractors
-Names of all Sub Contractors
-Names of all designers
-Cost of Design
-Cost of Construction
-Construction Start & Completion dates
-Dedication date
-Date of first practice match
-Date of first official match with spectators
-Date of first revenue generating match
Power
-Total power consumption at anytime
-Type of lighting
-Type of backup generators
Stadium Management
-Type of building maintenance planned
-Type of field and pitch maintenance planned
-Type of irrigation to be used
Life Safety
-Type of plumbing
-Type of water supply
-Number of sirens & fire alarms
-Type of UPS system in place
-Types of entrance and egress signage
Access Control / Turnstiles
-Number of gates and locations
-Types of turnstiles
-Type of access control software to calculate attendance figures
Vision boards / Score boards
-Number and type of electronic Vision and Score boards
Waste Management
-What plans are in place to recycle waste
-What type of waste collection in place
-Are waste compactors going to be used
-Toilet facilities with handicap access
Security & Surveilance Cameras
-Types of cameras
-Are cameras controlled by the police?
-Are they going to be used for crowd control?
-Are the going to be used to protect stadium assets?
Seating, Parking and Amenities Plan
-Is there a color coded numbered seating plan?
-Is there a parking plan?
-Types of food outlets available and location.
Miscellaneous
-Would patrons be allowed to open umbrellas in the stands?
-Are there public telephones?
-Are there ATM cash machines?
-Is there a publish set of rules and regulations for the Stadium?
-Is there an Evacuation plan?
-Alcohol consumption rules?
-Can this ground be used for other sporting events?
Below is a list of items we would like to see published regarding the Providence Stadium, maybe they can be included in the documentary which is to be made:
Stadium Dimensions:
-Number of pitches
-Type of grass
-Slope of ground
-Drainage information
-Height of stands & buildings
Design & Construction for Stadium & Site:
-Names of General Contractors
-Names of all Sub Contractors
-Names of all designers
-Cost of Design
-Cost of Construction
-Construction Start & Completion dates
-Dedication date
-Date of first practice match
-Date of first official match with spectators
-Date of first revenue generating match
Power
-Total power consumption at anytime
-Type of lighting
-Type of backup generators
Stadium Management
-Type of building maintenance planned
-Type of field and pitch maintenance planned
-Type of irrigation to be used
Life Safety
-Type of plumbing
-Type of water supply
-Number of sirens & fire alarms
-Type of UPS system in place
-Types of entrance and egress signage
Access Control / Turnstiles
-Number of gates and locations
-Types of turnstiles
-Type of access control software to calculate attendance figures
Vision boards / Score boards
-Number and type of electronic Vision and Score boards
Waste Management
-What plans are in place to recycle waste
-What type of waste collection in place
-Are waste compactors going to be used
-Toilet facilities with handicap access
Security & Surveilance Cameras
-Types of cameras
-Are cameras controlled by the police?
-Are they going to be used for crowd control?
-Are the going to be used to protect stadium assets?
Seating, Parking and Amenities Plan
-Is there a color coded numbered seating plan?
-Is there a parking plan?
-Types of food outlets available and location.
Miscellaneous
-Would patrons be allowed to open umbrellas in the stands?
-Are there public telephones?
-Are there ATM cash machines?
-Is there a publish set of rules and regulations for the Stadium?
-Is there an Evacuation plan?
-Alcohol consumption rules?
-Can this ground be used for other sporting events?
Saturday, December 09, 2006
Caribbean - CWC (91 days to go)
'ICC CWC 2007 Shaping Up To Be Great Salute To West Indies Cricket'
Major work across all nine Host Venues has stopped the international cricket community from questioning the Caribbean’s readiness for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
Speaking at a Press conference in Nevis last Friday, ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, noted that each ICC visit to the region for quarterly meetings has shown "significant progress" with stadia and other infrastructural development taking place for next year’s tournament.
"There is a level of excitement around the region now…and around the world people have stopped asking 'will the West Indies be ready?'.
"We are very pleased with progress and we look forward to coming back to see a great (Cricket) World Cup," he said.
As officials marked the 100-day countdown to the Event's Opening Ceremony, international cricket's top administrator noted there is nothing "unusual" about the fact that some work remains to be done at this stage... read more
Major work across all nine Host Venues has stopped the international cricket community from questioning the Caribbean’s readiness for ICC Cricket World Cup 2007.
Speaking at a Press conference in Nevis last Friday, ICC Chief Executive, Malcolm Speed, noted that each ICC visit to the region for quarterly meetings has shown "significant progress" with stadia and other infrastructural development taking place for next year’s tournament.
"There is a level of excitement around the region now…and around the world people have stopped asking 'will the West Indies be ready?'.
"We are very pleased with progress and we look forward to coming back to see a great (Cricket) World Cup," he said.
As officials marked the 100-day countdown to the Event's Opening Ceremony, international cricket's top administrator noted there is nothing "unusual" about the fact that some work remains to be done at this stage... read more
Guyana - Stadium Saga continues (Documentary to be made)
Practice pitches biggest concern
By Roger Persaud
Saturday, December 9th 2006
Stabroek News
The practice pitches at the Providence Stadium are the biggest concern facing the venue which will host the Super Eight matches of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament.
This disclosure was made by Chetram Singh, Guyana Cricket Board president and Chairman of the cricket sub-committee of the Local Organising Committee of CWC 2007 at a press briefing yesterday.
What was the third weekly press conference was held at the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) office on Middle Street and was chaired by LOC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karan Singh.
According to Chetram Singh, a special committee that had been formed three weeks ago, had made good progress with that issue. Four additional employees had been hired to assist in the completion of the practice pitches which would be seeded this week and work had been started on the all-weather pitch.
Terra Firma, the firm contracted to lay the stadium outfield is back in Guyana to bring the outfield to ICC standards in the race to have the facility completed and in tip top shape for the event.
The stadium ground equipment including cutters and rollers had arrived and Terra Firma is already using this equipment.
They are also training local stadium personnel in the proper use of the new and sophisticated equipment.
Apart from the stadium, two other locations will be used specifically for warm-up matches and they are Everest Cricket Club and the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda ground.
Everest has been supplied with new ground equipment and contracts have been awarded to improve the drainage there. The historic Bourda ground, venue of numerous test cricket battles, has been busy of late with football and athletic events but will definitely be ready.
The ICC Venue Assessment Team (VAT) will be back in Guyana on February 6 for a final fine tuning and, according to Karan Singh, all of the site preparations will be completed before their visit.
Production of a documentary on the stadium is to begin next Friday and a ten-over-a-side cricket match has been arranged to coincide with that event, Singh also disclosed.
With two phases of ticket sales completed, Guyana is currently placed ninth out of 143 countries internationally and fourth among the nine host countries in ticket sales.
The third and final phase is set to commence on January 15, while the corporate package programme has been extended to that date.
This programme gives corporations the ability to purchase larger quantities of tickets than are allowed to individuals.
Karan Singh stated that the bed and breakfast programme still needed, more participants. He said some 980 rooms were now available but stated that the LOC would like to double that figure. Interested persons should contact the LOC at telephone number 22-59845 for more information.
Earlier, in his opening statement, the LOC CEO disclosed that a report detailing the list of corrections required by the ICC based on their last visit had been leaked to a local media house.
Specific items were taken from the report and used in a different context and derogatory comments were disseminated by that media outlet, Karan Singh claimed.
He said some of the items covered in the report was the responsibility of the contractor who still has over fifty personnel active on site and they are cognizant of what is required.
The other items are currently being addressed and will not pose a problem, he assured.
The CEO reiterated that the Director of the VAT praised the overall work of the LOC, the work so far completed at the stadium and especially the fantastic performance of the local volunteer team.
Apart from the two Singhs, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Frank Anthony and Manager of cricket operations Test umpire Clyde Duncan, were also in attendance.
By Roger Persaud
Saturday, December 9th 2006
Stabroek News
The practice pitches at the Providence Stadium are the biggest concern facing the venue which will host the Super Eight matches of the International Cricket Council's (ICC) Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament.
This disclosure was made by Chetram Singh, Guyana Cricket Board president and Chairman of the cricket sub-committee of the Local Organising Committee of CWC 2007 at a press briefing yesterday.
What was the third weekly press conference was held at the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) office on Middle Street and was chaired by LOC Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Karan Singh.
According to Chetram Singh, a special committee that had been formed three weeks ago, had made good progress with that issue. Four additional employees had been hired to assist in the completion of the practice pitches which would be seeded this week and work had been started on the all-weather pitch.
Terra Firma, the firm contracted to lay the stadium outfield is back in Guyana to bring the outfield to ICC standards in the race to have the facility completed and in tip top shape for the event.
The stadium ground equipment including cutters and rollers had arrived and Terra Firma is already using this equipment.
They are also training local stadium personnel in the proper use of the new and sophisticated equipment.
Apart from the stadium, two other locations will be used specifically for warm-up matches and they are Everest Cricket Club and the Georgetown Cricket Club, Bourda ground.
Everest has been supplied with new ground equipment and contracts have been awarded to improve the drainage there. The historic Bourda ground, venue of numerous test cricket battles, has been busy of late with football and athletic events but will definitely be ready.
The ICC Venue Assessment Team (VAT) will be back in Guyana on February 6 for a final fine tuning and, according to Karan Singh, all of the site preparations will be completed before their visit.
Production of a documentary on the stadium is to begin next Friday and a ten-over-a-side cricket match has been arranged to coincide with that event, Singh also disclosed.
With two phases of ticket sales completed, Guyana is currently placed ninth out of 143 countries internationally and fourth among the nine host countries in ticket sales.
The third and final phase is set to commence on January 15, while the corporate package programme has been extended to that date.
This programme gives corporations the ability to purchase larger quantities of tickets than are allowed to individuals.
Karan Singh stated that the bed and breakfast programme still needed, more participants. He said some 980 rooms were now available but stated that the LOC would like to double that figure. Interested persons should contact the LOC at telephone number 22-59845 for more information.
Earlier, in his opening statement, the LOC CEO disclosed that a report detailing the list of corrections required by the ICC based on their last visit had been leaked to a local media house.
Specific items were taken from the report and used in a different context and derogatory comments were disseminated by that media outlet, Karan Singh claimed.
He said some of the items covered in the report was the responsibility of the contractor who still has over fifty personnel active on site and they are cognizant of what is required.
The other items are currently being addressed and will not pose a problem, he assured.
The CEO reiterated that the Director of the VAT praised the overall work of the LOC, the work so far completed at the stadium and especially the fantastic performance of the local volunteer team.
Apart from the two Singhs, Minister of Culture Youth and Sport Frank Anthony and Manager of cricket operations Test umpire Clyde Duncan, were also in attendance.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Guyana - Plunder without Profit (Transfer pricing on Logs)
Read more about lost revenue from our logging skuntocracy http://guyanaforestry.blogspot.com/
Guyana - Perfect Example of Mismanagement
Deputy mayor unaware govt has taken over cricket clean-up
Friday, December 8th 2006
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams says he is totally unaware that government has taken over the Cricket World Cup 'clean-up the city campaign'. According to him, the last time he checked the council was still a part of the enhancement committee and working along with government in this effort.
This assertion from Williams came when he was asked by this newspaper to respond to a statement by President Bharrat Jagdeo that government had taken over the clean-up initiative since the Mayor and City Council was not doing much in relation to this ongoing exercise...read more at StabroekNews
Look at this Mismanaging Skuntocracy, this is got to be a sick joke, how could this be true? Not only the city needs to be cleaned up, but some serious house cleaning needs to be done across the country, get rid of all the dead wood / logs in office, ship them off to Timbuktu or somewhere.
Friday, December 8th 2006
Deputy Mayor Robert Williams says he is totally unaware that government has taken over the Cricket World Cup 'clean-up the city campaign'. According to him, the last time he checked the council was still a part of the enhancement committee and working along with government in this effort.
This assertion from Williams came when he was asked by this newspaper to respond to a statement by President Bharrat Jagdeo that government had taken over the clean-up initiative since the Mayor and City Council was not doing much in relation to this ongoing exercise...read more at StabroekNews
Look at this Mismanaging Skuntocracy, this is got to be a sick joke, how could this be true? Not only the city needs to be cleaned up, but some serious house cleaning needs to be done across the country, get rid of all the dead wood / logs in office, ship them off to Timbuktu or somewhere.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Guyana - Look at what we dedicated
Look at what we dedicated-there is something wrong with us Guyanese to have flags flying at the "Official Entrance" to a US$26M plus incomplete facility with piles of stone on a four lane highway approach.....what deh rass......talk about a dedicating skuntocracy.Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Guyana - IMF analyses our begging skuntocracy.
World Cup activity helping pump up GDP growth to 5%
-IMF official
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects a five percent growth in GDP for Guyana for 2006 comparing favourably with about a four and three quarter per cent growth in GDP for countries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region for this year.
According to Senior Advisor in the Western Hemisphere Department of the IMF, Christopher Towe, the growth in the GDP of the LAC region, particularly in Guyana and the Eastern Caribbean is due to recovery from natural disasters and to the rise in activities in the construction industry as some countries prepare to host Cricket World Cup 2007. It is also due to the remittances from abroad.....read more
-IMF official
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects a five percent growth in GDP for Guyana for 2006 comparing favourably with about a four and three quarter per cent growth in GDP for countries in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) region for this year.
According to Senior Advisor in the Western Hemisphere Department of the IMF, Christopher Towe, the growth in the GDP of the LAC region, particularly in Guyana and the Eastern Caribbean is due to recovery from natural disasters and to the rise in activities in the construction industry as some countries prepare to host Cricket World Cup 2007. It is also due to the remittances from abroad.....read more
Guyana - Country security not enhanced
Enterprise businessman gunned down
-attackers came over seawall
By Zoisa Fraser
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
Enterprise businessman, Lakeram Mc Kenzie was riddled with bullets in his yard last evening by a large band of gunmen who invaded his home and attempted to kidnap him.... read more
President Bharat and his gang of cohorts seem to be tough on the internet hoaxter, but what is he doing about these real criminals who don't seem to be bluffing?
-attackers came over seawall
By Zoisa Fraser
Wednesday, December 6th 2006
Enterprise businessman, Lakeram Mc Kenzie was riddled with bullets in his yard last evening by a large band of gunmen who invaded his home and attempted to kidnap him.... read more
President Bharat and his gang of cohorts seem to be tough on the internet hoaxter, but what is he doing about these real criminals who don't seem to be bluffing?
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
Guyana - Airport Security Enhanced
As a reaction to the latest terror threats on Airlines in Guyana, passengers leaving Guyana are not allowed to take these items in their hand luggage:
-Poulourie
-Cassava, Aloo & Egg ball
-Fry fish
-Raw fish
-Rum
-Limacol
-Menthalated spirits
-Green mango...........no mention of coke though.
-Poulourie
-Cassava, Aloo & Egg ball
-Fry fish
-Raw fish
-Rum
-Limacol
-Menthalated spirits
-Green mango...........no mention of coke though.
Guyana - According to Tony Viera
...President Jagdeo's speech launching this 9th Parliament laid out, in glowing terms, a place where there was prosperity, a place where there was peace and cooperation among the different groups of a plural society, a place where development was going on, where people cherished the rule of law, a place where the government had vision and was spending billions solving national problems as a matter of urgency, a place where every man and woman had equal opportunities, and the President outlined numerous other accomplishments which made me wish that I was living in the Guyana President Jagdeo was speaking about.
Sadly I see another Guyana, one where the rule of law does not exist, where the judges are under effective executive control [the US state department says so in their 2005 report on Guyana] I see a Guyana where victimisation is rampant, I myself can bear witness to this fact, where there is no equity in the sharing of the national pie, where corruption is the order of the day [Transparency International now agrees] I see a place where incompetence has reached monumental proportions and I see a country which is in the middle of the biggest crime spree in our history due to the poverty of its citizens, I see a country where civil strife is just a spark away from ignition.
I see a Guyana where we are borrowing at an unprecedented rate, and are hoping for debt forgiveness, since what we are building with the money we are borrowing is not bringing wealth to the nation, and whilst one group gets richer the other groups are plunged into an ever deepening chasm of despair and poverty making Mr. Jagdeo's claims of equality unsubstantiated and I see disaster written all over it. And I feel despair for the consequences we will have to endure if things do not change.
So what is the truth? Is what Mr. Jagdeo saying about our situation true or is my perceptions of our condition true? Well the truth is contained in the Bank of Guyana Statistics for 2005 and also in the national Budget for 2006...... read more
Sadly I see another Guyana, one where the rule of law does not exist, where the judges are under effective executive control [the US state department says so in their 2005 report on Guyana] I see a Guyana where victimisation is rampant, I myself can bear witness to this fact, where there is no equity in the sharing of the national pie, where corruption is the order of the day [Transparency International now agrees] I see a place where incompetence has reached monumental proportions and I see a country which is in the middle of the biggest crime spree in our history due to the poverty of its citizens, I see a country where civil strife is just a spark away from ignition.
I see a Guyana where we are borrowing at an unprecedented rate, and are hoping for debt forgiveness, since what we are building with the money we are borrowing is not bringing wealth to the nation, and whilst one group gets richer the other groups are plunged into an ever deepening chasm of despair and poverty making Mr. Jagdeo's claims of equality unsubstantiated and I see disaster written all over it. And I feel despair for the consequences we will have to endure if things do not change.
So what is the truth? Is what Mr. Jagdeo saying about our situation true or is my perceptions of our condition true? Well the truth is contained in the Bank of Guyana Statistics for 2005 and also in the national Budget for 2006...... read more
Guyana - Stadium Quality Issues
Quality issues such as these will begin to surface, especially in the rush to get things completed. A warranty/guarantee period is usually stipulated in the contract and retainage withheld to protect the owner from poor quality work.
Guyana - Our begging Skuntocracy $20M for flood fix up
US$20M sought from World Bank for flood control
Tuesday, December 5th 2006
In the aftermath of two years of disastrous flooding, the government is seeking a US$20M loan from the World Bank to design a Master Plan and fund changes to the problematic East Demerara conservancy so that it can drain 35% more efficiently.
The project document released by the bank yesterday said that considering the accumulated and expected impact of the sea level rise, the current ad-hoc approach to flood control is no longer viable and it is critical that government and the donor community start a comprehensive programme to strengthen the system.......read more
More money to squander and then beg for debt write off........by the way folks it is time to start planning new developments and infrastructure inland on higher ground.
Tuesday, December 5th 2006
In the aftermath of two years of disastrous flooding, the government is seeking a US$20M loan from the World Bank to design a Master Plan and fund changes to the problematic East Demerara conservancy so that it can drain 35% more efficiently.
The project document released by the bank yesterday said that considering the accumulated and expected impact of the sea level rise, the current ad-hoc approach to flood control is no longer viable and it is critical that government and the donor community start a comprehensive programme to strengthen the system.......read more
More money to squander and then beg for debt write off........by the way folks it is time to start planning new developments and infrastructure inland on higher ground.
Guyana - Stadium punch list items (95 days to go)
Below are examples of nagging punch list items which would have to be corrected, a project of this magnitude usually has a long list of punch list items which needs to be completed.
........Meanwhile Singh, reacting to a question about the pitch at Providence Stadium said that the visit last week by officials revealed a higher moisture content this time around than at the previous visit.
Singh said that was a result of the pitch not being properly protected from the rains. He said that all the necessary equipment were now in the country and maintenance of the pitch would now be enhanced.
He also said that the problem with the alignment of the pitches at the stadium had been resolved. The Venue Assessment Team had found on their November 16 visit that the camera-ready pitches had not been correctly set out....... Read More
........Meanwhile Singh, reacting to a question about the pitch at Providence Stadium said that the visit last week by officials revealed a higher moisture content this time around than at the previous visit.
Singh said that was a result of the pitch not being properly protected from the rains. He said that all the necessary equipment were now in the country and maintenance of the pitch would now be enhanced.
He also said that the problem with the alignment of the pitches at the stadium had been resolved. The Venue Assessment Team had found on their November 16 visit that the camera-ready pitches had not been correctly set out....... Read More
Monday, December 04, 2006
Guyana - CWC Countdown - (96 days to go)
Three plus months to go - still to complete:
-Solar Traffic lights (if installed today stolen by xmas?)
-Street lighting (place dark fuh spite)
-Roads (pot hole fixing and widening)
-Bed & Breakfast (are people really following the rules?)
-Entertainment (red light districts?)
-Casinos (where?)
-Tents (fuh real?)
-Stadium & Site (coming down to the wire)
-Hotel rooms (springing up left and right even in Tushen)
-Service with a smile training (how do you curb boorish behavior?)
-City clean up (place still nasty)
-Security (big joke)
-Capturing criminal gangs & recovering AK47s (keep dreaming)
-Airport / Airlines (weakest link)
Sorry folks for being so cynical and sarcastic but you start noticing trends over the years, and then reality sets in. You realize nothing much has changed or will change with the current regime. What we are seeing here are superficial changes, nothing of substance.
-Solar Traffic lights (if installed today stolen by xmas?)
-Street lighting (place dark fuh spite)
-Roads (pot hole fixing and widening)
-Bed & Breakfast (are people really following the rules?)
-Entertainment (red light districts?)
-Casinos (where?)
-Tents (fuh real?)
-Stadium & Site (coming down to the wire)
-Hotel rooms (springing up left and right even in Tushen)
-Service with a smile training (how do you curb boorish behavior?)
-City clean up (place still nasty)
-Security (big joke)
-Capturing criminal gangs & recovering AK47s (keep dreaming)
-Airport / Airlines (weakest link)
Sorry folks for being so cynical and sarcastic but you start noticing trends over the years, and then reality sets in. You realize nothing much has changed or will change with the current regime. What we are seeing here are superficial changes, nothing of substance.
Guyana - Takutu Bridge "A Bridge too Far" Revisited
This bridge was being built since 2001 check link for history, now it is being ressurected click for more information.
Why do we have to depend so much on other countries to develop our own....is this what you call a begging Skuntocrasy?
Why do we have to depend so much on other countries to develop our own....is this what you call a begging Skuntocrasy?
Guyana - Let's Blog Guyana
The innovative folks over at Guyana Palace have set up a blog to blog Guyana, here are some snippets:
Private Schools In Guyana
For the past few years a lot of private schools have been started in Guyana. The question to ask ourselves is what purpose are these schools serving.
My parents were also fooled by the so-called “lecturers” in those schools and wanted me to drop out of government school and attend the private school. But no, that didn’t happen or else I won’t be writing this blog.........
Traffic Lights & Drivers in Georgetown
Most people residing in Georgetown or people visiting Georgetown would notice that none of the traffic lights in the city are working.
Most of them ruined or demolished, bushes growing on them, etc.
We are preparing to host the Cricket World Cup in March 2007 which is no more than six (6) months away. We've all heard that the Mayor & City Council is spending over $700 Million to bring the city to it's cleanest state ever..........
Internet in Guyana
The monopoly GT&T was degraded both yesterday and today in Guyana; in some parts, even non-existent, where internet is concerned.
Yes!, we can all guess that it's the Americas II. This time the problem is between Paramaribo and Cayenne. How many times has this problem occurred?........
GT&T's DSL Customer Service
Over the past few months we have all been hearing about GT&T's lightning Speed DSL since they have been advertising via all the different media we have in Guyana; television, radio, internet etc. I think most of the public is aware by now GT&T is offering DSL and that it is the best internet service in Guyana presently........
Read more at http://www.guyanapalace.com/blog/blog/
Private Schools In Guyana
For the past few years a lot of private schools have been started in Guyana. The question to ask ourselves is what purpose are these schools serving.
My parents were also fooled by the so-called “lecturers” in those schools and wanted me to drop out of government school and attend the private school. But no, that didn’t happen or else I won’t be writing this blog.........
Traffic Lights & Drivers in Georgetown
Most people residing in Georgetown or people visiting Georgetown would notice that none of the traffic lights in the city are working.
Most of them ruined or demolished, bushes growing on them, etc.
We are preparing to host the Cricket World Cup in March 2007 which is no more than six (6) months away. We've all heard that the Mayor & City Council is spending over $700 Million to bring the city to it's cleanest state ever..........
Internet in Guyana
The monopoly GT&T was degraded both yesterday and today in Guyana; in some parts, even non-existent, where internet is concerned.
Yes!, we can all guess that it's the Americas II. This time the problem is between Paramaribo and Cayenne. How many times has this problem occurred?........
GT&T's DSL Customer Service
Over the past few months we have all been hearing about GT&T's lightning Speed DSL since they have been advertising via all the different media we have in Guyana; television, radio, internet etc. I think most of the public is aware by now GT&T is offering DSL and that it is the best internet service in Guyana presently........
Read more at http://www.guyanapalace.com/blog/blog/
Guyana - Our begging president in our begging skuntocracy
This article was snipped from the New York Caribbean News. Maybe next year the President can make a trip to India and get the Stadium debt written off. Lets also continue to give away our logs, bauxite, forest, gold and other resources for next to nothing.
Guyana - Casique hotel will be ready...hmmmm
Looks like a classy joint, but will it be ready for world cup.....according to Chronicle Propaganda press it will be ready.....Read More
COMMITTED efforts are under way to complete the exquisitely-designed Casique Palace hotel being constructed just behind Buddy’s International Hotel and next to the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara before the end of January 2007, according to owner Ms. Beverley Arthur.The task looks monumental and there are fears the 49-room, US$4M hotel cannot be completed in time for the major Cricket World Cup (CWC) tournament to be held in Guyana in April next year.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Guyana - Casique Suites Hotel
Is this hotel going to be ready for CWC, we haven't been hearing much and the aerials don't really show much progress. By the way this is the hotel being obscured by the Government backed Buddy one.
Caribbean - CWC Official Song
Click this link to listen to the song http://www.cricketworldcup.com/Anthem.html
It has a European / Techno / Trance beat with traces of Soca and Reggae rhythms, not bad, it should have mass appeal. This is the kind of music which caters to the European tourists and is frequently heard in the clubs and beaches of places like Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Trinidad to name a few.
It has a European / Techno / Trance beat with traces of Soca and Reggae rhythms, not bad, it should have mass appeal. This is the kind of music which caters to the European tourists and is frequently heard in the clubs and beaches of places like Sri Lanka, Thailand, India, Trinidad to name a few.
Caribbean - CWC Ticket Sales
Only half tickets sold to date
World Cup organisers predict US$40 million ticket sales
Philip Spooner
December 3, 2006
The nine local organising committees preparing for the 2007 World Cup (CWC) have projected US$40 million in revenue from the sale of tickets.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Ken Gordon, chairman of the board, said that this was a "comfortable estimate". He, however, added that this could only be achieved if Caribbean fans went out and bought tickets allocated to them........ CricInfo
World Cup organisers predict US$40 million ticket sales
Philip Spooner
December 3, 2006
The nine local organising committees preparing for the 2007 World Cup (CWC) have projected US$40 million in revenue from the sale of tickets.
Speaking to the media yesterday, Ken Gordon, chairman of the board, said that this was a "comfortable estimate". He, however, added that this could only be achieved if Caribbean fans went out and bought tickets allocated to them........ CricInfo
Guyana - Stadium 99% complete.....don't think so.
According to this article the Minister stated the Providence Stadium is 99% complete. If this was correct then the stadium should be open for Beneficial Occupancy and Revenue matches with only minor punch list works remaining to be completed. But according to the minister there are stadium seating still to be installed, what sort of progress reporting is this?
Guyana - Providence Stadium covertly named Guyana National Stadium
CWC venue named Guyana National Stadium
NY media updated on preparations - Sports Minister
Kaieteur News
A New York contingent of approximately 25 West Indian media workers were yesterday updated on Guyana's preparations for its hosting of six super-eight matches in the 2007 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC) matches between March 28 and April 9.
The North American media arrived in Guyana on Thursday on Travel Span's inaugural flight here and were joined by several local journalists at a press conference at the new cricket stadium at Providence , following a tour of the facility.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony informed that the name of the stadium was the ‘Guyana National Stadium' and not the Providence Stadium, which is incorrectly being used both locally and internationally. He said the name has not been changed, explaining that the wrong name was being used.
Finance/Ticketing Manager of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chateram Ramdihal told Kaieteur Sports that he was not aware that any official announcement was made about the ‘new' name of the East Bank Demerara facility. He however assured that correspondence will be made shortly correcting the name. At present the ICC refers to the venue as the Providence Stadium, this name is also used by the cricinfo web site and all other media agencies.
Ramdihal and Minister Anthony were accompanied at yesterday's press briefing by Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr. Beri Ramsarran, Programme Officer of UNICEF (Guy)Dennis Arends and UNAIDS' Ruben del Prado.
Earlier in the day a sign counting down the final 100 days to CWC was unveiled by Minister Anthony at the Southern end of the Main Street Avenue. According to the Minister this initiative was to promote a heightened public awareness for the mega event and explained that each day the sign will be changed to show the number of days to go.
Minister Anthony spoke of the several developments taking place in the country as it prepares for CWC and provided a detailed list of objectives needed to be completed and updated the visiting delegation on their stage of completion.
It was explained that the main area of concern at the stadium was the practice pitches. He said the rain is affecting the preparation of the practice pitches just behind the player's dressing room at the stadium and informed that a temporary roof will be build over the area to facilitate work during the expected rainy season.
The Minister, who gave a ‘power-point' presentation of the stages of the stadium construction from the beginning to its present state, also spoke about the various aspects of Guyana's preparation and said the LOC (of which he is the Chairman) was looking forward to all the assistance it can get from the public, media (here and abroad) and the business community.
The LOC head said in his opinion, TERRAFORMA, the company contracted to build the field and the pitch, has done a good job. The power-point presentation showed that the match pitches were completed and the field was ‘second to none'.
Minister Anthony said the rain would help the field to become more solid since the high sand content in the soil was a cause for concern when the ICC venue development team visited here on November 16.
The health Minister spoke about Guyana 's preparations in the area of health for the event and it was disclosed that each stand at the stadium would have a separate health outpost in the event a spectator fell ill. Ambulances will also be available to transport persons to hospital.
Arends said UNICEF was pleased that in 2003 the ICC became the first global sporting body to enter into an official partnership to fight against the spread of AIDS, remarking that the majority of people living with AIDS came from ICC full-member counties. He pointed out India and South Africa have the highest population of AIDS cases among the cricketing nations and noted that international cricketers have pledged their public support for the programme to help prevent the epidemic from spreading.
Minister Anthony interacted with the New York based journalists and a number of suggestions and observations were discussed. A major concern to the visitors was the lack of proper promotion of Guyana in the USA as a tourist destination for the World Cup.
It was pointed out that Guyana need to use their former cricketers more in promotional campaigns and need to advertise what Guyana has to offer to the North American public.
The Sports Minister promised to spare o effort to involve former players and informed that Clive Lloyd is a member of the LOC.
It was revealed that the lack of funds was preventing many aspects of Guyana 's overseas promotion.
Guyana 's representative for Travel Span explained that the entity is the only accredited West Indian tour operator for the World Cup. He informed that the agency was working along with the LOCs in Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia . He lamented that several letters have been sent to the Guyana LOC informing of a willingness to assist in promoting Guyana as a tourist destination.
No response was received he added. Minister Anthony promised to meet with him after yesterday's conference. He said the Guyana Tourism Authority was also a part of the LOC.
NY media updated on preparations - Sports Minister
Kaieteur News
A New York contingent of approximately 25 West Indian media workers were yesterday updated on Guyana's preparations for its hosting of six super-eight matches in the 2007 International Cricket Council Cricket World Cup (ICC CWC) matches between March 28 and April 9.
The North American media arrived in Guyana on Thursday on Travel Span's inaugural flight here and were joined by several local journalists at a press conference at the new cricket stadium at Providence , following a tour of the facility.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr Frank Anthony informed that the name of the stadium was the ‘Guyana National Stadium' and not the Providence Stadium, which is incorrectly being used both locally and internationally. He said the name has not been changed, explaining that the wrong name was being used.
Finance/Ticketing Manager of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) Chateram Ramdihal told Kaieteur Sports that he was not aware that any official announcement was made about the ‘new' name of the East Bank Demerara facility. He however assured that correspondence will be made shortly correcting the name. At present the ICC refers to the venue as the Providence Stadium, this name is also used by the cricinfo web site and all other media agencies.
Ramdihal and Minister Anthony were accompanied at yesterday's press briefing by Minister in the Ministry of Health Dr. Beri Ramsarran, Programme Officer of UNICEF (Guy)Dennis Arends and UNAIDS' Ruben del Prado.
Earlier in the day a sign counting down the final 100 days to CWC was unveiled by Minister Anthony at the Southern end of the Main Street Avenue. According to the Minister this initiative was to promote a heightened public awareness for the mega event and explained that each day the sign will be changed to show the number of days to go.
Minister Anthony spoke of the several developments taking place in the country as it prepares for CWC and provided a detailed list of objectives needed to be completed and updated the visiting delegation on their stage of completion.
It was explained that the main area of concern at the stadium was the practice pitches. He said the rain is affecting the preparation of the practice pitches just behind the player's dressing room at the stadium and informed that a temporary roof will be build over the area to facilitate work during the expected rainy season.
The Minister, who gave a ‘power-point' presentation of the stages of the stadium construction from the beginning to its present state, also spoke about the various aspects of Guyana's preparation and said the LOC (of which he is the Chairman) was looking forward to all the assistance it can get from the public, media (here and abroad) and the business community.
The LOC head said in his opinion, TERRAFORMA, the company contracted to build the field and the pitch, has done a good job. The power-point presentation showed that the match pitches were completed and the field was ‘second to none'.
Minister Anthony said the rain would help the field to become more solid since the high sand content in the soil was a cause for concern when the ICC venue development team visited here on November 16.
The health Minister spoke about Guyana 's preparations in the area of health for the event and it was disclosed that each stand at the stadium would have a separate health outpost in the event a spectator fell ill. Ambulances will also be available to transport persons to hospital.
Arends said UNICEF was pleased that in 2003 the ICC became the first global sporting body to enter into an official partnership to fight against the spread of AIDS, remarking that the majority of people living with AIDS came from ICC full-member counties. He pointed out India and South Africa have the highest population of AIDS cases among the cricketing nations and noted that international cricketers have pledged their public support for the programme to help prevent the epidemic from spreading.
Minister Anthony interacted with the New York based journalists and a number of suggestions and observations were discussed. A major concern to the visitors was the lack of proper promotion of Guyana in the USA as a tourist destination for the World Cup.
It was pointed out that Guyana need to use their former cricketers more in promotional campaigns and need to advertise what Guyana has to offer to the North American public.
The Sports Minister promised to spare o effort to involve former players and informed that Clive Lloyd is a member of the LOC.
It was revealed that the lack of funds was preventing many aspects of Guyana 's overseas promotion.
Guyana 's representative for Travel Span explained that the entity is the only accredited West Indian tour operator for the World Cup. He informed that the agency was working along with the LOCs in Trinidad and Tobago and St Lucia . He lamented that several letters have been sent to the Guyana LOC informing of a willingness to assist in promoting Guyana as a tourist destination.
No response was received he added. Minister Anthony promised to meet with him after yesterday's conference. He said the Guyana Tourism Authority was also a part of the LOC.
Guyana - Stadium Tours - Yes or No?
Stadium tours may be on the cards
Sunday, December 3rd 2006
Stabroek News
Members of the public might be provided with an opportunity to see the stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara even before the first ball for the CWC Super Eight matches is bowled.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the CWC 2007 Local Organising Committee, Karan Singh, some mechanism for this is being considered.
Some members of the public told Stabroek News that they would be interested in seeing what the stadium looks like after all the publicity it has been getting in recent years. They said that as a national facility it should be opened to the public if only for viewing.
National hockey player and businessman Aderemi Simon told the Stabroek News that a lot of people are interested in seeing what the stadium looks like. He feels that lots of Guyanese, especially the average person would not go to the matches because of the relatively high prices for the CWC matches. Even though the prices for tickets range from US$25 to US$100, he said, "the long and short of it is that the majority of Guyanese and cricket loving people consider US$25 which is now little over $5,000 expensive by Guyanese standards and would prefer to spend their money on something else and still enjoy the matches at home."
He suggested that it would be good if the LOC gave guided tours "even if it is to cover the overhead for providing the guiding. Maybe the LOC could also use the volunteers for this purpose."
Tourism consultant Shyam Nokta does not think it is necessary that those who bought tickets for the matches should be given a tour of the stadium before the matches. Once systems are in place he feels that all should go well. "Not because you buy a ticket, you should tour the stadium before," he said noting that it could be more taxing on the organizers.
He, however, noted that there would be trial matches to test the pitches and it should be opened to spectators. "Maybe, a fee to see the trial matches should be charged," he suggested.
In addition, he said, there should be an occasion to test the facilities and members of the public could be invited to tour the stadium. (Miranda La Rose)
Considering the people of Guyana would be paying for this stadium for generations to come, it would be prudent to at least open it for public viewing regardless if matches are being played or not. At least allow the public to sit in the stands to get a feel for what it would be like watching a match, it doesn't have to be a guided tour. Use this opportunity to check on how people circulate, egress and entrance patterns, logistics, security etc once the stadium is ready for occupancy, and more importantly allow people to experience how their money has been spent. Think of this as a Guy Expo event, don't start with that BOURGEOISIE mentality common at places like the Everest Cricket Club and the GCC Bourda venue, those days should be over. Come on Shyam Notka don't be an ass and a shyster, think outside the box. Here is an opportunity to allow the Guyanese people to foster some national pride for the Guyana National Stadium.
Sunday, December 3rd 2006
Stabroek News
Members of the public might be provided with an opportunity to see the stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara even before the first ball for the CWC Super Eight matches is bowled.
According to the Chief Executive Officer of the CWC 2007 Local Organising Committee, Karan Singh, some mechanism for this is being considered.
Some members of the public told Stabroek News that they would be interested in seeing what the stadium looks like after all the publicity it has been getting in recent years. They said that as a national facility it should be opened to the public if only for viewing.
National hockey player and businessman Aderemi Simon told the Stabroek News that a lot of people are interested in seeing what the stadium looks like. He feels that lots of Guyanese, especially the average person would not go to the matches because of the relatively high prices for the CWC matches. Even though the prices for tickets range from US$25 to US$100, he said, "the long and short of it is that the majority of Guyanese and cricket loving people consider US$25 which is now little over $5,000 expensive by Guyanese standards and would prefer to spend their money on something else and still enjoy the matches at home."
He suggested that it would be good if the LOC gave guided tours "even if it is to cover the overhead for providing the guiding. Maybe the LOC could also use the volunteers for this purpose."
Tourism consultant Shyam Nokta does not think it is necessary that those who bought tickets for the matches should be given a tour of the stadium before the matches. Once systems are in place he feels that all should go well. "Not because you buy a ticket, you should tour the stadium before," he said noting that it could be more taxing on the organizers.
He, however, noted that there would be trial matches to test the pitches and it should be opened to spectators. "Maybe, a fee to see the trial matches should be charged," he suggested.
In addition, he said, there should be an occasion to test the facilities and members of the public could be invited to tour the stadium. (Miranda La Rose)
Considering the people of Guyana would be paying for this stadium for generations to come, it would be prudent to at least open it for public viewing regardless if matches are being played or not. At least allow the public to sit in the stands to get a feel for what it would be like watching a match, it doesn't have to be a guided tour. Use this opportunity to check on how people circulate, egress and entrance patterns, logistics, security etc once the stadium is ready for occupancy, and more importantly allow people to experience how their money has been spent. Think of this as a Guy Expo event, don't start with that BOURGEOISIE mentality common at places like the Everest Cricket Club and the GCC Bourda venue, those days should be over. Come on Shyam Notka don't be an ass and a shyster, think outside the box. Here is an opportunity to allow the Guyanese people to foster some national pride for the Guyana National Stadium.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Guyana - Royal Flush in 99 days & Stadium 99% complete
Providence Stadium 99 per cent complete
By Michael DaSilva
Saturday, December 2nd 2006
Stabroek News
The Providence Cricket Stadium will have a `Royal Flush' within 99 days before Guyana hosts Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 matches at the spanking new facility which is 99 percent complete.
Addressing members of the local and North American media yesterday at the Providence Stadium, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said that the `Royal Flush' is one of the things that would have to be done within the 99 days that remained before the Super Eight matches commence.
Dr. Anthony explained that the 'Royal flush' was a system whereby all the toilets would be flushed simultaneously to ensure that the sewage system could handle the work load should all the toilets be used and flushed at the same time by patrons attending the Super Eight matches on any given day.
According to the minister , who also holds the position of Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for CWC 2007, the Providence Stadium is 99 percent complete and all that needed to be done were the installation of chairs in one of the stands, the fencing around the facility, access roads, the concrete drains around the venue, landscaping and the installation of replay television screens and close circuit cameras.
Minister Anthony in-formed the media that the Region was spending over US$300M to prepare its stadiums for hosting CWC 2007 matches, while at the same time, these matches will be viewed by more than 2.2 billion people world wide.
Dr. Anthony also said that within the next 99 days, members of the LOC would be meeting with taxi drivers as well as minibus drivers to educate them on etiquette when dealing with the thousands of expected visitors.
He congratulated the Trinidadian Company Terra Firma for completing the match pitches and outfield on schedule and informed journalists that the pace for the laying of the four practice pitches behind the players' pavilion would be accelerated since additional labourers had been employed to work on this area.
With regard to the practice pitches at Everest and GCC, he said that the International Cricket Council's team that visited mid November had recommended that more work be done to the pitches and the dressing rooms and this was ongoing at the moment.
Speaking on accommodation, Dr. Anthony said that apart from the larger hotels, 50 small hotels were going to provide 1000 new rooms and those would be complemented by the Bed and Breakfast programme, which according to the data base, was providing a further 1000 rooms to date.
With respect to security for players and visitors, Dr. Anthony said that more than 300 persons (police and soldiers) were being trained by an international firm and the local private security services would also play a part in this area. (The Chronicle Propaganda press is stating a private security firm will be doing the training, which is it private or international?)
He also said that special security teams would be deployed in and around the stadium as well as around the city. (Any word on the criminal gangs and missing Ak47's?)
By Michael DaSilva
Saturday, December 2nd 2006
Stabroek News
The Providence Cricket Stadium will have a `Royal Flush' within 99 days before Guyana hosts Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 matches at the spanking new facility which is 99 percent complete.
Addressing members of the local and North American media yesterday at the Providence Stadium, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony said that the `Royal Flush' is one of the things that would have to be done within the 99 days that remained before the Super Eight matches commence.
Dr. Anthony explained that the 'Royal flush' was a system whereby all the toilets would be flushed simultaneously to ensure that the sewage system could handle the work load should all the toilets be used and flushed at the same time by patrons attending the Super Eight matches on any given day.
According to the minister , who also holds the position of Chairman of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for CWC 2007, the Providence Stadium is 99 percent complete and all that needed to be done were the installation of chairs in one of the stands, the fencing around the facility, access roads, the concrete drains around the venue, landscaping and the installation of replay television screens and close circuit cameras.
Minister Anthony in-formed the media that the Region was spending over US$300M to prepare its stadiums for hosting CWC 2007 matches, while at the same time, these matches will be viewed by more than 2.2 billion people world wide.
Dr. Anthony also said that within the next 99 days, members of the LOC would be meeting with taxi drivers as well as minibus drivers to educate them on etiquette when dealing with the thousands of expected visitors.
He congratulated the Trinidadian Company Terra Firma for completing the match pitches and outfield on schedule and informed journalists that the pace for the laying of the four practice pitches behind the players' pavilion would be accelerated since additional labourers had been employed to work on this area.
With regard to the practice pitches at Everest and GCC, he said that the International Cricket Council's team that visited mid November had recommended that more work be done to the pitches and the dressing rooms and this was ongoing at the moment.
Speaking on accommodation, Dr. Anthony said that apart from the larger hotels, 50 small hotels were going to provide 1000 new rooms and those would be complemented by the Bed and Breakfast programme, which according to the data base, was providing a further 1000 rooms to date.
With respect to security for players and visitors, Dr. Anthony said that more than 300 persons (police and soldiers) were being trained by an international firm and the local private security services would also play a part in this area. (The Chronicle Propaganda press is stating a private security firm will be doing the training, which is it private or international?)
He also said that special security teams would be deployed in and around the stadium as well as around the city. (Any word on the criminal gangs and missing Ak47's?)
Guyana - Stadium Report plus reputable private security firm
All on track for CWC
-- Anti-terrorism training under way
By Chamanlall Naipaul Propaganda Press
A REPUTABLE private security firm with experience in anti-terrorism methods has been contracted to train some 300 local personnel to provide security during the Guyana leg of the Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, announced yesterday. (This is the biggest joke since Mash 2002 jail break, who is this reputable security firm, and if this firm is so reputable why weren't they hired to advise the President on security instead of Bernie Kerik?)
Security, he stressed at a news briefing, is being treated with utmost priority as it is one aspect of concern to everyone. (Once again this is the biggest fucking joke you clowns have come up with, what has been done to catch the criminal gangs roaming around with Ak47's)
Anthony said the firm has been engaged under a special contract to train members of the Guyana Police Force and personnel of private security firms. (Who is this firm, why are you people afraid to name the firm?)
There is also an arrangement in place, he said, for sharing intelligence among the security forces of the various territories which will be coordinated by a centre in Trinidad.
With just 99 days to go before Cricket World Cup 2007, the minister assured that preparations in Guyana are on track and all outstanding work is being assiduously addressed to ensure the country is ready for the world’s third largest sporting event.
At a press briefing at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, which attracted visiting journalists from North America and the Caribbean, he said work on the stadium is 99% complete and the outfield and pitch are ready.
Journalists were also taken on a conducted tour of the stadium which has met international standards.
Earlier yesterday, the minister unveiled a signboard at the avenue on Main Street opposite the Bank of Guyana in Georgetown to mark the countdown of 100 days to the international tournament. The signboard features a marvellous painting of the stadium and will be updated every day to inform the public on the number of days remaining before the tournament begins.
Still to be done on the stadium are installing seats in one of the southern stands, road approaches, completing the vehicular park and a general tidying up and decorating the area, Anthony explained.
He assured that all outstanding work will be completed by February.
Anthony also told reporters a private firm has been contracted to dispose of waste during the hosting of the event.
Accommodation for the 37,000 visitors expected during the matches here has been of prime concern, he said, pointing out that in addition to the large hotels and the massive one under construction near the stadium, there are 50 small hotels which have been already built or near completion which will provide a total of 1,000 rooms.
More than $5 billion has been invested by the private sector in this area, Anthony disclosed.
He explained that 52 local doctors are receiving training to provide medical attention for the event, both at the stadium and in hospitals.
Medical facilities, he said, will be available at the stadium to provide immediate attention to persons who may fall ill and should the need arise an ambulance service will be on hand to deal with cases that may need hospitalisation.
There will be emergency beds at the stadium and health outposts also will be available in every stand, Anthony assured.
Doctors from foreign medical institutions, mainly from North America, have also volunteered their services to work at local hospitals to cater for the release of those who will be specifically assigned to Cricket World Cup, he said.
On the issue of transportation to the stadium and traffic congestion, the minister explained that several designated parking areas away from the stadium have been identified for spectators to park their vehicles and from those points special buses will shuttle them to the site at Providence.
Anthony reported that phases one and two of the ticketing process have been completed and there will be a short break during this month and resumption in January of the final phase whereby persons can go directly to the ticketing office of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and purchase tickets or could do so online.
The event is not being only treated from a cricketing standpoint but also as an opportunity to promote Guyana’s eco-tourism and cultural heritage and this is being done in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), he said.
As part of the programme to provide entertainment and exposure to visitors of Guyanese cuisine and cultural history, a trailer park and a tent city will be established, as well as cultural and fashion shows, among other events, the minister said.
Of special note, he observed, will be an exhibition that will be mounted by the Guyana National Museum depicting the history and development of Guyanese cricket dating back to the 17th century.
And in addition to some 350 volunteers who will be guiding visitors around the stadium, another 1,000 are being trained as tour guides and a large number of signs will be erected to help guide foreigners around the city and its environs, Anthony said.
During the countdown to the event, he reported, several projects have been identified for completion, including fencing, landscaping and decorating the stadium and installing technical facilities for broadcasting and transmitting the matches around the world as it is expected that these will attract some 2.2 billion viewers worldwide.
During this period too, Anthony said, toilet facilities will be tested through what he described as the “royal flush”, in which all will be flushed simultaneously to assess the effectiveness of the system. (Water pressure will most likely drop all over Guyana, would there be a "Royal Shit in" to go with this "Royal Flush", will there be shitters imported from India for this?)
He also indicated that the tournament will be used to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness and promote safe sex habits.
The stadium has been constructed by the Indian firm Shapoorji Palonji at a cost of some US$25M through funding by the Indian government which has provided a US$6M grant and a US$19M soft loan. (That is what you say, but if an audit were to be done, you will find the costs have escalated, so please stop quoting these numbers.)
The agreement was clinched when President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the sub-continent in 2004.
Recently, Indian Vice-President Bhaironsingh Shekhawat who was on a three day-visit here, dedicated the stadium.
-- Anti-terrorism training under way
By Chamanlall Naipaul Propaganda Press
A REPUTABLE private security firm with experience in anti-terrorism methods has been contracted to train some 300 local personnel to provide security during the Guyana leg of the Cricket World Cup 2007 tournament, Culture, Youth and Sports Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony, announced yesterday. (This is the biggest joke since Mash 2002 jail break, who is this reputable security firm, and if this firm is so reputable why weren't they hired to advise the President on security instead of Bernie Kerik?)
Security, he stressed at a news briefing, is being treated with utmost priority as it is one aspect of concern to everyone. (Once again this is the biggest fucking joke you clowns have come up with, what has been done to catch the criminal gangs roaming around with Ak47's)
Anthony said the firm has been engaged under a special contract to train members of the Guyana Police Force and personnel of private security firms. (Who is this firm, why are you people afraid to name the firm?)
There is also an arrangement in place, he said, for sharing intelligence among the security forces of the various territories which will be coordinated by a centre in Trinidad.
With just 99 days to go before Cricket World Cup 2007, the minister assured that preparations in Guyana are on track and all outstanding work is being assiduously addressed to ensure the country is ready for the world’s third largest sporting event.
At a press briefing at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara, which attracted visiting journalists from North America and the Caribbean, he said work on the stadium is 99% complete and the outfield and pitch are ready.
Journalists were also taken on a conducted tour of the stadium which has met international standards.
Earlier yesterday, the minister unveiled a signboard at the avenue on Main Street opposite the Bank of Guyana in Georgetown to mark the countdown of 100 days to the international tournament. The signboard features a marvellous painting of the stadium and will be updated every day to inform the public on the number of days remaining before the tournament begins.
Still to be done on the stadium are installing seats in one of the southern stands, road approaches, completing the vehicular park and a general tidying up and decorating the area, Anthony explained.
He assured that all outstanding work will be completed by February.
Anthony also told reporters a private firm has been contracted to dispose of waste during the hosting of the event.
Accommodation for the 37,000 visitors expected during the matches here has been of prime concern, he said, pointing out that in addition to the large hotels and the massive one under construction near the stadium, there are 50 small hotels which have been already built or near completion which will provide a total of 1,000 rooms.
More than $5 billion has been invested by the private sector in this area, Anthony disclosed.
He explained that 52 local doctors are receiving training to provide medical attention for the event, both at the stadium and in hospitals.
Medical facilities, he said, will be available at the stadium to provide immediate attention to persons who may fall ill and should the need arise an ambulance service will be on hand to deal with cases that may need hospitalisation.
There will be emergency beds at the stadium and health outposts also will be available in every stand, Anthony assured.
Doctors from foreign medical institutions, mainly from North America, have also volunteered their services to work at local hospitals to cater for the release of those who will be specifically assigned to Cricket World Cup, he said.
On the issue of transportation to the stadium and traffic congestion, the minister explained that several designated parking areas away from the stadium have been identified for spectators to park their vehicles and from those points special buses will shuttle them to the site at Providence.
Anthony reported that phases one and two of the ticketing process have been completed and there will be a short break during this month and resumption in January of the final phase whereby persons can go directly to the ticketing office of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) and purchase tickets or could do so online.
The event is not being only treated from a cricketing standpoint but also as an opportunity to promote Guyana’s eco-tourism and cultural heritage and this is being done in collaboration with the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG), he said.
As part of the programme to provide entertainment and exposure to visitors of Guyanese cuisine and cultural history, a trailer park and a tent city will be established, as well as cultural and fashion shows, among other events, the minister said.
Of special note, he observed, will be an exhibition that will be mounted by the Guyana National Museum depicting the history and development of Guyanese cricket dating back to the 17th century.
And in addition to some 350 volunteers who will be guiding visitors around the stadium, another 1,000 are being trained as tour guides and a large number of signs will be erected to help guide foreigners around the city and its environs, Anthony said.
During the countdown to the event, he reported, several projects have been identified for completion, including fencing, landscaping and decorating the stadium and installing technical facilities for broadcasting and transmitting the matches around the world as it is expected that these will attract some 2.2 billion viewers worldwide.
During this period too, Anthony said, toilet facilities will be tested through what he described as the “royal flush”, in which all will be flushed simultaneously to assess the effectiveness of the system. (Water pressure will most likely drop all over Guyana, would there be a "Royal Shit in" to go with this "Royal Flush", will there be shitters imported from India for this?)
He also indicated that the tournament will be used to help raise HIV/AIDS awareness and promote safe sex habits.
The stadium has been constructed by the Indian firm Shapoorji Palonji at a cost of some US$25M through funding by the Indian government which has provided a US$6M grant and a US$19M soft loan. (That is what you say, but if an audit were to be done, you will find the costs have escalated, so please stop quoting these numbers.)
The agreement was clinched when President Bharrat Jagdeo visited the sub-continent in 2004.
Recently, Indian Vice-President Bhaironsingh Shekhawat who was on a three day-visit here, dedicated the stadium.
Guyana - Why are we under developed?
In summary this is what the PPP has accomplished in 14 years and why the country will remain under developed regardless of superficial infrastructure elements such as a new cricket stadium, some solar traffic lights and a patch work of road repairs.
Power – Electricity in Guyana is unreliable, constant blackouts, low voltage, power surges. This is bad for computers, business & investment in a country that wants to become developed in a modern world. Industry requires power to process products whereby adding value to them and maximizing the return on investment. We therefore have to export whole timber logs, our bulk sugar and consequently our human resources.
Water – Guyana the land of many waters still is not able to deliver potable water to a large percentage of its population at adequate amounts and pressure. A country which cannot control and deliver its water supply will forever remain under developed.
Airlines – There have been many airlines over the years to Guyana which have failed miserably. The cost of tickets is too high, there is no vibrant business traffic to supplement the cost of lower priced tickets, nor a tourist industry. One can go all the way to Asia for around US$700 on a 20 hour flight from New York, while for a mere 5 hour flight to Guyana one has to pay the same price give or take a few dollars.
Crime – Regardless of a country’s development a country will always have crime, but in Guyana’s case crime is out of control. There is lawlessness in society that is quite acceptable and seems to be the status quo.
Why aren’t we looking at the models of Singapore & Malaysia, our country is similar to these countries in history, culture & climate, why aren’t we at the same level of development?
Power – Electricity in Guyana is unreliable, constant blackouts, low voltage, power surges. This is bad for computers, business & investment in a country that wants to become developed in a modern world. Industry requires power to process products whereby adding value to them and maximizing the return on investment. We therefore have to export whole timber logs, our bulk sugar and consequently our human resources.
Water – Guyana the land of many waters still is not able to deliver potable water to a large percentage of its population at adequate amounts and pressure. A country which cannot control and deliver its water supply will forever remain under developed.
Airlines – There have been many airlines over the years to Guyana which have failed miserably. The cost of tickets is too high, there is no vibrant business traffic to supplement the cost of lower priced tickets, nor a tourist industry. One can go all the way to Asia for around US$700 on a 20 hour flight from New York, while for a mere 5 hour flight to Guyana one has to pay the same price give or take a few dollars.
Crime – Regardless of a country’s development a country will always have crime, but in Guyana’s case crime is out of control. There is lawlessness in society that is quite acceptable and seems to be the status quo.
Why aren’t we looking at the models of Singapore & Malaysia, our country is similar to these countries in history, culture & climate, why aren’t we at the same level of development?
Friday, December 01, 2006
Guyana - Travel Span 737-800
This Travel Span 737-800 aircraft belongs to Excel Airways (British) which is the sister company to Extra airways (American). There call sign is Extra and the aircraft has a British registration number G-XLAJ. American aircraft have registration numbers begining with N.
Guyana - Universal Airlines Part 2 ??? More Travel Spam?
Travel Span launches NY run - eying flights to Caribbean, Canada
By Heppilena Ferguson
Friday, December 1st 2006
By Heppilena Ferguson
Friday, December 1st 2006
Travel Span GT Incorporat-ed's inaugural flight from New York touched down at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday bringing with it new competition in the aviation sector.
The Boeing 737-800, 164-seater jet landed some time after 1 pm and the visiting party, comprising the airline's board of directors, travel agents and media representatives from New York, received a hearty steel pan welcome and witnessed the unfurling of the Travel Span flag.....
The Boeing 737-800, 164-seater jet landed some time after 1 pm and the visiting party, comprising the airline's board of directors, travel agents and media representatives from New York, received a hearty steel pan welcome and witnessed the unfurling of the Travel Span flag.....
To back up this assertion, Tourism Minister Manniram Prashad noted that Guyana needs more airlines and made a call for other airlines to join the business. He however noted the "hitches" that Government has had to endure in the past with carriers like Universal Airlines.
"People come and have big ceremonies like these and by the next two or four years passengers are left stranded and then the next thing you know there are no more flights," the minister cautioned as he alluded to the Universal Airlines debacle adding that he could not avoid mentioning it.
Universal Airlines had grave financial issues which affected dozens of passengers and left them stranded here in Guyana. Government was forced to delve into its escrow account to bail the passengers out of the unfortunate situation and was facilitated on BWIA flights. However to this day, some passengers remain without reimbursement as the escrow account dried up. However, he expressed gratitude to Travel Span for its investment and noted that its intervention was timely....Strabroek News
Where is eJet? http://www.ejetairways.com/
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