Security preparations heightened in Guyana as CWC obligations met
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| Published on Friday, February 23, 2007 |
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GEORGETOWN, Guyana (GINA): All preparations are hastening for Guyana’s hosting of the super eight matches of the Cricket World Cup as the security aspect moved a step further with 124 officers participating in special exercises.
The training sessions at the Guyana Defence Force’s Camp Ayanganna base focused on ensuring the officers are adequately trained to understand their roles. Security of players and the stadium were among the areas covered.
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Guyana's President Bharrat
Jagdeo. AFP PHOTO |
Several training sessions have already been held by the Joint Services. On January 31, 150 officers took part in a study exercise where they were exposed to disaster planning, maritime security, and intelligence planning and traffic management.
From January 22 to 26 Immigration and Customs Officers were trained in pertinent areas such as the mechanics of the advance passenger information system, trafficking in persons and CARICOM visa arrangements, to recognise illegal activities that may affect Guyana’s security arrangements.
A mock exercise will be staged early in March to test the country’s security readiness. Similar activities will be conducted in the run up to the matches.
With the opening of the Buddy’s International hotel yesterday, and the Guyana National stadium completed, Guyana has met the International Cricket Council’s requirements for hosting the Super Eight games in March.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the multi-million dollar investment in the hospitality sector, Head of State, President Bharrat Jagdeo said, the facility is important in the chain of events required to host Cricket World Cup (CWC) because it will provide accommodation to help Guyana meet its obligations.
According to the President, hosting CWC does not only mean having a stadium to hold thousands of visitors but, accommodation of foreign officials and visitors is equally important.
“We did not just need a stadium to host world cup cricket; it is truly a national effort, and that is why we never made it a partisan issue. We thought that this would be a good opportunity to bring everyone on board. We had to find different things but, the second most important thing was hotel space,” President Jagdeo said.
The 108-foot high structure, standing on a seven-acre expanse is testimony to the dedication, vision, hard work and commitment of the hotel’s proprietor, Omprakash Shivraj, the President said.
He urged Guyanese to emulate and respect these characteristics which are necessary for overcoming hurdles to national development.
The President thanked Shivraj, a longstanding entrepreneur, for his vision to construct the massive facility, noting that government has no regrets in assisting him with the hotel’s completion.
“It is in this context that I am not going to give an apology to any of the critics who have argued about us helping Mr. Shivraj, and I am prepared to help you to do more because what is at stake here is national pride.”
President Jagdeo said the country’s journey to readiness for the hosting of the world’s third largest sporting event has been tumultuous, but it was well worth it.
“In our country we have two generations of people and it has nothing to do with the chronology of life, it has to do with attitude. There is a generation that has buzz words like don’t, and the other generation speaks about we must, we have to find a way if we are going to develop,” the President said.
Recalling the journey towards preparing for the cricket matches, the President said when Guyana had indicated its interest in bidding for the games, some people thought the government was crazy and the negative comments started flowing.
“We could have taken the easy road, we could have said why worry with all the work and say let the opportunity pass but we didn’t, we chose the hard route which we knew would bring a lot of hard work but, we knew in the long run it would help to change our country.”
The President said if meaningful developmental initiatives are to be undertaken, then a shift in paradigms must occur.
“We need to move more people into the latter generation because for a very long time the ‘don’t do’ generation has stifled this country; they have made us feel inferior, they find everything about ourselves bad and by the same token everything foreign as superior,” President Jagdeo explained
He said the construction of the hotel in the face of pessimism and cynicism of a section of the society is a contribution to the change needed to propel the nation forward.
Shivraj said it would be remiss of him not to thank the Head of State for the confidence shown in his ability to successfully complete the hotel and for government’s financial assistance.
He said the construction of the facility was not without challenges which at times made the task seem insurmountable.
Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry Radha Krishna Sharma said the hotel is a reflection of Shivraj’s vision and creativity to overcoming the challenges that presented themselves during the construction process.
He said GBTI is pleased to be associated with the big venture which is a demonstration of the spirit of enterprise in the country. | | | | Reads : 167 | | | |
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