Tony Becca
THE WORLD Cup of cricket will be hosted by the West Indies in 2007 and as so many, including Chris Dehring, managing director and chief executive officer ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc, has said the spin-off for the region's economy could be tremendous.
For those in cricket, however, and especially here in Jamaica, there is a fear that because of the cost of renovating Sabina Park and building a new stadium in Trelawny, plus the cost of other things like foreign expertise and security, when it is over cricket, instead of being better off, will be worse off financially.
While the business sector based on the number of visitors that is expected in the region the hotels, guest houses and individuals who have rooms to let, restaurants, places of entertainment and other sections of the service industry will be or could be licking their fingers, when it is all over, according to those in cricket, cricket may not only end up in the red but is almost certain to do so based on what it will end up spending and what it is likely to earn.
SPENDING MORE
According to the Jamaica Chamber of Commerce (JCC), however, there is also another fear a fear that Jamaica, not only cricket, may be spending more than it will earn. In fact, the JCC, through its president, Noel daCosta, is fearful that Jamaica may be spending more than it can afford.
In a recent press release, the JCC called upon the Govern-ment to tell the nation what is the financial cost and the anticipated return as a result of the country's participation in the World Cup.
It also said that it was concerned that, contrary to the impression that has been created, the nation could possibly face a deficit of some US$40 million at the end of the World Cup.
That is "even assuming the most optimistic returns from on the part of Jamaican firms and individuals who take advantage of business opportunities arising from the staging of the opening ceremony and other matches in Jamaica."
According to the JCC, that deficit "will be faced by the Jamaican taxpayers who may not have been fully apprised of the implications of the commitment made on their behalf".
Although it is in favour of the staging of the World Cup in the region, it is concerned that "at a time when we are one of the hemisphere's most indebted nations, that at a time when we are working towards balancing the nation's budget, we are going ahead and putting our nation further into debt by borrowing money to finance our involvement."
The letter, dated May 17, went on to request from the Government information on such things as the cost of renovating and constructing the facilities to host the World Cup; how these facilities will be used in the future so that they do not become a burden on the taxpayer; and the expected benefits to the national economy in relation to the increased costs to the country.
Without a doubt, those are questions the Government should answer or rather, should have answered.
Apart from the fact that the region, as a tourist destination, stands to benefit enormously during the World Cup and long after the World Cup, apart from the fact any money spent on the World Cup by the governments is an investment, remembering that the West Indies Cricket Board with the backing of the region's heads of governments who were thinking about the tourist industry and about the worldwide exposure such an event promises, made their bid for the World Cup way back in 1998 and that the WICB accepted the offer to host the World Cup way back in 1999.
These are the questions: Why wait until now, why wait until when the World Cup is just around the corner, and why wait until so much has already been done in preparation for the World Cup to ask those questions?
That is strange, especially as members of the JCC, unlike the JCA, stand to gain so much from World Cup 2007.
DISAPPOINTMENT
Apart from the fact that it would have been a disappointment to the Jamaican people if Jamaica was not part of a World Cup in the West Indies, apart from the fact that it would be an embarrassment to the Jamaican people if Jamaica pulled out now, and apart from the fact that it is too late to pull out of its commitment, with so much money already invested in the event, pulling out of it now would be totally irresponsible by the Government of Jamaica for two simple reasons.
One reason is that the Government would be throwing away money, the taxpayers' money.
Without even thinking of the television coverage - of the millions of dollars, US dollars, that the tourist industry would save on advertising.
The other reason, especially if Dehring's prediction that thousands upon thousands of visitors will be in "paradise" for the biggest event ever to be held in the Caribbean proves correct, is that the Government, the Jamaica government, would be giving up an opportunity to earn some money from its biggest industry during and long after the World Cup.
