Tyrone Reid, Staff Reporter
Robert Bryan, executive director for Jamaica Cricket 2007 Limited, the local organising committee for the ICC Cricket World Cup, holds a copy of The Gleaner featuring an article related to Kingston's Mayor Desmond McKenzie's concerns about the event scheduled for Jamaica in 2007. Mr. Bryan was addressing journalists during an ICC World Cup Cricket press conference at JAMPRO headquarters, New Kingston, yesterday. - JUNIOR DOWIE/STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
SCHOOLS WITHIN close proximity to Sabina Park are to be closed for five non-consecutive days while vehicular traffic along sections of South Camp Road will be impeded for seven non-consecutive days during the staging of the Cricket World Cup 2007.
Robert Bryan, executive director for Jamaica Cricket 2007 Limited, the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ICC Cricket World Cup, made the confirmation yesterday during a press briefing at the JAMPRO building in New Kingston.
In addition to the motoring public, the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) would also be required to re-route its buses which ply the route in question.
"The bus patterns, specifically in those zones, will have to be altered," he said.
REQUEST TO THE MINISTRY
Fresh from a visit to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Bryan told journalists that the LOC made the request to the Ministry of Education, Youth and Culture for the closure of five schools based on a recommendation from match day officials. He added that it was his understanding that the Education Ministry considered and concurred.
Mr. Bryan insisted it was not the LOC's responsibility to advise the Jamaica Teachers' Association (JTA) of the decision as it merely made a request and the Education Ministry could have declined.
On Tuesday, Dr. Wayne Reid, chairman of Jamaica Cricket 2007 Limited, said concern for the security of students is the reason schools would be closed during match days at Sabina Park. Mr. Bryan added that the security measures for the games would be unprecedented.
Since The Gleaner broke the news on Tuesday that schools in the area would be closed, the decision has been the subject of much public debate. Pundits have argued that the staging of the grand
gala of international cricket is not an acceptable reason to disrupt the school calendar.
Mr. Bryan and his team of officials have, however, argued that, if schools were in session during the games, it would be a "logistical nightmare".
