Tony Becca

The Prime Minister of Jamaica, Portia Simpson Miller is known as a woman of her word - and particularly so to those in sport. Whatever she has promised, particularly to the sportsmen and sportswomen, she has delivered, and because of that history, Jamaicans can now look forward to the country being ready for Cricket World Cup 2007.

In recent months and weeks, people from all walks of the society, including the Mayor of Kingston, Desmond McKenzie, have been raising the roof complaining that although the World Cup is just around the corner, although it is the biggest event ever to be hosted by Jamaica, although thousands of visitors are expected into the island for the event, and although millions of U.S. dollars are expected to be earned from it, nothing, in terms of preparing the city for the event, has been done about presenting the country, and more so the capital city, as hosts.

Resources

According to Mayor McKenzie, "We want to put Kingston on show but the city is nasty, the city is dirty and the KSAC doesn't have the resources to deal with it."

According to the mayor, who has also been querying what has happened to the money that was set aside for the redevelopment of downtown Kingston, the KSAC cannot deal with cleaning up the city because what money they have got from the Government is only funds that are earmarked by law.

Well, the Prime Minister has now said that everything will be in place for World Cup 2007, and that she hopes it will be a tremendous success.

Speaking at the official launch of the inaugural National Community Cricket Championship at Jamaica House on Tuesday afternoon - a competition promoted by the Social Development Commission to sensitise the people of Jamaica, all over Jamaica, about Cricket World Cup 2007 the Prime Minister, after acknowledging that the Cricket World Cup is foremost in the minds of many right now, after encouraging the parish winners to go and do their best in the play-offs, went on to make a commitment to the people re the World Cup.

"I know that that there has been much criticism in recent times about our state of readiness for the games," said the PM. "Everything that is necessary, however, will be done, and I want to assure you that as Prime Minister I have given directives that everything be done, and I will be holding those with the responsibility to ensure that everything will be put in place for hosting World Cup 2007, responsible for doing so. Even with the limited resources, I expect everyone to ensure that we will be ready and well prepared."

In encouraging the players who have survived the preliminary rounds and who, as the winning teams from each parish, along with the two best runners-up, will be contesting the final stages of the competition, the PM said, to a backdrop of applause, "I am not going to wish you luck, because all of you will be victorious, but I want to say to all of you, try to achieve excellence, do your best. When you do your best, even if you do not win, no one will be able to complain.

Well said, Madam Prime Minister, on both fronts - on the World Cup and on your encouragement to the players. Thank you for your promise, and also for reminding the players that although it is important, and in some cases, very important, winning is not every thing.