The point has been made before - in these columns and, indeed, elsewhere. That is, US$105 million, or J$6.9 billion is a lot of money, more so in a relatively poor country such as Jamaica.

So when our government decides to spend that kind of money, which is what it has allocated for Jamaica's hosting of matches in next year's Cricket World Cup, it must be sure that it gets the appropriate bang for the buck. At least, it must have some concept of the bang it expects to get.

We have long sensed a disorientation on the part of the Jamaican authorities in this regard; this sense that it expects something out of having Jamaica being among the Caribbean hosts of the tournament, but precisely what, nobody is certain.

Well, our worst fears have been confirmed. For the man who should know most about what Jamaica expects to achieve is himself not clear about the projected returns. Or worse, he suggests that the Government does not have a concept.

Indeed, in his answers to readers' questions, published by this newspaper on Wednesday, Mr. Robert Bryan, the executive director of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the Cricket World Cup, said he was dissatisfied with the preparations being made by the Jamaican cities and towns which will either host matches or visitors. In that regard, Mr. Bryan was only stating the obvious.

Indeed, this newspaper, not long ago, aired its concerns over a number of critical preparatory issues. For instance, even if only 12,000 visitors came to Jamaica for the cricket, which is the number now being projected against the earlier fanciful figures, all can hardly be accommodated in Kingston. Many, therefore, will have to stay on the north coast, probably Ocho Rios, travelling to Kingston for the matches. This raises the issues of transportation to and from the city over a mountain route that is normally slow and even dangerous. A clear and credible plan for accommodation and transportation is yet to be enunciated.

We may be doing a good job of building and upgrading stadia for the opening ceremony and matches, but several other town enhancement projects are yet to start, in circumstances which are notorious for delays and cost overruns on infrastructure projects.

All this is bad enough, until we contemplate Mr. Bryan's statement about the lack of an agreed vision by Jamaica about the World Cup. There is no real concept of the benefit. And, since there is no vision one can't be articulated. Said Mr. Bryan: "This vision needs to be developed and articulated to the country and I firmly believe that central government has a clear responsibility to lead in this regard."

So do we! Although we also question Mr. Bryan's own role in the process, and what he defines as his own mandate and that of the LOC.

We would also like to hear Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller's response to Mr. Bryan. She recently said that everything will be in place for the World Cup. Perhaps. We hope, though, it was not a wish and a hope on the Prime Minister's part rather than the result of specific and detailed planning and analysis.

Now, where is the vision, PM?