GEORGETOWN, (Stabroek News):

Installation of all the seats will not be completed at the Providence Cricket Stadium in Guyana by October 31, the scheduled date for the completed venue to be handed over to the Local Organising Committee (LOC) of Cricket World Cup 2007.

Newly-appointed Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, made this disclosure to Stabroek Sport after a tour of the facility last Friday. However, he said, "This situation will be quickly rectified about a week after the stadium is handed over."

Head of the LOC, Karan Singh, said the seats are expected to arrive in the southern Caribbean nation shortly but the installation is expected to take approximately six weeks. He noted that other construction schedules are on track.

The Providence Stadium, which will host Super 8 matches in cricket's most heralded tournament, is expected to have a seating capacity of 16,000.