- Photo by Richard Bryan
Mello, the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 mascot, prepares to bowl to Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller at the Trelawny multi-purpose stadium during her tour of the facility on Thursday.

Adrian Frater, News Editor

WESTERN BUREAU:

PRIME MINISTER Portia Simpson Miller has declared that she is quite pleased with the current state of readiness of the new Trelawny multi-purpose stadium, which will host the opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup and said she is anxiously awaiting its completion in November.

"It is looking quite good," said the Prime Minister, who sprinted on to the lush green playing surface on Thursday after being given a guided tour of the facility by Venue Development Manager Christopher Smith; Robert Bryan of the Local Organising Committee (LOC); and Kevin Chen, of the Chinese construction firm COMPLANT.

"I am definitely looking forward to November when I am told it will be completed and we will be seeing the real thing," said Simpson Miller. "I really think it is coming on nicely and I must commend the workers for what they have done so far."

The Prime Minister also expressed full confidence that Jamaica will be fully ready to embrace the world for the prestigious 59-day tournament as soon as the Trelawny stadium and Sabina Park are ready and her recently-announced clean-up campaign is completed.

"Once we clean up the place, the visitors will come, will feel comfortable, will want to stay longer and will want to come again and again," said the Prime Minister. "The SDC (Social Development Commission) will be launching its programme, along with the Jamaica Tourist Board, TDPCo and JAMPRO, to get into communities and engage the people in discussions on how they can benefit from us staging the World Cup and how they can contribute to its success," she said.

Hopes

Simpson Miller also noted that she is hoping with projects, such as the new multibillion dollar Harmony Cove Development and the favourable impression she expects Jamaica to create by hosting the World Cup, the country will soon be regarded as developed country instead of a developing one.

"My vision is see how we can transform this place into a sea of sporting complexes with another track and field stadia, an aquatic centre and areas for other sporting events," explained the Prime Minister. "I am also looking forward to possibly establishing an athletes village so that we can complete with any country in the world to host international events."

In explaining the plans for the new Trelawny stadium after the Cup, Simpson Miller said she will be putting a board in place to oversee the operation of the facility. She said she will also be putting a team in place to look at further development of the property.

In so far as her expectations for cricket at the new Trelawny stadium, which will host its first international game today - a showdown between Jamaica and the United States, the Prime Minister said she has no doubt that the venue would live up to expectations.

"The people who have used it so far have reported that they are satisfied with the grounds," said the Prime Minister. "We are now in September, so when I come back in November, I am expecting to see the real thing."