Jagdeo

GEORGETOWN, Guyana (CMC):

GUYANA PRESIDENT Bharrat Jagdeo expressed confidence that Guyana's commitments to the 2007 ICC World Cup in the Caribbean will be met.

President Jagdeo gave this assurance following an inspection tour of the Providence Stadium earlier this week.

"I'm very pleased with what I've seen so far," Jagdeo said.

"I know a lot of hard work has gone into this facility by many people, but we need to constantly keep track of the deadline because, as you know, we have the rainy season coming up.

"I think, however, that all the deadlines will be met, and we'll meet our commitments to the ICC ahead of schedule."

handover ceremony next month

The president's inspection of the stadium was to ensure that the facility is ready for its inauguration and handover by the Indian Government to the Guyana Government.

The ceremony for the handover event is planned for next month.

During the tour of the facility, President Jagdeo was accompanied by Minister of Transport and Hydraulics, Robeson Benn; Director-General in the Foreign Affairs Ministry, Elizabeth Harper; chief executive officer of the Local Organising Committee for CWC, Karran Singh, other officials, and Indian nationals.

The president was informed that the remaining task of installing the stadium's seats will be done shortly, and discussed plans for the location of the inauguration ceremony with other officials.

The Guyana president also gave the assurance that the extension of the four-lane highway from the Harbour Bridge to the Stadium would also be complete on time.

"This road project was slated to be completed some time towards the end of the year, but we had slippage with the award of the contract, so I suspect it will go early into the new year," he said.

road project

President Jagdeo added that the delay would not impede the stadium's progress, as the road extension project was not a requirement of the ICC, but an additional project implemented by Government to allow for easier traffic-flow to and from the stadium.

"I anticipate some time in the new year that that project would be completed and, therefore, we'd have an integrated operation here," he said.

Guyana hosts Super Eight matches in the World Cup.