WESTERN BUREAU:

The Trelawny Asso-ciation of Volunteer Orga-nisation (TAVO) says it is unhappy at the handling of the preparatory exercise for volunteers at a recent practice match at the Multi-Purpose Stadium in Koch, Trelawny.

Vice-president of the umbrella organisation, Melbourne Jarrette, believes that the Local Organising Committee (LOC) is not giving Trelawny volunteers the respect they deserve.

"You cannot have volunteers, who have been serving Trelawny over the years, coming all the way from Hanover to give of their services, and you turn them away, to give preference to volunteers from Kingston," she said.

There is also concern about the procedure used to select volunteers for specific locations at the stadium.

'Is something wrong?'

"I cannot understand how a person of the calibre of 67-year-old former parish council secretary/manager, Mrs. Leonie Earl, can be placed to work in the car park, while you have younger persons working in the VIP area. Something must be wrong," said Jarrette.

However, volunteer coordinator for Cricket World Cup 2007, Vivian Mc-Donald, says there is nothing unusual about placing Mrs. Earl in the car park.

"The car park requires monitors, who will simply ensure that no restricted object is taken into the stadium, this location along with the cue buster is ideal for our more senior volunteers," she contended.

"The VIP requires volunteers that have experience, as well as a certain diplomacy, as they will have to interact with our dignitaries and heads of state; everyone cannot work at the VIP."

Mrs. McDonald told The Gleaner that, despite these misunderstandings, preparations are going well.

"We have over 2,000 volunteers and we only require 1,000. Those with experience will be given preference," she noted.