These three female fans were delighted to meet former West Indies fast bowler Courtney Walsh during the recent game between Jamaica and a United States Invitational XI at the new multi-purpose stadium in Trelawny. Walsh is currently in London urging West Indians to return home for next year's World Cup. - Photo by Adrian Frater

LONDON:

JAMAICAN AMBASSADOR- at-Large and former West Indies cricket captain Courtney Walsh is urging Jamaicans overseas to return home for the upcoming World Cup, but most of all he says, Jamaicans need to come home to party and have fun.

Walsh was addressing a large contingent, mainly Jamaicans at the Jamaican High Commission in London on Wednesday. After Acting Deputy High Commis-sioner Sharon Saunders made the opening remarks, Walsh said: "Jamaica is ready for World Cup 2007. What we have been thinking is how big the party will be."

He added that the World Cup is a 'Caribbean thing', and for Jamaica it will be a most prestigious event, showcasing Jamaica and the Caribbean, thus he stressed: "The best way to be part of this event is to come home and lend support to the boys (West Indies cricket team) as the boys will need support from day one, and as a result they will have no other option than to play well.

"We (Jamaicans) have to ensure that we host and host well; we have to set the standard from day one, we know how to party and after the cricket we will party," he told a cheering audience.

Get ready

Stressing the importance of the event to Jamaica and the Caribbean, Walsh noted that a lasting legacy would be left behind as the region will be on show to the world and it is significant that Jamaica put on the best show, as Jamaica is where the games begin. He implored those in attendance to "get ready to support the West Indies team and have fun".

Adding to the plans for the games, Carol Guntley of the Ministry of Tourism, Entertain-ment and Culture, told those in attendance that a plan was being put in place where families could accommodate visitors and provide them with meals, but those families had to be registered with the Ministry of Tourism, Entertainment and Culture.

Richard Lee of Air Jamaica noted that systems were in place with 57 travel agents licensed to sell packages. He warned Jamai-cans to book early as extra flights would result in increased fares.

With visitor arrivals expected to reach three million by the end of the year and with 40 per cent of the island's visitors returning to Jamaica each year, Robert Bryan, executive director - Jamaica Cricket 2007, stated that facilities in Montego Bay, Ocho Rios, Falmouth, Kingston and Port Antonio have been significantly improved.

Facilities will be ready

He said expansion work on Sabina Park, one of the focal points of the games, and the new multi-purpose stadium in Falmouth are in advanced stages of preparation and should be completed by next month. "Our facilities will be ready," Bryan said.

Also urging Jamaicans to return home for the event, Bryan said: "Jamaicans living overseas, we cannot do it without you; come home, we are the hosts and you need to be there to welcome our visitors; to demonstrate to them the true meaning of the song, 'One Love', which was voted the song of the millennium."

Walsh has been in Europe showcasing the upcoming Cricket World Cup games in the Caribbean with representatives of the Jamaica Tourist Board and Jamaica Cricket 2007. Among those on the tour is Terrence Lewis (JTB) and Basil Smith, Director of Tourism, while former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was among those attending the London function.