The Jamaica Chamber of Commerce yesterday voiced doubts that the beautification programme announced by the Prime Minister last September would be completed ahead of Cricket World Cup 2007 and predicted the country would be embarrassed before its international audience come March.

The association of retailers said after its monthly board meeting yesterday that Government has said little about the $600 million programme it announced to improve aesthetics in the lead-up to the cricket competition, and that it may be too late to follow through on the plan.

"Tenders take 90 days to process," said JCC second vice-president, Francis Kennedy, in indicating that the seven weeks to CWC 2007 gave Jamaica little time to follow the rules for issuing work contracts.

JCC president Mark Myers was also concerned that his organisation was outside the loop and had little information on how Government was funding the monies invested in the staging of the competition.

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