Victor Wallace (left), proprietor of Ocean Treasure Craft, shows a necklace to Donald Tankoy, executive manager Caymanas Track Ltd., Member of Parliament Sharon Hay-Webster, and Ansell White (right) at the launch of the St. Catherine Cricket, Food and Craft Fest on Thursday. - Ricardo Makyn/Staff Photographer

Rasbert Turner, Gleaner Writer

SPANISH TOWN:

THE RESIDENTS of Portmore and its environs say they are ready for the staging of Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007.

This was made known on Wednesday at a press conference held at Caymanas Park where the St. Catherine Culture and Food Festival was launched.

Several major players from the political arena, sporting fraternity and business sector turned out.

Millicent Lynch, a member of the St. Catherine Planning Committee, said it was good that the parish was now coming into its own to accept the sporting spectacle as for too long it had sat passively.

The function, which was held under the theme 'The Taste', was welcomed by all in attendance. According to the Mayor of Portmore, George Lee, the most populous city in Jamaica and the Caribbean was now taking its rightful place in the planning of Cricket World Cup 2007.

"We believe that the time has come for our business people and citizens at large to put forward their best intentions and we are now on board with Cricket World Cup 2007," Lee said.

The fest, which will start on March 17 with a gospel concert, will include a food fest, culture fest, several other types of entertainment from which Portmore stands to get tremendous economic spin-offs.

Lynch said about $1 million had been invested in promoting the culture and food fest.

She said special thanks were in order for the Social Development Commission (SDC) for its input in sensitising the Jamaican public about CWC 2007.