Safety Net to be in place for cricket World Cup fans

Mumbai, Dec 14 (UNI) Cricket fans travelling to the Caribbean for the World Cup 2007 can rest assured that they will feel secure as the host country for the event will implement security measures of an unprecedented scale.

This is the assurance from Ms Mia Mottley, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados and Chairperson of the Caribbean Sub Committee for CWC 2007 security, a release issued here stated.

''Cricket World Cup is the world's third largest sporting event and we are expecting thousands of people to the Caribbean for it. We will ensure that people feel safe and as a result we will implement several security measures,'' Ms Mottley was qouted as saying in the release.

She stressed that the Region is mindful of the global war on terror and given this reality, security has to be optimal for an event such as Cricket world Cup. She also indicated that Caribbean countries have invested heavily in this area.

''In the Caribbean it may be considered that we are not at risk for acts of terrorism. However, reality dictates that we take every step to ensure that we provide a secure environment for the staging of Cricket World Cup,'' Ms Mottley emphasised in the release.

One of the cornerstones of the security measures is the CARICOM Special Visa which fans from most countries will need for travel to the CWC 2007 venues. The visa will be required for travel to the countries between the period January 15-May 15, 2007 and issuing will start on December 15, 2006.

''The Special Visa is a safety net for cricket fans. In implementing this decision for the visa requirement, the host countries have created a Single Domestic Space which will provide for hassle free movement of cricket fans,'' Ms Mottley added.

The countries in the Single Domestic Space are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent, The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago. Visa issuing sites will be located in the host countries as well as Toronto, New York; Miami in the USA; New Delhi, India; Sydney, Australia and London, England, the release further stated.

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