–ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies Bill proposes
A FIVE-million-dollar fine is set to be imposed on individuals or groups found guilty of selling “black-market” tickets for the upcoming local leg of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2024.
In a proposed piece of legislation tabled in the National Assembly last evening, dubbed Bill Number Four of 2024, or the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies Bill 2024, offenders can look forward to forking out five million dollars in fines if found guilty of selling tickets on the black-market.
In Clause Six, the proposed document states: “The CWI shall be responsible for the production and distribution of CWC 2024 tickets. No person shall, without the written authorisation of CWI, sell any CWC 2024 ticket, or an article that is represented to be such a ticket, for admission to a CWC 2024 activity.”
It continues: “sell” includes (a) sell by wholesale, retail, auction or tender; (b) hire; (c) barter or exchange; (d) supply for profit; (e) offer for sale or hire, receive for sale or hire, have in possession for sale or hire, or expose or exhibit for sale or hire; (f) conduct negotiations for sale or hire; (g) consign or deliver for sale or hire; (h) solicit for sale or hire; (i) donate, transfer or in any way dispose of a ticket for gain or profit; and (j) cause or permit anything referred to in paragraphs (a) to (i).
“A person who contravenes subsection (2) commits an offence, and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of five million dollars.”
Apart from the above, the Bill also seeks to outline clear roles and duties of the host country, the Local Organising Committee (LOC), the International Cricket Council (ICC), the International Cricket Council Business Company (IBC), CWI (Cricket West Indies), and other stakeholders.
The Act also outlines the roles of the Guyana Police Force (GPF) in ensuring law and order, the Guyana Revenue Authority (GRA) in ensuring all imports and exports are dealt with, as well as the processing of permits and concessions, as well as the roles of the LOC.
The Bill was presented by the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jnr. to the National Assembly, and saw a further Motion being moved by Minister of Parliamentary affairs Gail Teixeira to have all three readings done at the same sitting.
The Motion was later approved, with the first reading completed, and the second and third readings to be done today (Friday) in an extended sitting of Parliament to allow for its speedy passage through the House.
The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup West Indies & USA 2024 is set to take place from June 1-29 in the United States and the West Indies.
Guyana will host Semi-final One and five group games.
Games are as follows: Sunday, June 2: West Indies vs Papua New Guinea; Monday, June 3: Afghanistan vs Uganda; Wednesday, June 5: Papua New Guinea vs Uganda; Friday, June 7: New Zealand vs Afghanistan; and Saturday June 8: West Indies vs Uganda
Semi-final one is set for Wednesday, June 26 (Reserve Day: Thursday, June 27).
