Hilaire addresses concerns raised by Minister Anthony …
A DAY after Sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony expressed his disappointment over the selection process for the allocation of games at the 2010 ICC 20/20 World Cup in the Caribbean, Tournament Director Ernest Hilaire sought to defend some of the comments and concerns of the minister.

In a telephone interview with Chronicle Sport, Hilaire explained that Guyana was ‘kept constantly in the loop because of their limitations as a host nation from the beginning”.

Hilaire, who is from St Lucia, said that while Guyana has one of the best stadia in the Caribbean, Guyana’s Oversight Committee, headed by Anthony, knew from the inception that their accommodation capacity was limited.

But speaking to Minister Anthony yesterday he referred to Hilaire’s excuse as a “justification for an unreasonable position” especially since Barbados and St Lucia have received their full quota of matches.

Anthony also referred to using accommodation as a reason for Guyana not getting its full quota of matches as a “red herring” especially since the weeks leading up to the launching for next year the planning committee cut all communication with the local committee.

Anthony contended that during the 2007 World Cup Guyana hosted six teams comfortably and there were no complaints. He said in 2007 WICB planning committee used The Pegasus and Cara Suites and had they used the Buddy’s Hotel Guyana would have been able to accommodate more people.

Hilaire explained that Barbados and St Lucia, the other two nations that won bids to host games, were not in the “loop” because they hadn’t the problem of accommodation and therefore preference to host the influx of supporters, the teams and their regular guests would have been taken into consideration. He stated that St Lucia alone has the capacity to house 5 000 persons at the recommended hotels and the same applies for Barbados.

“Two hotels reached the standard of the ICC inspectorate team, especially The Pegasus Hotel and this was made known to the minister. Princess Buddy’s, the other hotel, has been advised to make some adjustments, and has duly complied, to accommodate the five teams that will be accommodated in Guyana,” Hilaire explained.

Minister Anthony told media operatives that when he met the ICC inspectorate team last week and he enquired about the match schedule the inspectorate team, headed by Hilaire, was evasive. But Hilaire contended that none of the other countries knew about the schedule prior to the launching but his team again voiced their concerns about Guyana’s accommodation capability.

He outlined that for a hotel to house six teams will require 30 rooms, a well equipped gym for the players and six meeting rooms. The international media, sponsors, match officials, the broadcast and technical personnel, which have totalled over 100, have to be taken into consideration also. He went on to state that the Pegasus, even now, has to undergo further inspections.

He did make it clear however, that the WICB, who is the host of the event, insisted that games come to Guyana and such was the case from the inception. He said that there was great bargaining for matches including one semi-final to come to Guyana but there was always the issue of Guyana’s rainy season and Guyana was made aware of these problems that faced the planners and major stakeholders.

At an earlier press conference Hilaire stated that allocating matches to host nations was the most tedious task he has ever undertaken. He made this statement cognisant of the fact that there were other factors and demands, of all involved, to consider.

Yesterday he said, “It was a highly complex and intensive negotiating process and therefore countries had to start compromising because there is never an ideal match schedule,”

At a press conference on Tuesday the minister stated that he understood these “logistical preparations” but was disappointed with the quota of matches while referring to the process of selection as “not transparent”.

The minister also stated at the press conference that there were no reasons given for the scale down of ten to six matches. However, the minister assured media operatives that Guyana will continue to plan for the event.

Hilaire responded, “I can understand the country’s and the minister’s disappointment at their quota of matches but I don’t understand why the Honourable Minister (Frank Anthony) would say the process for allocation of matches was not transparent”.

Meanwhile, Hilaire stated that when the nations presented their bids and Guyana found out that they secured the right to host matches, the WICB informed the local committees.

He said that there were consultations on the recommendations they were carrying to the ICC, who is standing the entire cost of the tournament, and the host nations agreed to the conditions with five days for matches with double-headers.

However, there were concerns with Guyana by major stakeholders. It was their contention that because the event was being played during Guyana’s rainy season wisdom dictated that steps be revisited with some logistical changes and these were made known to Guyana, according to Hilaire.