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St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Minister of Sports, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas speaks to local workers at the Warner Park Redevelopment Site during tour of the facilities. |
BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS, FEBRUARY 21ST 2006 - Workers employed on the construction site of the Warner Park Development/International Cricket Facility, have been urged to double their efforts to complete the project on time.
Thanking the workers during a tour of the facility, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, and Sports, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas said the workers, most of whom hail from both islands of the Federation 'are doing a tremendous job.'
"I want to use this occasion to motivate them much further," said Dr. Douglas, who spoke to several of them during the tour which was organised by Minister of State in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, Sen. the Hon. Richard 'Ricky' Skerritt.
Prime Minister Douglas disclosed that during the recent 17th Inter-Sessional of Caribbean Heads of Government in Trinidad, an analysis of where each country was in terms of preparation, was done.
"St. Kitts did not come out first, but it was in fact very high up on the list in terms of our state of readiness and preparedness. But I say to you, we do not have the luxury and the privilege of seeing anything slipping back to where we are now," said Prime Minister Douglas, adding: "Specific deadlines have to be met."
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St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister and Minister of Sports, the Hon. Dr. Denzil L. Douglas speaks to local workers at the Warner Park Redevelopment Site during tour of the facilities. |
"The Government and the People of St. Kitts and Nevis are depending on you. Workers, you cannot let us down. We must finish this project on time," urged Dr. Douglas.
He continued: "I believe that all of us, at the end of the day would be very proud that you have brought this facility here, not only terms of the hosting of the ICC World Cup matches next year, but the One-Day International and Third Test against India" in May this year.
Also on the tour were Ministers of Government, the Ambassador of the Republic of China on Taiwan to St. Kitts and Nevis, His Excellency, John Liu, whose Government is the major financier of the project; senior public officers, officials of World Cup (St. Kitts and Nevis) Ltd and the contractors TerraForma/Carillion.
St. Kitts and Nevis will host six Phase One matches in the 9th Cricket World Cup 2007.
The twin-island Federation hosts Australia, South Africa, Scotland and The Netherlands at Warner Park.
Following the opener on March 13th between the West Indies and Pakistan in Jamaica, Australia will open the defense of its Cricket World Cup title against Scotland in St. Kitts and Nevis on March 16th.
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Spectators stands at the Warner Park Re Development Site. |
Other matches set for St. Kitts and Nevis are South Africa vs The Netherlands on March 16th; Australia vs The Netherlands on March 18th; South Africa vs Scotland on March 20th; Scotland vs The Netherlands on March 22nd and Australia vs South Africa on March 24th.
According to the International Cricket Council (ICC), the Ninth World Cup, comprising a record 16 teams, will be played at eight venues in the Caribbean. The top two in each group advance to the so-called Super Eights stage, where each team will compete against every side it hasn't played. The top four will then contest the semifinals before the April 28th final.
Australia, ranked No.1 in the long and short forms of the game, won the last two editions of cricket's biggest event.
