Mr. Charles Wilkin Q.C., Chairman of the Board of Directors of World Cup St. Kitts-Nevis Ltd has hailed the selection of St. Kitts-Nevis as a venue for the 2007 Cricket World Cup as a major breakthrough for cricket in St. Kitts-Nevis. Mr. Wilkin said that the selection will raise public interest in the game, particularly among our young people. The vast improvement in cricket facilities which will now take place will also help to attract players and to improve standards of play. The game will now also be able to attract new sponsorship. Very importantly, Mr. Wilkin said, a greater number of capable persons are likely to become involved in management of the game at the local level.
Mr. Wilkin said that the country will benefit tremendously from the event. The very announcement of the selection of St. Kitts-Nevis as a new international cricket venue has already increased awareness of the country among the international sporting community. This exposure will continue and grow in the 3 years leading up to 2007 and will help the tourism marketing of the two islands. The tournament itself is likely to bring as many as 4000 visitors to our shores and TV coverage will reach an audience of 2 billion people in some 70 countries.
World Cup St. Kitts-Nevis Ltd is a company established by Government to undertake the hosting of matches in the World Cup. The Company has already signed a Host Venue Agreement with West Indies Cricket Board which obliges it to host matches to world class standards. Mr. Wilkin said that the Company would require a unified national effort to achieve its objective.
Mr. Wilkin was also Chairman of the successful Bid Committee which prepared the Country’s bid. He thanked the Prime Minister and his Cabinet for the full and unqualified support which they had provided to the Committee. He also thanked the members of the Committee for their untiring and very skillful support. Mr. Wilkin said that the bid had the support of all political parties on St. Kitts-Nevis whose leaders had been consulted in the process. He thanked those leaders for their support.
Mr. Wilkin said that the successful bid demonstrated that this country can compete regionally and internationally. This achievement augurs well for the future in which, despite our size, St. Kitts-Nevis will have to compete on a level playing field with the larger nations of the region and the world. While our human resources may be limited in terms of numbers we have the intellectual capacity and leadership skills to compete if only we can, as in the case of our bid, join forces on a national level. Mr. Wilkin said the bid shows the effectiveness of the public and private sectors working closely together. Mr. Wilkin expressed the hope that this partnership would be matched in other areas of our national life.
The Board of Directors of World Cup St. Kitts-Nevis Ltd includes Mr. Wilkin as Chairman, Mrs. Hilary Hazel, Director of Planning, Mr. Horatio Versailles, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of International Trade and Caricom Affairs, Mr. Stanley Franks Jr., President of the St. Kitts Cricket Association and Mr. Ricky Skerritt, former Manager of the West Indies Cricket team.
The Company will shortly appoint a local organizing Committee to assist in planning all aspects of the hosting of matches in the World Cup.
Mr. Wilkin said that his Board expects to receive the fullest support of the many persons throughout the community with the requisite skills who will be asked to serve in various capacities on the Committee and its several sub-Committees.
