Security arrangements for the Guyana leg of the ICC Twenty20 World Championship are well advanced with over 300 personnel set to be involved in providing security at the stadium, according to Assistant Commissioner of Police Paul Slowe.
At a press conference held yesterday at the Guyana National Stadium, Slowe, the Security Director for the tournament, disclosed that his team met last Wednesday for the fourth Regional Security Directorate meeting to finalise arrangements and to resolve other minor issues in terms of tournament operation plans. Further, he said the issue now is to actually deliver what is on paper when the World Cup event opens on April 30 at Providence.
Slowe emphasized that although security measures in the 2007 ICC World Cup were successful, there were a number of hiccups. Based on this past experience they are striving to have those issues eliminated, Slowe said.
He acknowledged that although restrictions have been somewhat relaxed from 2007, restrictions on specific items are still in place to maintain a safe environment.
“We recognize the need for spectators to enjoy themselves, but at the same time we also recognize our responsibility to ensure that the environment is secure,” Slowe said.
Yesterday, Slowe also met with a number of private security personnel who will be providing security at the stadium. In total over 300 private security and police personnel will be involved in providing stadium security.
These personnel will undergo training in stadium management at the National Stadium prior to the upcoming tournament. Additional training will be provided for supervisors, liaison officers and hotel staff.
Slowe also said that “Coming out of the meeting on Wednesday, the general feeling is that we in Guyana are more advanced in our preparations than other countries.”
Meanwhile, a comprehensive traffic management plan is being implemented in the security measures to control traffic to and from the stadium. These traffic arrangements will also be in place for the practice and warm-up matches at the stadium on April 27 and 28.
As part of the plan, members of the general public, who will be driving and wish to park in the stadium, will be required to purchase a sticker at an identified location between Princess Hotel and the stadium. This sticker will be placed on the vehicles so that traffic ranks will be able to easily direct the drivers as they move towards the stadium.
Slowe urged members of the public to co-operate with the security personnel so as to allow the smooth flow of traffic to and from the stadium.
“There are more than adequate personnel to meet the security requirements of the stadium,” Slowe said, while pleading for public co-operation.
Slowe added that one emphasis is to provide a more spectator-friendly environment and even though it is necessary to provide security, it will be done in such a manner that it’s not offensive to the public. Also present at the press conference were Events Manager Kausiyal Jainarayan Singh and Promotions and Corporate Services Officer Sabrina Panday.
Guyana will be hosting Ireland, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, when the tournament gets underway.
