– ‘Reds’ Perreira
Prominent Guyanese and West Indian Sports personality Joseph ‘Reds’ Perreira is hoping that the Caribbean would host the best ever International Cricket Council (ICC) Championship Trophy next year …“with all the ICC stringent rules and controls going out of the window.”
Telling Stabroek Sport he was happy that the ICC 20/20 championship trophy was coming to the Caribbean, Perreira said, “One can look back and say we had the worse World Cup in 2007. I hope the Caribbean authorities fight the ICC not to have a controlling mechanism against us.”
Security was important, he emphasized, but added that the organisers must not go over the top and lose the fun and entertainment that go with the games.”
My concern is that in 2007 cricket logistics came into the picture and they ended up making the cost of hotel rooms too expensive for the average cricket fan. He said “that was not necessary. I am happy the ICC had some sense in choosing the dates which come after the official tourist season is over. In 2007 they choose the middle of the tourist season. Anyone who had a brain would know you didn’t need Cricket World Cup 2007 to fill hotels because Caribbean hotels are filled in any case.”
Expressing the hope that the local service industry benefits, he said that in 2007 it did not benefit. He wants local companies to have an opportunity to bid for services so all would not be awarded out of the Caribbean.
He feels that the tourist boards of the various countries and the ministries of sports must play a role in ensuring that those countries where the matches will be played such as Guyana, Barbados and St Lucia are well marketed and the thousands of Indian and Pakistani supporters among others who live in New York, Miami and Los Angeles must be sensitized to the fact that, “There is World Cup 20/20 in St Lucia, Guyana, Barbados.”
The tourist boards, he said, really need to ensure that the hotel and guest house structures, restaurants, taxis and art and craft benefit because they did not in 2007.
Noting the exorbitant prices paid in 2007 which limited attendance to the various venues across the region, he said, “I am glad to hear the ticket prices will be very attractive, which is very, very good.” (Miranda La Rose)
