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Contact:
Primus Hutchinson
Friday, May 07, 2004 - St. Lucia has taken the decision after lengthy
discussion, to submit a joint bid with neighbouring Barbados to host various
packages in the World Cup Cricket Matches in 2007. St. Lucia’s formal submission
of the Bid Book was made Thursday by a local delegation comprising Mr. Ernest
Helaire, who is assisting the local bidding committee, Claude Guillaume and
Embert Charles, both members of the local bidding committee.
During a press briefing Thursday, Youth and Sports Minister, Honourable Mario
Michel, said the joint bid submission will see St. Lucia and Barbados hosting
matches at every stage of the World Cup Cricket 2007. Mr. Michel described the
joint bid as a very attractive package put together by the two countries. St.
Lucia’s bid is a two volume piece; volume one containing all the details and
volume two containing all the attachments, the photos, among other essentials.
Mr. Michel said the Barbados’s bid was equally impressive. A consultant from
Barbados visited St. Lucia recently to ensure that the joint bid was
sufficiently synchronised and collaborated. The Minister reiterated his appeal
for the nation to see this once-in-a-life-time prestigious event as a special
opportunity for St. Lucia to leave a lasting impression on rest of the World.
“This is not about Labour Party or UWP or any other P. This is not about Gros
Islet or Vieux Fort. This is about St. Lucia, the need to put our best foot
forward, our best face and to try to get that opportunity for St. Lucia to be
host of World Cup 2007. If and when that happens, we believe that St. Lucia will
never be the same again,” Michel said.
A verification team begins the process and verification of bids firstly in St.
Lucia on May 25th which then ends in Barbados. Mr. Michel is of the view that it
may not be accidental that the process begins in St. Lucia.
The total cost for St. Lucia’s hosting of World Cup Cricket 2007 has been
estimated at 35 Million dollars.
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