Crackdown on cricket

NEWS RELEASE

CARIBBEAN COMMUNITY (CARICOM) IMPLEMENTATION AGENCY FOR CRIME AND SECURITY (IMPACS)

************************* Safety net will be in place for Cricket World Cup fans, according to Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad and Tobago, Dec. 28 - Cricket fans traveling to the Caribbean for Cricket World Cup 2007 can rest assured that they will feel secure as the host countries for the event will implement security measures of an unprecedented level.

This assurance has been given by Hon. Mia Mottley, Deputy Prime Minister of Barbados and Chair of the Caribbean Community Sub Committee for CWC 2007 security. "Cricket World Cup is the world's third-largest sporting event, and we are expecting thousands of people to come to the Caribbean for it. We will make sure people feel safe, and, as a result, implement several security measures," said Ms. Mottley. Ms. Mottley stresses that the region is mindful of the global war on terror, and, given this reality, security has to be optimal for an event such as the Cricket World Cup.

She also indicated that Caribbean countries have invested heavily in this area. "In the Caribbean it may be believed that we are not at risk from acts of terrorism. However, reality dictates that we take every step to ensure we provide a secure environment for the staging of Cricket World Cup," Ms. Mottley emphasized. One of the main security measures is the CARICOM special visa, which fans from most countries will need for travel to the CWC 2007 venue.

The visa will be required for travel to the countries between the period of January 15 - May 15, 2007, and is available as of December 15, 2006. "The special visa is a safety net for cricket fans. In implementing this decision for the visa requirement, host countries have created a Single Domestic Space that will provide hassle-free movement of cricket fans," said Ms. Mottley.

The countries in the Single Domestic Space are Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.

Visa issuing sites will be located in the host countries, as well as Toronto, Canada; New York and Miami in the U.S.; New Delhi, India; Sydney, Australia; and London, England. Application for the visa can be completed and downloaded online via the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) website at http://www.caricomimpacs.org

A processing fee of US$100 can also be paid online with a credit card. It is anticipated that the turnaround time for persons receiving their visas would be a maximum of 21 days.

About CARICOM IMPACS The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS) was established at the 27th Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of CARICOM in July 2006. IMPACS was established as the implementation arm of a new Regional Architecture for the development and management of the CARICOM Regional Action Agenda on Crime and Security issues.

IMPACS is headed by an executive director and reports to the CARICOM Council of Ministers responsible for National Security and Law and Enforcement. IMPACS executes a broad portfolio, which ranges from project management to research and resource mobilization.

Its overall objective is to enhance the individual and collective capacity of CARICOM member states to control crime and effectively participate in international counter crime and security initiatives.

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