And, according to chairman of the Barbados Cricket AssociationÕs (BCA) marketing committee, Calvin Hope, there is also a high demand from overseas businesses.

``There has been a lot of interest in the boxes. We now have to turn that interest into sales,'' Hope told NATIONSPORT yesterday.

When the current refurbishment is completed at the southern end of the Oval, the new media centre will include six luxury suites offered at $75 000 a year, while the Mitche Hewitt Stand will accommodate 10 deluxe suites which are going at $50 000 annually.

Hope, a former Barbados youth team captain who is in his first term as head of the BCA marketing committee, defended the costs.

``We believe the boxes should be a partnership between corporate Barbados and the BCA in terms of assisting in the development of cricket in Barbados,'' he reasoned.

``We donÕt want to link the two in terms of saying this is to finance anything. Cricket needs money. It cannot survive without it.''

Hope, a marketing officer at the Barbados Tourism Authority, pointed out that the BCA earned no revenue from gate receipts unless there was a profit.

``If you look at the whole revenue centres of the BCA, advertising and corporate hospitality are in the top league.''

The BCA has also raised rental fees in the existing boxes in the Hall & Griffith Stand by 163 per cent (from $7 500 to $25 000), a move that has triggered strong criticism from Tommy Pierce, managing director of United Insurance.

But Hope said the BCA had developed a very positive and excellent relationship with the private sector in Barbados throughout the years.

``Any time people are accustomed to something for a long time, when it changes there will be concern,'' he said.

``Those who have existing boxes are very good partners in the development of cricket. We wonÕt treat them any less than being a partner.''

In noting the interest expressed by overseas companies, Hope pointed out that many tour operators had clients staying in some of the leading hotels here.

``If a man buys a holiday for £25 000 and is staying at Sandy Lane, are you going to put him to sit in the Grounds?'' Hope queried.

He also said that cricket at Kensington offered a substantial opportunity for corporate entertaining.

``We have never focussed much on that in the West Indies,'' he said, while putting forward a scenario.

``If I was the NATION newspaper and I had 20 sellers who are selling papers for me and there was an event at Kensington, I can use that as a motivator for them to sell more papers and to help build the relationship with my company and them by entertaining in an atmosphere that is relaxed and comfortable.''