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Secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dr Edwin Carrington has invited the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to participate in the Civil Society "Forward Together Encounter" to be held in Georgetown, Guyana, on July 2 and 3. The conference, which will see the participation of the Heads of Government of CARICOM, will take place just prior to their annual conference scheduled for Guyana from July 3-5.

Carrington extended the invitation to the WICB during an exchange of views between representatives of both parties during the third day of the second 2002 Cable & Wireless Test between West Indies and India at Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain, Trinidad, yesterday.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Lester Bird, who is also the chairman of the CARICOM Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, proposed the meeting in order to get an overview of the present state of West Indies cricket and to be able to work with the WICB in managing the premier sporting event in the Caribbean.

Carrington said the WICB's participation in the encounter would create an opportunity for every CARICOM head of government to get a comprehensive overview of plans for the World Cup of cricket to be staged in the West Indies in 2007.

He added that the WICB's presentation would also allow participants an insight into the present state of West Indies cricket and the strategic role they will have to play in expanding programmes, including cricket in the curriculum in schools, coaching, fitness and conditioning, and human resource development of West Indies cricketers.

During the exchange, the WICB and the CARICOM secretariat agreed to pool resources to promote the future development of all aspects of West Indies cricket, starting with intensive preparations next month for the 2007 World Cup.

More than 150 000 visitors are likely to visit the Caribbean during the 2007 World Cup, an event that Chris Dehring, chief executive of Windies World Cup Limited, said would significantly benefit every CARICOM member state.

Representatives of both bodies also pledged their commitment to sensitise West Indies cricket fans and the Caribbean public about the scope of the event.

Guy Yearwood, Antigua and Barbuda's Sports and Information Minister, chaired yesterday's meeting in the absence of Bird. The CARICOM delegation also included Colin Murdoch, Antigua and Barbuda's permanent secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Dr Edward Greene, assistant secretary-general for human and social development.

President Reverend Wes Hall, chief executive officer Gregory Shillingford and Dehring were the three officials attending yesterday's meeting in the boardroom of the Queen's Park Cricket Club.

Hall commended the CARICOM initiative to convene a forum whereby the WICB and CARICOM could work harmoniously to promote the game. He also outlined the WICB's plans for West Indies cricket in the short, medium and long term.

Dehring presented a detailed background on the WICB's approach, preparations and development plans for the 2007 World Cup. He solicited the co-operation of CARICOM in mounting an extensive marketing and promotional programme involving West Indies fans and supporters.

Details of this programme will be worked out between a WICB team and the CARICOM secretariat in Georgetown.

© Barbados Nation