Cement shortage in Caribbean worries ICC

The office of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 has expressed disappointment with the situation which has seen cement shortages across the Caribbean affecting preparation for the tournament. Don Lockerbie, the venue development director for the tournament, said the Caribbean was "let down" by the cement industry and called for something to be done immediately to `rebuild the situation'.

"The Cricket World Cup office is very seriously monitoring the situation and we have made demands to the Local Organising Committees as to the nature and seriousness," Lockerbie said. "We are aware of the shortages - there were shortages in nearly every territory. I am personally quite surprised that the industry could let down the region, when in the region of (US) $300 million has been invested in this project. The stadium development for the tournament deals with cement and blocks should have been a major one on everyone's agenda."

Lockerbie said that the Cricket World Cup has called for reports from all the nine countries - with 13 stadiums, which will be hosting matches. He said Jamaica and Guyana have been the worst hit, but other countries also faced difficulties.

The other countries hosting matches are Barbados, St Lucia, Trinidad and Tobago, St Kitts, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, and St Vincent and the Grenadines.

Lockerbie said the situation was especially worrying as the senior assessors from the ICC will be touring the venues at the end of April to determine readiness.

"Here we are, one month before the ICC's tour, and the time where I wanted to see the greatest progress, is now hampered by an industry we needed the greatest help from. It's a major let down," Lockerbie said.

"At this point it's not unsolvable, we are far enough along and we hope the tournament is important enough that the Cricket World Cup project and the stadium development will be given priority, but this is an annoyance."