Security air-tight for Guyana's ODIs

Security air-tight for Guyana’s ODIs

Mar 17, 2009 Sports

Pakistan shooting an eye-opener, says Raphael

Claude Raphael

By Sean Devers
The recent shooting of the Sri Lanka cricket team’s bus in Pakistan by terrorists was the first such occurrence against a national sports team since the 1972 Israeli Olympic team was targeted.
As Guyana prepares to host the first two One-Day Internationals between West Indies and England on Friday and Sunday, Convener of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Security Committee Claude Raphael feels the Pakistan situation is an eye opener for the security requirements of touring International sporting teams.
Raphael, who has served as the GCB Security Committee Head since he took over from Conrad Plummer in 2003, informed that everything is in place in Guyana to maintain the standards of the International Cricket Council (ICC) security regulations and is confident that there will be no threat to the players safety in Guyana.

Raphael’s committee comprise Cecil Killen, Mustapha Kadir, Robert Burns and senior ranks from the Guyana Police Force and Guyana Fire Service and is responsible for the general safety of the players and Officials from the time they arrived at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport yesterday to the moment they depart this county after this weekend’s games at the Guyana National Stadium.
Raphael explained that his committee is mandated to organize and provide security for the players and officials not only on match days but also at practice venues, their hotel and any social functions they have to attend.

Raphael reminded that only persons with tickets or accreditation passes will be allowed entry into the venue regardless of who they are and pleaded with officials and fans to ensure they walk with their tickets or passes to prevent them being denied possible entry into the ground.
“Security is serious business and we will be doing all we can to guarantee an incident free event and we need the support of the pubic. A lot was learnt from the last World Cup and it has been agreed that the Caribbean atmosphere at the ground is vital to us hosting International cricket but security was be in no way compromised for this to happen,” Raphael disclosed.

He said that while many items like food baskets, small coolers, folding chairs for spectators in the grass mound, horns and whistles can now be taken into the ground all weapons are strictly prohibited.
“Please don’t come with your firearms, knives, or glass bottles. Firearms owners can leave their guns at maybe the Providence Police Station and collect when the match is over since no weapons will be allowed at the venue,” Raphael stressed.
While he could not go into details since it could compromise the operations, Raphael, also the head of the senior Guyana cricket selection panel, said that the security staff has begun a round-the-clock job from yesterday and stated that the stands and ground will be checked even before match day to ensure everyone’s safety.

A private security firm has been contracted to do all of the scanning and checks at the gates and plans are in place with the Guyana Police Force to set up traffic lanes close to the Stadium to facilitate the easy flow of traffic of those going to the match ad those going further up on the East Bank during Friday and Sunday.
“The teams and officials will be provided police escorts from their hotel to the ground and will be directed directly to specified areas in the venue where they will be off loaded. Guyana Fire Service personnel will also be present in the stands during the two games which have already been sold out.”
Raphael said that while the Stadium accommodates close to 15,000 and is a much larger property than Bourda, it is easier to control since they are fewer points of entrance than at the ‘cramped’ Bourda in the Capitol City.

“We have already had meetings with senior officials from the Police and Fire Service along with the security firm we are using to update them on our plans and to let them know what the passes and tickets look like to prevent any confusion on match day and we are very satisfied that all plans are moving smoothly,” Raphael added.

He said that GCB’s Marking Manager Ramsay Ali is heading the Committee which looks after accreditation passes and urged those working at the stadium to make sure they have passes by urgently contacting the GCB’ office at Bourda. “The shooting in Pakistan has raised concerns and has caused us to put even more emphasis on an airtight security plan here.

However we don’t anticipate any such trouble since it is not the culture of West Indians to terrorize sporting teams or blow up public places as is the case in other parts of the world. But we are putting everything in place for any eventuality. Even guest with nothing to do with the cricket will be subjected to extra checks if they are staying at the same hotels with the players or officials,” Raphael informed. Gates open at 07:00hrs each day and Raphael encouraged fans to get the ground early to avoid the last minute rush. Reselling of tickets outside the ground on match day is also illegal.