April2006Main.qxd 4/4/06 9:58 AM Page 1 PRESORTED APRIL 2006 STANDARD ® U.S. POSTAGE PAID MIAMI, FL PERMIT NO. 7315 Tel: (305) 238-2868 1-800-605-7516 [email protected] We cover your world Vol. 17 No. 5 [email protected] Chris Dehring, the chief execu- tive officer of Cricket World Cup 2007, is confident that the Caribbean will deliver a suc- cessful event, despite the obstacles being faced by the cricket-crazy region, page 2. ~ Jamaica’s record medal haul leads outstanding Caribbean performances at the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Portia Australia, page 23. Simpson Miller has risen to become prime minis- ter, only the second woman to hold such a post in the Caribbean's history, and tak- ing over from P.J. Patterson who led Jamaica for 14 years, page 4. When an American Idol meets a reggae legend from the Caribbean only good music can result, says Ruben Studdard, who is sampling the late Bob Marley’s brand to create something he can own, page 24. INSIDE News ..............................................................2 Food ..............................................................12 Business ......................................................19 Arts/Entertainment ....................................24 Spring/Summer Education Feature ..........6 Brides and Honeymoons Feature............14 Health ..........................................................21 Region ..........................................................25 Viewpoint ......................................................9 Tourism/Travel ............................................16 Sport ............................................................22 April2006Main.qxd 4/4/06 9:58 AM Page 2 2 CARIBBEAN TODAY April 2006 www.caribbeantoday.com NEWS The Caribbean will deliver a successful Cricket World Cup 2007 ~ Chris Dehring In less than a year, the Test innings, a long drawn out faced the previous day. That’s Caribbean will host Cricket thing, or right now would you the nature of it. I would say C.D.: Well, these things are World Cup 2007, the biggest say it is a one-day knock? from a general perspective we always regretted. Mr. Brancker stage for the one-day version of will always have challenges did resign from the (CWC the region’s favorite game. C.D.: Well, the preparations with the infrastructure of the 2007) board, but as I said it has Chris Dehring is the chief exec- have felt like a Test match region. We are a small region, been eight years of putting utive officer of CWC 2007 and because it has been, what, we are a poor region primarily. together this World Cup and the man in charge of making eight years in the making. It Five million people. We have during that period we’ve had the event a success. On Feb. 27 will be nine years or 10 years nine different countries hosting four West Indies Cricket Dehring, 44, a director of the when we finally host the event, events. So the logistical issues Board presidents and two financial management firm from preparation. So the around something like that Cricket World Cup chairmen. Dehring, Bunting and Golding, preparations would be closer (are) obviously always gonna The reality is that you do have and former youth level cricket to an actual Test match, but be challenging. But we will a robust organization that will and football player for the actual innings itself, you work with all the tools that we deal with changes such as that Jamaica, discussed the progress now are into a very intense have. (Brancker’s resignation) and it of CWC 2007 at his office in period and therefore it is a will move on. It will move on Dehring New Kingston, Jamaica with one-day match in that sense. G.W.: There are a lot of inter- whether or not Chris Dehring Caribbean Today’s Managing ests riding on this one (CWC was involved… ment and everything else, you Editor Gordon Williams. The G.W.: When you took on the 2007) and so far, just judging have to give them an idea as to following is an edited version job, what did it look like to from what I have seen in the G.W.: How much of an effect what will be the fallout of all of that interview: you? press, you would notice that did you think that (Brancker’s of this. Is there any idea of a people are coming out more resignation) had on the process dollar figure? GORDON WILLIAMS: You C.D.: Well, it certainly seemed and more and saying things. itself? played cricket at a decent level; a very daunting task at the (Some tourism interests are) C.D.: Well, no we don’t pitch if the preparations for Cricket beginning. In fact, when I was saying they don’t think they C.D.: I don’t think it had any to anyone. The reality is that World Cup 2007 were to be approached about this position will be ready (for CWC 2007). effect at all…The momentum as a region our governments compared to a batsman’s it took me about six months to How difficult is it coping with has to be maintained and it has and our people decided that innings, you being the bats- decide. everybody tugging at you at to be maintained not by indi- we wanted to host this event. man, how would you describe once? viduals, but by a collective will Prior to the bid process, where the stage that you are at now, G.W.: When was that? of the Caribbean to host this countries where countries were in terms of your innings? C.D.: It is challenging, but it is event. asked whether they were actu- C.D.: This was in 1999. I was also extremely encouraging ally interested in hosting CHRIS DEHRING: Well it is actually first approached in because that is one of the great G.W.: Mr. Gordon stepped in matches, each country was now time, if this was a limited 1997, to put together the bid to things about the region. We do as (CWC 2007) chairman after required to do their own due overs game, it is now time to host the World Cup. So having rise to the occasion. And when Mr. Brancker left. How would diligence as to whether they put the foot on the pedal and done that, the (West Indies you see the level of activity you describe the transition, thought it was economically start to put the runs on the Cricket Board) asked me to taking place and the level of your working relationship with worth it to host this event and board. We’ve built a very solid stay on to run it. So it was a, interest you know things are Mr. Gordon and the difference whether they wanted to put foundation, we’ve gotten to when I looked at the challenge being done. It is inactivity that in that relationship than the themselves forward as a host. know the lay of the land, we’ve that was there, when I looked you really worry about at this one with Mr. Brancker? And we gave the sort of terms made our plans, we’ve assessed at my own capacity to con- particular phase and we cer- and conditions which they the bowling and now it is time tribute etcetera, it definitely tainly don’t have that to worry C.D.: With all my board direc- would have to meet in order to to deliver. seemed a very daunting chal- about now. tors I do have a very profes- meet the world-class standards lenge. sional relationship with. I con- that the ICC contractually G.W.: How would you describe G.W.: Last November I had a tinue to have an excellent rela- require and we had nine coun- the state of the “wicket”, in G.W.: Right now, is the discussion with Mr.Ken tionship with Mr. Gordon, the tries step forward. In fact we other words, the conditions Caribbean on track to host, as Gordon, WICB president, and current chairman. It is a rela- had more. It was narrowed you have had to work with in close as possible, a perfect he said that at that point in tionship like with all boards down to nine to host matches starting out this project and World Cup 2007? time the ICC (International based on mutual respect and and host official events during where the wicket is now, is it Cricket Council) reserved the execution of each other’s this tournament. playing better? C.D.: Oh definitely. We defi- right to change the Cricket responsibilities dutifully. So each country would nitely feel that we’re in a good World Cup venue if it thought have done their due diligence C.D.: Well, let’s put it this way: position to deliver...There are the West Indies would not be G.W.: What kind of money… and they would have, I’m sure, the “wicket” is based on the going to be many hitches along ready to host the event proper- can the region realistically touched base with their private resources of the region. We are the way and many challenges. ly. Any chance of that happen- hope to make from this? There sector to see if their private a poor region…so there are What’s important, you have ing now? has been talk that the money sector wanted to host this logistical challenges. So it is a the type of vigorous monitor- will not be trickling down to event etcetera and the rest is wicket that you have to be ing and evaluation program C.D.: I would doubt that very the people, but going to other history. very careful on, but at the that identifies problem areas much. Obviously you still have interests. same time it is a wicket that when they occur very quickly an entire hurricane season to G.W.: How would you describe creates a lot of opportunities and you have the kind of team go.