Adrian Frater, News Editor
Christopher Smith (centre), the venue development manager for the Local Organising Committee for Cricket World Cup 2007, explains an aspect of the development at the new Greenfield stadium to officials of the ICC and the developers, COMPLANT, during a visit to the facility yesterday. - PHOTO BY ADRIAN FRATER
WESTERN BUREAU:
THE DEVELOPER of the Greenfield stadium in Trelawny, said the facility, which is earmarked to host the opening ceremony for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, is on target and poised to move ahead of schedule in the coming months.
Fielding questions from the media following yesterday's tour of the facility by members of the ICC inspection team, Christopher Smith, the venue development manager of the Local Organising Committee (LOC), said he was pleased with the pace of the work being done and is confident that the November deadline will be met.
"Except for the south stand, all the projects are on schedule and a few are ahead of schedule," said Smith, against the background of work being done by the 300 Jamaican and Chinese workers. "We are expecting to be ahead of schedule in all areas by the end of April."
In pointing out some of the areas that are ahead of schedule, Smith mentioned the strip that has been laid and grass for the cricket pitches, the irrigation and drainage systems and the north stand that is more than 90 per cent complete.
ROAD UPGRADE
In terms of development slated to come on stream, Smith said the Daniel Town main road, which runs adjacent to the new facility, is to be upgraded from its current two-lane status into four lanes to facilitate the increase in the volume of traffic it will be required to handle when the tournament starts.
While the members of the ICC team did not answer any questions as to whether or not they were satisfied with the pace of the work citing protocol, it was clear by their smiling faces that they were happy with the outline they received from Smith and an official of COMPLANT, the Chinese firm masterminding the project.
President of the Trelawny Cricket Association (TCA) Phillip Service, who has been working closely with the developers, was also pleased with the pace of the work, especially in regards to the development of the playing facility.
"I am impressed with what I am seeing and I am heartened by the fact that Mr. Smith, who is the man with the technical know how, said it is going to ready," said Service.
To underline his confidence in the near readiness of the playing surface, which will have its grassing process starting today, Smith said if there was a need to, the playing surface could be ready for use as early as June.
