ICC WEST INDIES 2007 BILL

STATEMENT ON THE PASSAGE OF THE ICC CWC WEST INDIES 2007 BILL

by Chris Dehring and Derek Jones

 

 

ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Inc. and the Local Organising Committees (LOCs) of the nine Host Venues wish to thank the Governments of the Caribbean for their commitment and determination in ensuring the recent passage of the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies 2007 Bill in all countries which will next year stage CWC matches.

 

The Caribbean is nearing the fulfilment of a decade-long journey to host cricket's finest tournament and with Sunset Legislation - as the Bill is more familiarly known - now firmly in place, the essential regulatory and legislative framework has been established for managing CWC 2007 as obtains with all mega-sports events.

 

It was imperative that all Host Venues have the relevant laws on their statute books in good time for the Event and the CWC family is pleased that, give or take a few days, all nine have been able to meet the deadline of November 1, 2006.  At present, the only nation yet to have the ICC CWC 2007 Bill ratified by its senate is Grenada. It is anticipated that this will be done tomorrow (Tuesday, November 7, 2006).

 

While it is ultimately the parliaments of the Host Venues - Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Trinidad & Tobago - which have been responsible for ushering Sunset Legislation into law, the credit must be shared with the region's diligent civil servants.

 

The CARICOM's Legislative Drafting Facility and the Chief Parliamentary Counsel of each Host Venue are deserving of high acknowledgement for shaping this vital component of ICC CWC 2007 and for providing important guidance at various stages of the process. The CWC family thanks them for their insight and leadership in this meticulous exercise, regarding a specialised area of law to which much of the region has had little previous exposure.

 

Following the culmination of the ICC Champions Trophy yesterday in India, the eyes of the cricketing world are now fixed on the Caribbean, scrutinising its ability to deliver the sport's most prestigious event to the required world-class standards. The enactment of Sunset Legislation will ensure that a crucial element of the hosting requirements is appropriately met.

 

It will allow ICC CWC 2007 officials to protect the tournament's integrity and prevent its exploitation by persons who have not acquired the right to officially associate with the Event - an activity referred to as ambush marketing. It also permits for enhanced security regulations in the Host Venues during the tournament. The fact that similar legislation will apply in each Host Venue for the duration of CWC 2007 will create the unique phenomenon of nine sovereign territories operating as a single entity.

 

 

This is a major step towards the Caribbean's hosting of ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 - another definitive sign that the region is firmly committed to this mission.

 

Chris Dehring is Managing Director & CEO of the ICC CWC 2007, Derek Jones is Senior Legal Counsel.

 

WINDIESCRICKET.COM