Warner Park Cricket Ground – Saint Kitts – Nevis
The St. Kitts and Nevis Chamber of Industry and Commerce is hailing the construction of the new Warner Park Cricket Stadium as a “significant investment in sports tourism.”
President, Mr. Franklin Brand in his address at the 24th Annual St. Kitts and Nevis Private Sector Banquet said that the recently opened multi-million facility, which was financed by the Government of the Republic of China on Taiwan, “is impressive, and the Government and people of this Country should be proud of its establishment.”
He said that the Federation was also fortunate to have the facilities tested with the inaugural One-Day International (ODI) and Test Match in May and June 2006, respectively.
“These “˜dry runs’ and the necessary corrective works should have the Federation well placed to offer a world-class cricketing experience to our visitors and nationals alike, who will be here in hoards come February-March 2007,” said Mr. Brand, who expressed the Chamber’s hope that the Cricket World Cup preparations would also include critical service excellence and customer care training of nationals who are the twin-island Federation’s most influential ambassadors.
According to Mr. Brand, the reception and processing of the multitude of visitors by Immigration and Customs expected for the matches is another vitally influential component of the ICC World Cup.
“The recent cricket matches clearly indicate that much more needs to be done by these departments if there is to be any hope of our Country’s efficiency being impressive in this respect,” said Mr. Brand, who indicated the Chamber’s willingness to engage Government in dialogue with suggestions for improvement in this critical area, which has implications for the visitor experience well beyond World Cup.
Mr. Brand encouraged its membership and the wider business community to take advantage of the various business opportunities that Cricket World Cup 2007 can offer.