With an eye on regulating several aspects of the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup, for which Guyana’s National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara (EDB) will be hosting six matches, the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies Bill 2024 was debated in the National Assembly on Friday evening.
The Bill covers key areas for hosting games such as venues, ticket sales, import and export duties, advertising, broadcasting work permits, tax exemptions and venue protocols amongst others.
During an invited comment with media operatives at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) on Friday, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr discussed having a legal framework to operate with and the necessity of such.
Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr as he presents the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies Bill 2024 to the National Assembly
Ramson Jr divulged, “First of all, it’s necessary. It’s necessary for us to have the legislative framework for us to host successfully. Things like being able to gazette particular areas, appoint committees etcetera, you need a legal framework for that to happen, that’s the first thing.
“But’ there’s also some serious commercial elements in there too, that needs protection, and that’s one of the reasons why we have the legal framework to give it that protection.”
“If they [broadcasters] were coming in with their goods, they would have to pay taxes and duties, part of this here is to make sure that they don’t pay those taxes, because they’re just coming in for this event. We want to make our environment as friendly as possible to hosting international matches and this is one of the ways that we are doing that and it is a signal to all of the other international type of events that Guyana is serious about hosting international matches,” the Sport Minister went on to add.
As such, Ramson Jr went on to detail how the Act would be enforced during the hosting period.
“So there’s a strong policing element in there, meaning actually the Guyana Police Force of which we committed to as part of what our conditions were. So, we’ll be giving that additional support. How much of that we can control? It [black market ticket sales] happens all around the world, but there’s a reason why we put that kind of penalties in there, because many times it functions as a prohibition or a deterrent for persons to not enter the game.”
“It hurts a country in that way, if all of the tickets are gone and persons who are hucksters, who are just looking to flog it back on so that they can make a dollar. I understand that type of hustle, but, you know, you don’t want to hurt the country,” Ramson Jr further stated.
The World Cup Bill was reportedly done in conjunction with several other Caribbean counties who will also be hosting games for the global event.
Guyana’s hosting begins on June 2 when West Indies begin their campaign against Papua New Guinea and will conclude with the semi-finals on June 27. Guyana will also host other preliminary games on June 3, 5, 7 and 8. In addition, physical tickets for the global event are on sale at the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) Box Office at Regent Road, Bourda, Georgetown.
