The Indian government has agreed to consider building a multi-purpose stadium to boost Guyana’s bid to host cricket matches during the 2007 World Cup to be staged in the West Indies.

The stadium is likely to be sited either on the East Coast or East Bank Demerara. There is a possibility too of a site on the West Bank Demerara being considered. The capacity of the stadium is likely to be in the region of 20,000.

Speaking with members of the media yesterday at the Office of the President, President Jagdeo announced that the offer was made during his state visit to India at the end of last month.

President Jagdeo said that he has already contacted Norman McLean who chairs the Guyana Cricket Board’s Guyana World Cup Committee for a concept paper that could be forwarded to the Indian government. President Jagdeo said the concept paper McLean had to prepare must identify “what our needs are, what size the stadium should be and the features it must have to allow us to qualify for (hosting) the World Cup. But time is of the essence as we have to present initial concepts by November.”

He said that while final drawings for the stadium were not required at this time, the paper has to be prepared as a matter of urgency as Guyana has to indicate its readiness to the International Cricket Council. Jagdeo said McLean’s committee had drawings of a stadium that was built in another country.

He said that he had already communicated this information to the Indian government “so we have to be prepared to move quickly from our side.”

President Jagdeo added that there had been discussions with two private investor groups about building the stadium even before the Indian government made the offer. However, he observed that the Indian government’s offer “is an advance on their proposals”. However, he said, “There’ll still be room for private investment because there are many other things outside of the stadium that we would have to work on to qualify.” These include the construction of hotels and , 500 houses that could each accommodate eight persons, which probably after the World Cup would be sold to private individuals. “There is a lot of work and opportunities for private investment. So I’m hoping to work with both groups to get us ready.”

Other offers made to President Jagdeo included increasing the number of students to study in India to 35 as well as an additional 10 scholarships funded by the Indian government. The ten scholarships will include both long-term and short-term study courses in disciplines to be identified.

He added that a framework agreement was signed that makes possible the sharing of texts that could be used in primary and secondary schools in the areas of mathematics, biology, chemistry, physics and information technology. He also said that under the Indian technical assistance programme the services of a number of Indian medical specialists would be made available to the Ministry of Health. He said the Georgetown Hospital had already been recruiting medical specialists in identified areas.

Jagdeo said under the agreement the Indian government would pay the salaries and airfares of medical specialists and the Guyana government would be responsible for their local expenses.

He also announced that as a result of increased technical co-operation and the need to service the interests of the 45 students who would be studying annually in India, his government would be giving consideration to re-opening a diplomatic mission in New Delhi.

He was accompanied on the visit by a ten-member delegation that included Foreign Trade Minister, Clement Rohee, Minister, Culture Youth and Sport, Gail Teixeira, Director General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Elisabeth Harper, Chairman of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Eddie Boyer, President of the Trades Union Congress, Carvil Duncan, Presidential Adviser on Investment, Maniram Persaud and Information Liaison to the President, Robert Persaud.