Security at 'official' hotels beefed up - Greene
Stabroek News
March 27, 2007
The Caricom Operations, Planning and Co-coordinating Staff (COPACS) has asked Guyana to increase its security at hotels and venues where the teams and other officials are expected to stay during the Super Eight matches here.
Guyana will host six Super eight matches commencing from tomorrow at the Providence Stadium and there have been heightened security arrangements in and around the city.
According to a Govern-ment Information agency (GINA) news bulletin COPACS has been in communication with Guyana to ensure that all the necessary arrangements are in place for the teams, officials, media and sponsors during their stay in Guyana.
Commissioner of Police (ag) Henry Greene said the regional security body has asked the local law enforcement agencies to increase its security at hotels and venues where these folks are expected to visit, GINA reported.
"They have contacted us to ensure that we have all the security arrangements in place. I also think that it's in light of the death of Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer in a Jamaican hotel. All persons accessing the teams will be screened and that process has already begun," GINA quoted the acting commissioner as saying.
It added that yesterday Greene told members of the press that the security forces are ready to ensure the safety of all Guyanese and visitors during the matches.
He said that from yesterday ranks began working throughout the night and will continue this until the event is concluded. "It's all in-line, meaning that the ranks will have to work day and night; they will not be going home until the 10th. We have to ensure that there is maximum security and that we will do," Greene said.
At present a Joint Services operations centre is functioning at Police Headquarters, Eve Leary, to channel information that would be required by COPACS. Greene said members of the Joint Services are already deployed to conduct both river and land patrols and the Bomb Disposal Unit has also begun bomb-sweeping all the venues related to the matches including the airport.