The 2024 Men’s T20 world cup will be co-hosted by the West Indies and the United States from the 1 to 29 June 2024. The last time West Indies hosted a similar event in 2007 millions were spent by regional cricket playing countries to prepare stadia and other physical infrastructure – Barbadians were also encouraged to add to room stock and just like that Airbnb was born. The 2007 event was sold on an amorphous revenue item in the business case labelled ‘legacy’. Fifteen years later in the words of a BU family member, ‘are we there yet’? The man in charge then – Barney Lynch – has been recruited for the role now, hopefully he oversees a more positive result this time around with his learnings.
Although preparation is well on the way to prep for T20 next month the spend does not appear to be as significant compared to 2007. There is BBD5 million allocated to Oistins Bay Gardens to power wash grime build up, BBD30 million allocated to mill and pave project to improve some key roads in the network. There is that USD25 million borrowed from the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) to upgrade and maintain Kensington Oval. Inevitably government’s spending to prepare has become political but this is par for the course in the times we now live.
The blogmaster is not against Barbados pulling out the stops to make this international event a success. The global spotlight will be on tiny Barbados next month and there is nothing wrong with spreading some marl on the outside and replacing worn underwear given the one off potential economic benefits to a suffering economy.
The blogmaster invites you to join the discussion.