A number of ICC CWC West Indies Inc 2007 volunteers (VIBES) received a shock yesterday when they were physically searched for money and jewellery, which two volunteers reportedly lost at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence.
One traumatised volunteer told the Stabroek News last evening that after close of play between South Africa and Sri Lanka the 300-odd VIBES were debriefed. They were then called back and the person in charge announced to them that one volunteer had lost $25,000 from her handbag and another had lost a pair of gold earrings.
Those in charge decided to search everyone and had the volunteers line up at the turnstiles where they were physically searched by policemen and policewomen. One volunteer said even her breasts were patted down in the search and she is no longer sure she would continue to volunteer her services. Another volunteer said her hairpiece was taken off her head, which was embarrassing. One volunteer said that such losses should not have taken place, since volunteers were given pouches to place their valuables in and strap around their waists. In addition, they were given lockers with keys, which three persons shared.
One supervisor and assessor told Stabroek News that during their training period volunteers had been asked not to wear jewellery and high-heeled shoes and not to have valuables in their possession nor to leave valuables around.
One witness said the volunteers were being searched publicly and this only stopped when the searchers realised that the international media were recording the event.
The volunteers with whom this newspaper spoke with said they were very upset at the search and the bad publicity that it would cause internationally. Shortly before they had been feeling very upbeat from praises they had received from members of the public on the work they had done during the day.
Stabroek News was unable to contact the coordinator of the local VIBES programme last night but the LOC Public Relations Officer, Richard Haniff said security concerns were not being ignored. (Miranda La Rose)
