-allows for $5m fine for unauthorized sale of tickets
The National Assembly last week Friday passed the ICC Cricket World Cup West Indies Bill 2024 allowing for legislation to be enacted during the hosting of the event and allowing hefty fines for persons nabbed in the unauthorized sale of tickets.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Charles Ramson in presenting the Bill to the National Assembly for its second and third reading before passage, said that it was a “great accomplishment” for Guyana to be able to host “this world event.”
He then announced that Guyana was able to secure the hosting of a test match with South Africa, “and this is going to be the first time in thirteen years that we would have hosted a test match in Guyana…”
Pointing to challenges for smaller countries, Ramson said that this is the first time the United States of America is entering the market to host international matches.
Calling it a “big challenge”, he pointed out the significance for “small countries where such a huge part of its history, its culture has been defined by the sport and our success in this sport.”
Noting the importance of West Indies cricket, Ramson stressed, “We have to guard zealously, the protection of Guyana’s image and the West Indies as a host and as a team, the brand of West Indies.”
Touching on the Bill itself, Ramson said that “what you should know is that this Bill seeks to harmonize the provisions as part of our commitment, our international commitment to host these matches.”
The Bill also saw support from the Opposition with Member of Parliament, Jermaine Figueira stressing that the sporting industry serves as a vehicle for promoting tourism and it is time now for the world to recognize what Guyana has to offer.
Opposition Member of Parliament, Khemraj Ramjattan in throwing his support behind the Bill said that “such a bill must be given complete support.”
“We have to do a number of things for that one month period to ensure that those who will be visiting us as cricket lovers across the world following their teams, that they be given a kind of VIP treatment” from the time they arrive at the country’s airport to leaving.
The Bill states that Cricket West Indies (CWl) shall be responsible for the production and distribution of CWC 2024 tickets. As such, no person shall, without the written authorisation of CWI, sell any CWC 2024 ticket or an article that is represented to be such a ticket for admission to a CWC 2024 activity.
It noted, that “sell” includes (a) sell by wholesale, retail, auction or tender, (b) hire; (c) barter or exchange; (d) supply for profit; (e) offer for sale or hire, receive for sale or hire, have in possession for sale or hire, or expose or exhibit for sale or hire: (f) conduct negotiations for sale or hire; (g) consign or deliver for sale or hire; (h) solicit for sale or hire; (i) donate, transfer or in any way dispose of a ticket for gain or profit.
Further, a person who commits such an offence will be liable on summary conviction to a fine of five million dollars.
Additionally, the Bill noted, that any permit to work in Guyana in relation to CWC 2024, and any approval or documentation required for such purpose by any designated person shall be provided by the Chief Immigration Officer within seven days of being requested and shall remain valid and effective until the conclusion of CWC 2024.
