Caricom is on alert, according to Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley of Trinidad, and security services are battling any terrorist danger that may have an impact on the 2024 International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20 World Cup.
The event is slated to happen in 2024, from June 1–29. The prime minister was recently called for a response by a local publication.
- Advertisement -
In addition to leading the Caricom Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, Rowley is the head of the National Security Council of Trinidad and Tobago.
In response, the prime minister said: “Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism in its many and varied expressions is an ever-present danger in the world of the 21st century. It is against this backdrop that all nations, like our region when hosting large or vulnerable gatherings, make an extra effort in national security preparations and response readiness to take seriously, all threats, expressed or implied.”
“Given the fact that bad actors can choose to misbehave in any way possible, it makes it virtually impossible to completely seal off all opportunities.”
The Prime Minister told reporters: “However, in order to ameliorate these dangers, we at the local and regional levels have remained alert to many threats and singularly or together have our intelligence and other security agencies working to protect the population in countries and at venues throughout the tournament.”
According to a story published by Stabroek News on May 3, the regional governments of CARICOM have been notified by the organization for crime and security about a potential danger posed by the Islamic State to the men’s T20 World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in June in Guyana, other Caribbean countries, and the United States.
According to a message from the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (IMPACS), the Pro-Islamic State (Daesh) media group “Nashir Pakistan” had demanded assaults on the competition through a banner on its RocketChat and Telegram channels, along with a warning about a chapter from the Quran, “people indulging in amusement would ultimately face the day of reckoning”.
The message that follows in Urdu “This is not a game but rather a blood deal” was included as well.
Prior to and throughout the tournament, member states and partners were urged to keep providing CARICOM IMPACS with information and intelligence on possible threats and questionable activity.
It stated that to lessen the threat of terrorism and guarantee a safe and secure Caribbean area, heightened awareness and extra security measures are essential.
To provide a secure and entertaining atmosphere for both competitors and spectators, IMPACS recommended that strict security protocols be put in place and upheld before, during, and after the tournament:
1. Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Training: All Member States have to be prepared to recognize, manage, defuse, and get rid of explosive devices such as hazardous materials, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in a safe manner.
2. Increased surveillance: To identify, discourage, and eliminate any suspicious activity or people, increase surveillance at hotels, tourist destinations, cricket grounds, and vital infrastructure.
3. Display of Force and Security Presence: When necessary, Member States should increase security by deploying more personnel from the armed forces, police, and intelligence services, as well as border security experts. In response to security problems and threats, establish a rapid reaction force (QRF) and a visible deterrence.
4. Intelligence and Information Sharing: Concerning nationalities of interest and individuals or organizations that are more likely to conduct acts of terrorism, stakeholders must continue to exchange information and intelligence aggressively and promptly with CARICOM IMPACS and allies.
5. Measures to Control Crowding: In order to lessen the likelihood of densely populated regions being soft targets for terrorist attacks, host countries should keep an eye on and regulate the movement of people.
6. Cargo and Baggage Checks: In order to prevent the transportation of weapons or improvised explosive devices (IEDs), stakeholders must implement stringent screening procedures at ports, stadiums, hotels, tourist destinations, and vital infrastructure. improves the safety of all parties involved, including participants and onlookers.
7. Public Awareness programs: It is mandatory for Member States to initiate programs aimed at enlightening onlookers and the wider public about the dangers that terrorist organizations and lone wolves represent, as well as the need to promptly report any suspicious activity to law enforcement.
8. Emergency Reaction Planning: To properly address security problems, such as terrorist attacks, and lessen their influence on participant and spectator safety, host countries should create and practice emergency reaction plans.
9. Media Monitoring: Keep a close eye on terrorist organizations’ operations and communication channels to stay informed about their strategies, methods, and approaches. provide up-to-date information and make it easier to modify security measures as needed.
The current situation of West Indies cricket was discussed during the Caricom Regional Cricket Conference, which took place recently at the Hyatt Regency (Trinidad) in Port of Spain.
Numerous stakeholders in cricket and dignitaries from the Caribbean attended the seminar.
Co-hosting the World Cup will be the United States of America, with locations in Florida, New York, and Texas, and the West Indies, with locations in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Guyana, Saint Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago.
