Petrina Francis, Staff Reporter

Jamaica is ready for the world, Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller said last night as she hailed preparations for the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC), where the first ball will be bowled this morning, when the West Indies play Kenya in a warm-up match at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium.

"We have overcome the early challenges and Jamaica is ready for the world," Mrs. Simpson Miller said in a pre-recorded message to the nation.

The Prime Minister left for Europe last Friday and is to return to the island this Friday. She is expected to meet with the President of the European Union and the Prime Minister of Belgium today.

"I am very pleased to see the enthusiasm being displayed by so many persons - ranging from young children to corporate citizens. Our CARICOM (Caribbean Community) brothers and sisters have been a tower of strength (and) our global neighbours have given us their support," Mrs. Simpson Miller added.

The Prime Minister said tickets for the opening ceremony, to be held at the Trelawny Multi-purpose Stadium on Sunday, have been sold out.

"All the tickets have been sold for the opening ceremony. To use a popular term - the opening ceremony 'lock'," Mrs. Simpson Miller said.

The beautification programme, currently under way, will be continued for the period previously announced, she said.

Not a crash programme

Addressing the People's National Party's annual conference last year, Mrs. Simpson Miller announced that the Government would roll out a massive six-month clean-up and beautification programme island-wide, providing employment for 12,000 persons at a cost of $635 million. This programme was, however, criticised by many who dubbed it a 'crash programme'.

"I have always advocated such programmes because I believe that Jamaicans deserve to live in a clean and beautiful environment," she said.

"In this context, I pay tribute to the church members and other volunteers who are supporting this effort," she said.

The Prime Minister said Jamaica is not only hosting CWC because of the love of the game or because of the employment to be provided for many, but also the gains to be made from the international attention the country will receive.

She noted that visitors will see what the country has to offer and some 2.6 billion people from all over the world will have an opportunity to "see us" on their TV screens.

"Remember, our country will be on show. The eyes of the world will be on us. Favourable and positive publicity can be very valuable in building goodwill which can serve us well in the future," said the prime minister.

She further urged Jamaicans to give their full support as the country hosts the third largest sporting event in the world.

"On March 10, when the long stream of buses, carrying the over 1,600 participants and cast for the opening ceremony roll through Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine and St. Ann to Trelawny for the opening ceremony, please come out and greet them."

"Beautify the place with your presence. Show them the real Jamaican personality - warm, friendly, humorous, peaceful and gracious,"

"We owe it to ourselves and the Caribbean region. Let us unite. Let us go beyond the boundaries to make this the best and most unforgettable CWC ever," she said.