CARICOM Heads of Government are to review a preliminary report on the future of West Indies Cricket at the 28th meeting of the conference of heads of government, which opens in Barbados today.

Former Jamaican Prime Minister, P.J. Patterson, was appointed earlier this year to chair the governance committee on West Indies cricket producing the report.

The committee, which also includes former University of the West Indies Vice Chancellor, Sir Alistair McIntyre, Dr. Ian McDonald and Tony Deyal, is aimed at making recommendations to govern decisions geared at taking the West Indies back to the pinnacle of world cricket.

Report findings unknown

Attempts by The Sunday Gleaner to ascertain what recommendations were made in the report were unsuccessful.

The regional leaders will also analyse the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2007,held earlier this year in nine member states of the Caribbean Community.

The Caribbean invested millions of U.S. dollars to host the cricket tournament, but the final match was marred by poor light and poor umpiring judgement.

The sudden death of Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer, also took the spotlight off the tournament after he was found unconscious in his hotel room on March 18, subsequent to his team's loss to Ireland the previous day. His death generated a media frenzy after Jamaican police first declared the cause of death as murder, but three months later, said it was due to natural causes.

Some crucial aspects of the Caribbean's preparation for the World Cup were also poorly handled, according to critics. Most stadia did not attract sold-out crowds, due in part to the implementation of a complex visitor-screening system and visa requirements.

Issue of air transport

Also on the agenda of the heads of government meeting, is the "very vexed and very difficult" question of air transport, CARICOM Secretary General Dr. Edwin Carrington said. Air transport within the region, he added, affected the commingling of Caribbean peoples.

The formal opening of the conference takes place today in the courtyard of the Barbados Parliament. Incoming chairman of CARICOM and Prime Minister of Barbados, Owen Arthur, will address the formal opening.

Other speakers at the opening are outgoing chairman and Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves; Prime Minister of The Bahamas, Hubert Ingraham; acting Prime Minister of St. Lucia, Stephenson King; and Edwin Carrington.