The Caribbean Community's (CARICOM) attempts to initiate a single visa for Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007, allowing free movement for cricket fans between the host countries, could be stalled by a legal challenge.

Barbadian inventor, David Weekes, claims the regional organisation stole his technology in the development of its visa issuance system.

Three companies - David Weekes and Associates, IBIS Latin America Corp. and GODIS Corp. - filed an affidavit in the Barbados High Court on Wednesday seeking to block the use of Weekes' United States-patented Global Origin and Departure Information System (GODIS) being used without permission.

Used without permission

The affidavit claims that GODIS technology is being used without permission in CARICOM's advanced passenger information system which aims to simplify travel between territories for the CWC, while carrying out security checks on passengers.

Up to 100,000 machine-readable CARICOM visas are to be issued, valid between February 1 and May 15.

"The confidential information was given on the implicit understanding that the confidential information amounted to our secrets and that they could never be used by anyone else," stated the legal document which was obtained by the Caribbean Media Corporation.

The plaintiffs claim that they had revealed their technology during discussions with CARICOM since December 2003. They claim that the information was provided on the understanding that they would be contracted for the World Cup project. But they were not given an opportunity to submit a tender.

The primary defendant in the suit is the CARICOM Secretariat, acting through a number of persons, including Dr. Edward Greene, the assistant secretary general of CARICOM. Contacted on Thursday, Dr. Greene said that he was unaware of the court action and could not comment.