THE Jamaica Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the ICC Cricket World Cup (CWC) 2007 has advised persons who wish to conduct business in the vicinity of Sabina Park on match days to do so after the start of matches at 9:30 am.

“What we are asking the business people to say to their clients is come after 10:00 am and they will be allowed to access the business site, but they have to park inside the business compound,” Major Desmond Brown, chairman of the Transport Committee for the LOC, told JIS News, the government’s public relations arm.

At the same time, he said that only accredited vehicles owned by persons who live and own businesses in the area will be allowed access in the blue zone around the stadium, which is a traffic restricted zone.

The Jamaica LOC has been meeting with businesspersons to make arrangements regarding traffic in the area. “There are still one or two persons that are not satisfied, but I think the majority recognise our attempt to try and facilitate everybody,” said Major Brown.

“We appreciate and understand that there is business before cricket and business has to go on during cricket and will continue after. It is our job to make sure that happens and we are doing our best to facilitate that process,” he added.

The LOC, said Major Brown, needs the cooperation of the public to minimise the congestion that is expected to occur on match days, and appealed for the support of parents with children attending schools located near National Heroes’ Park, which will be the main hub of buses transporting patrons from the north coast, and other areas.

“We have been speaking to the principals for them to ask parents on match days to drop the children off a little earlier. Schools start at 7:30 am and if they come by 7:00 and get out of the area, they will miss the traffic,” he said.

He also requested that persons who usually use South Camp Road and Marescaux Road choose an alternative route to go about their activities during match days.

“There will be a large number of cars on those days so those roads will be congested,” he said.

Jamaica will host four warm-up matches, six group matches and a semi-final, in addition to the opening ceremony, for the ICC Cricket World Cup which starts next month.