by EZRA STUART

THERE WILL BE MAXIMUM SECURITY to ensure the safety of the Barbados Under-19 cricketers with the possibility of post-elections violence in Guyana.

The Barbados cricket team has been in Guyana for the past two weeks and is slated to oppose the host country in the four-day final of the TCL West Indies Under-19 competition, starting a day after general elections in the South American country.

When contacted yesterday, president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Tony Marshall, said he had just received a response from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to a letter he wrote on the matter.

According to Marshall, the WICB said that even before the start of the tournament, they had engaged the Guyana Cricket Board "on this sensitive topic".

"They have repeatedly assured us that every reasonable step will be taken to ensure the players' safety before, during and after the general elections," the WICB wrote in its response to Marshall.

"These assurances are as a result of several meetings between the Guyana Cricket Board, Guyana Police and the Guyana Electoral Commision officials. We will continue to monitor the situation and update as necessary," the board said.

The match was originally scheduled to start on the same day as the elections but was deferred by a day. This change prompted speculation that should there be post-elections violence, the Guyana Police Force would be stretched to the limit.

But Marshall emphasised that the BCA and the WICB "have taken all necessary precaution to make sure the Under-19 players will enjoy maximum security".

Guyanese go to the polls on Monday while the cricket final will now be contested at the Bourda Ground in Georgetown from Tuesday to Friday.

Rain has severely affected all but Barbados' opening match of the tournament but the team, captained by gifted allrounder Shamarh Brooks, has secured 28 points to be in second position behind Guyana.

ezrastuart@nationnews.com