Jamaica unrest may affect SA tour

by HAYDN GILL in AntiguaTHE VOLATILE unrest  in Jamaica that has caused the Government  to declare a state  of emergency has prompted the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB)  to consider shifting upcoming matches  in the Digicel Series against South Africa.In the aftermath  of Sunday’s attacks  on security forces  in West Kingston,  the regional governing cricket body is closely monitoring the situation and will make a decision either today or tomorrow.The WICB said yesterday that it was engaged in ongoing discussions with the major stakeholders, including  the government  of Jamaica and Cricket South Africa, and had not ruled out anything.There was speculation that if the matches were moved, Trinidad was favoured to be the alternate venue to stage the three games originally scheduled for Jamaica.Ironically, the first  four limited-overs  matches of the series were moved from Trinidad  to Antigua because  of yesterday’s general elections in the twin island republic.The WICB has little time before making  a decision against  the background that arrangements would  have to be put in place  to relocate the Jamaica matches – the fifth and final One-Day International on June 3,  a two-day warm-up match on June 6 and 7, and  the first Test from  June 10 to 14.Tension had been growing in the West Kingston constituency ever since the Jamaica government agreed  last week to reverse  a long-standing refusal  to sign an extradition order for Christopher “Dudus” Coke, the reputed leader of the Shower Posse gang, one of the most notorious criminal organisations in the Western Hemisphere.It reached a high point on Sunday when angry mobs staged a series  of violent attacks that prompted Prime Minister Bruce Golding to summon an emergency Cabinet meeting before declaring  a state of emergency  for one month in the  first instance.If the matches  are moved, it might  be a disappointment  for series sponsors Digicel, whose major market in the Caribbean is Jamaica. In recent months, however, the Irish mobile telecommunications provider has lost some  of its market share  in Jamaica due  to competition from  a new entrant of the market, Claro.