Jamaica violence sends cricket to Trinidad

The unstable climate in Jamaica’s violence-torn capital of Kingston has forced the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to make changes to the schedule for the Digicel series with the touring South Africans.In a release issued yesterday, the board said that the matches previously slated for Jamaica would now be played in Trinidad  and Tobago.The fifth Digicel ODI will be played at Queen’s Park Oval on Thursday June 3, and the first Digicel Test Match will also be played at Queen’s Park Oval from Thursday, June 10, to Monday, June 14. The two-day warm-up match for the South Africans will be played on June 6 and 7 at a venue to be announced.Ironically, Trinidad is now dealing with heavy flooding in and around the capital of Port-of-Spain.Kingston has been in the news the past week since Prime Minister Bruce Golding signed a warrant of arrest which allowed authorities to seek out Christopher “Dudus” Coke, who is wanted in the United States on drug charges.Coke, a resident of Tivoli Gardens, is still at large and patriotic residents have blocked off the community, vowing to give their lives for the local folk hero.So far, more than 40 people have died as a result of violent clashes between civilians, the army and the police constabulary. (BA)