World Cup security arrangements on track

The organisers of next year's World Cup in the West Indies have assured that the security arrangements for the tournament will be comprehensive and that the planning has gone according to schedule.

Rory Steyn, the tournament's security consultant, along with senior police and security officials from the nine host countries have been conducting meetings this week to review existing plans. These cover security during air travel as well as the master plan for the entire tournament. There will be more meetings over the next nine days featuring over 400 people, including tournament organisers and planners from over 60 countries.

"Given the length of time we have had to prepare I would have to say we are in very good shape," Steyn told the Caribbean Media Corporation. "We in the Caribbean are further advanced, further ahead than we were in South Africa for the 2003 tournament."

Steyn, who served as the head of security for Nelson Mandela, the former South African president, added that the organisers have had the benefit of drawing from the experience in South Africa.