Sports Minister Dale Butler has defended Government's decision not to send a representative with the local cricket delegation that attended last month's World Cup summit in St.Lucia.

Butler's ministry came under heavy criticism last week from former PLP MP and Bermuda Cricket Board president El James for not attending the two-day summit, which he argued, would have enhanced the Island's chances of hosting a World Cup match on local soil in 2007.

Describing the recent visit by BCBC officials to St. Lucia as only a “fact finding mission”, Butler yesterday stuck to his guns.

“Mr.James expressed his views that Government presence was needed at this summit in order to enhance Bermuda's chances of staging a World Cup match in Bermuda in 2007,” he said. “But it was not necessary for Government to also be represented because, as correctly stated by Mr. (Reggie) Pearman (BCB president) in the same article, the actual World Cup bidding process has yet to begin and last month's seminars were specifically geared towards outlining the ‘criteria' and ‘requirements' all potential host nations would have to reach before submitting their individual bids.”

Butler explained that it was up to the BCB, as the Island's national governing body, to first decide if they wanted to host the match (World Cup) and not the Government.

“The Government does not decide to host the match - the national governing body first have to assess their own capabilities before they make a formal presentation to Government to outline costs and whatever else is required,” added the Minister.

“We are still in the early stages. The BCB is now aware of the ‘criteria' and ‘requirements' for the bidding process. Until we see a budget and how this will impact on the whole country we cannot even begin to discuss involvement, especially if it calls for significant financing. An event of this type often needs a partnership between the national governing body, Government and businesses.”

Butler said he had every confidence that the BCB would determine what requirements would be needed to host a World Cup match and that they would advise the Ministry when the time was “appropriate”.

He continued: “Last month's summit was a fact-finding mission to brief potential hosts. It was not necessary for Government to be in attendance at this point and it was fitting that Bermuda was represented at this point by representatives of the BCB - president Reggie Pearman and secretary Charlotte Simons.”

Last month's summit was attended by 170 delegates from 13 countries, some reported to have sent delegations of 18 persons strong.