– Former West Indies speedster disagrees with decision of TTCB to boycott WICB AGM
Former West Indies fast bowler Colin Stuart is not in agreement with the decision by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) to boycott the annual general meeting (AGM) of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
“I think that the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board’s decision not to attend the meeting came at a bad time, a time at which the collective input of the regional body is needed towards the healing process,” Stuart, a former Territorial Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) said yesterday in an invited comment.
The WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) are locked in mediation talks over a number of issues and according to reports, the two sides were yet to resolve their dispute after the first phase of talks with Guyanese mediator Sir Shridath Ramphal ended yesterday.
Stuart, however, feels that the time has come for the two bodies to resolve whatever differences of opinion they have and to put West Indies cricket first.
“Obviously West Indies cricket means a lot not only to the players, the board and the West Indian public but I think it is important that those in authority come together and make mature and positive decisions.” He added: “Definitely I think there is a need for compromise between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board.
Historical perspective
Recently chief executive of the TTCB, Forbes Persaud, raised the prospect of Trinidad and Tobago competing as an independent nation.
“My personal view (is) if the trend continues with the manner in which West Indies cricket is being administered, the board (TTCB) should go on its own and compete as Trinidad and Tobago, just as is in football,” Forbes was quoted as telling the Trinidad and Tobago Express.
“If something is not done to have cricket administration at the West Indies level properly restructured, I believe we will have no choice but to think about playing as an individual territory on the international scene,” he added.
There have been calls to modernize the WICB following the report by a committee headed by former Jamaica Prime Minister P.J. Patterson and including Ian Mc Donald and Sir Alistair Mc Intyre.
TTCB president Deryck Murray said the decision to boycott the annual general meeting was not one aimed at threatening the unity of West Indies cricket but was simply making a statement that…”this was not a time for business as usual.”
Stuart, however, feels that the TTCB is largely ignoring the history of West Indies cricket and the impact the decision to go it alone can have on the future of the game.
“Well, actually, the whole integrated process of West Indians working together is important because of the history we have shared and suggestions of territories playing at the international level (by themselves) are not the best approach. “I think it will affect our history and culture to some extent.
Stuart is also aware of the financial considerations.
“Definitely they will have fewer resources. They will not have as much power to attract sponsorship.
“It means that the players’ compensation might change; the whole history of West Indies cricket will change. Cricket will not have the same meaning for West Indies.”
Stuart added that any decision by territories to go solo within the structure of the International Cricket Council (ICC) would be “less unifying” and “less meaningful.”
“If we look at it on a wider frame it may also have other implications. It might suggest to other bodies like Caricom that West Indians are a group of people who respect each other but just can’t work together,” he opined.
Unifying force
“People have always looked at cricket as one of the main unifying forces in the Caribbean and if we remember that we can understand how West Indians see cricket and the feeling and belief that the majority of West Indians would like to see cricket being represent by a group and not by individual territories,” Stuart said.
He declared that the TTCB decision not to go to the WICB meeting which started yesterday in Antigua does not augur well for the integration process.
“Any decision by WICB, TTCB and WIPA must take into consideration our history and what we bring as a group to the table. “We have to put West Indies cricket first.”
