ST. JOHN’S, Antigua, CMC – Julian Hunte believes the greatest difficulty facing the West Indies Cricket Board is the inadequacy of its staff and managerial capacity.
The WICB president admitted that this has resulted in deficiencies in dealing with the West Indies Players’ Association, sponsors, media, public and other stakeholders, and has also led to ill-advised decisions by the directors whom are guided by information provided by management.
“It is a simple fact that if we do not have cutting edge competency and adequate support for existing staff, the quality of information for decision making and consequently decision making will be heavily compromised,” said Hunte in his address to the WICB’s annual general meeting in Antigua on Monday.
He added: “It is in this regard that one of the first actions of this [administration] upon assumption of office in 2007 was to commission a Management Audit of the WICB Secretariat.
“We are in receipt of the Audit Report and have had it reviewed by management. Unfortunately, the report has many shortcomings, but we nevertheless must move forward with a detailed plan for strengthening the institutional capacity of the WICB.”
Hunte acknowledged that the WICB made no progress with developing its staffing and managerial capacity during the course of the last year. Rather, they had lost key personnel.
“Indeed, we had reason to accept the decision of the Chief Executive OIficer Donald Peters that it was time to part,” he said.
“Since then, the advertisement for post of CEO has been greeted with responses from interested candidates from around the World.
“The Human Resources Committee short-listed candidates and held interviews. I am pleased to inform that the Board will soon receive the recommendation of the HR Committee.”
Hunte also disclosed that they were able to attract the interest of a highly qualified and successful commercial manager.
“The HR Committee has held a first interview with the individual, and the final stages of engagement will depend on the final organisational design and staffing structure to be finalised with the assumption of office of the new CEO,” he said.
“There are options as to engagement as a full-time employee or a short-term consultant to undertake the establishment of a full-fledge commercial department.”
