(Jamaica Gleaner) Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller says she intends to report the leadership of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to CARICOM at next month’s regional heads of government meeting in Suriname.
Simpson Miller, who earlier this week was openly criticised by the WICB for comments made on the ongoing dispute between the board and West Indies player Chris Gayle, made the announcement yesterday during a press conference at Jamaica House in St Andrew.
“I don’t know if in any other country they could respond to a prime minister the way they have responded to me. I think they are very rude, and if anything they owe me, and Jamaica, an apology,” said Simpson Miller.
“Everything I said, I stand by it. Sabina Park, Chris Gayle, I stand by it. Justice delayed is justice denied.”
‘Something wrong’
She added: “Gayle is a Jamaican, and if they can treat Chris, a former captain, the way they are treating him, and believe that Jamaica should not feel a way about it, then something is wrong with them, and not us in Jamaica, nor the prime minister of Jamaica.”
The WICB had said it did not believe Simpson Miller had the benefit of the full information “pertaining to the matters on which she spoke”.
In its statement, the WICB also implored Simpson Miller “to use her good office to urge Mr Gayle to respond favourably in an effort to put this issue in the past”. The board argued that reinstating Gayle would be tantamount to a Jamaican prime minister returning an individual to the Cabinet with no accountability after that individual had lambasted the head of government.
The Jamaica Cricket Association had also taken offence to the WICB’s statement, arguing that the regional body was “disrespectful” and “out of order”.
