(Trinidad Guardian) Vice president of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) Calvin Hope has been urged to resign if the voice note that has been making the rounds on social media allegedly using foul language towards the Prime Minister of Barbados Mia Mottley is his.
Hope immediately issued a statement distancing himself from the voice note and said that the voice, on the voice note does not belong to him.
He said, “I wish to categorically deny any knowledge of or connection to the statements attributed to me in a fabricated voice note currently circulating on social media platforms. The voice note carries an edited image of myself and the Prime Minister of Barbados falsely implying that the fabricated comment connects both parties.
He explained that, “This voice note, which has come to my attention, is deeply disturbing as it is totally false. It misrepresents my character and presents content that is maliciously designed to cause significant reputational damage to me both personally and professionally. A caption on the voice note calls for my immediate resignation, again demonstrating the malicious intent or the creator of the note.”
He continued, “I take this matter very seriously, as it has already tarnished my name. As such, I have escalated this matter to the Barbados Police Service, and an official investigation is now underway to identify the source and motives behind this damaging fabrication.”
Guardian Media Sports obtained the voice note, however, the contents are too graphic to be shared.
The BCA which is headed by Conde Riley has come in for criticism for missing the last board meeting of CWI where governance issues were to be dealt with. The meeting did not take place because Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) did not attend therefore there was no quorum to convene the meeting.
A senior member of the BCA who wishes to remain anonymous said: “If it is that the voice note is from the vice-president then he needs to tender his resignation.
Since missing the meeting in December, many have been calling for the governments of Guyana and Barbados to get involved in the matter.
GCB and BCA failed to attend, having opted not to appoint two representatives as required by the company’s Articles of Association.
A CWI release after the meeting failed to take place on December 6, 2024, CWI said Guyana formally indicated their non-attendance, while Barbados did not provide a response.
The release continued that this marks the second time that both the GCB and BCA have opted not to attend a meeting of the members, the first instance occurring in 2021.
All other full member shareholders from the Jamaica Cricket Association, Leeward Islands Cricket Board, T&T Cricket Board, and Windward Islands Cricket Board were present and prepared to proceed.
CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow expressed disappointment over the absence of these two key shareholders, stating, “It is deeply disappointing that representatives from Guyana and Barbados did not see the importance of being present at this crucial juncture for the future of West Indies cricket.
The meeting was convened to vote on implementing governance reforms proposed by the Wehby Report, which aims to modernise CWI’s governance framework. Notice for the meeting was issued on November 13, in accordance with CWI’s Articles of Association.
Guyana and Barbados also issued a joint report which pointed out among other things that they were not in agreement with extending the fixed term of office of the president and vice president of the Company from two to three years in the form sought by the Board of Directors of CWI.
