MEDIA ADVISORY

Dr. the Hon. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, representing the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee received the Position Paper on 14 March 2000 from a three-member delegation representing the Concerned Citizens for Justice of Antigua and Barbuda. Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Harold Lovell led the delegation. Accompanying him were Attorney-at-Law, Mr. Terrence Small, and Ms. Mikel Bramm, who is the group's Press Officer.

Prime Minister Mitchell extended an invitation to the group to make a submission to the CARICOM/UWI Cricket Conference slated for May this year.

POSITION PAPER ON WEST INDIES CRICKET
BY CONCERNED CITIZENS FOR JUSTICE
ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA

presented to
the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on West Indies Cricket
CARICOM Heads of Government Inter-Sessional Meeting
Basseterre, St. Kitts and Nevis
13-14 March, 2000

We the Concerned Citizens for Justice of Antigua and Barbuda humbly approach the Prime Ministerial Sub Committee on West Indies Cricket to bring concerns which we believe are shared by a significant cross section of the Caribbean public. We have also taken this opportunity to make suggestions which we trust may be forwarded to the relevant bodies for consideration and action.

The recent handling by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of the selection process for team coach is the most recent chapter in a tale of mismanagement at the highest level. This has disappointed, surprised and angered many in the Caribbean. The institution of Cricket is an integral part of the tapestry of Caribbean life and its management is the concern of every Caribbean citizen. That is why the treatment meted out to Sir Vivian Richards has aroused such strong sentiments within the region and in particular in Antigua and Barbuda. Sir Vivian Richards is a regional icon of excellence, an international cricket statesman and a national hero of Antigua and Barbuda. He represents the best of West Indies Cricket at its best. He has also co-authored a coaching manual ("Viv Richards cricket Masterclass" 1988) .

He has a proven record of success upon which to stand. He is still the most successful captain in the history of West Indies Cricket at a time when the captain also served as coach and has demonstrated an ability to command the respect of players and to motivate them to succeed.

Sir Vivian Richards was called upon to act as coach when the late Malcolm Marshall fell ill during the recently concluded World Cup Finals. In responding to the request of the Board, he terminated prematurely a commentary contract. He subsequently served willingly as coach for the New Zealand tour under difficult circumstances. No fair minded person could have expected an instant turnaround in the fortunes of the team.

He was required to submit to an interview process in circumstances where all positions were not filled by a similar process and all positions were not advertised. Further, it is apparent that there was an in-built bias in favour of certification over accomplishment and past achievement. Whatever the reasons for the Board's decision, it is our view that given the stature of an contributions made by Sir Vivian Richards, the public humiliation that followed was insensitive, callous and disrespectful. No West Indian cricketer who has worn the maroon colours of the team should be subjected to this type of treatment.

If due respect had been accorded, as it should have been, no less a person than the President of WICB would have made contact with Sir Vivian and discussed the thinking of the Board and come to some agreement with regard to a significant role for him to play in the management of West Indies Cricket. The position of Technical Director is one example. Courtesy and respect demanded that discussions take place before any public announcement was made. The statement made by the Board, after the fact, that there will be a role for Sir Vivian to play was inappropriate and only compounded the insult. It is inconceivable that before the announcement of the new management team no discussion took place with Sir Vivian Richards. It is now well known that the WICB has apologised for the contemptuous manner in which the decision of the Board was communicated to Sir Vivian. In our view the failure by the President and Vice President to take direct responsibility is a serious dereliction of duty.

None of the unsuccessful interviewees for the positions of manager and coach were treated any better. All were informed by a junior secretary in the Secretariat. Those applicants who were not selected for the February interviews were finally informed that they had not been short listed following the public outcry over the treatment of Sir Vivian in March.

We feel affronted when Joel Garner who also symbolises the era of West Indies Cricket excellence and dominance is treated with scant respect. Men of the calibre of Sir Vivian Richards and Joel Garner deserve better.

Former Guyana and West Indies middle order batsman Basil Butcher stated his views in the following terms: "... nowhere in the world would find a country doing away with the services of a man with over 121 tests, 8000 runs and 15 years of English County cricket experience. His experience and achievements alone should give him a doctorate in all aspects of cricket..." said Mr. Basil Butcher (CricInfo 3/3/2000).

Noted cricket historian and one of the region's leading intellectuals, Professor Hilary Beckles of the University of he West Indies had this to say: "Was it not Clive Lloyd and Sir Vivian Richards as leaders who took us to (World Championship) and sustained it for almost 20 magnificent years...? an unprecedented, unparalleled achievement ... Did these two gentlemen not bring honour, dignity and vision to cricket culture?... Who on the WICB has the right to decide that Sir Vivian the greatest "general" of all in the global war game isn't qualified to train the youth?..." (Trinidad Express 3/3/2000).

Commenting on the treatment of Sir Vivian , former West Indies captain Rohan Kanhai described it as a "slap in the face" and stated that, "it is not fair for this to happen to one of the greatest cricketers of all time." (Daily Observer, 1/3/2000).

The sentiments expressed above reflect the strong sense of indignation felt throughout the Caribbean in relation to the handling of the entire process by the WICB. The issue has brought into sharp focus the insensitive and disrespectful management style of the WICB as it pertains to those who have built the game and brought honour, dignity and pride to the region. Sir Vivian Richards is the most recent victim but others who have had justifiable reason to feel aggrieved over the years include Sir Garfield Sobers, Desmond Haynes, Richie Richardson and Andy Roberts.

Systematically, the Board has failed to manage its relationship with the players in a manner conducive to sustained harmonious relations between the Board and the players. Over the past five years, there have been numerous crises, indicating mutual distrust between the Board and the players. In a thorough analysis of the management of West Indies Cricket Mr. Tony Marshall observes that: "Rightly or wrongly there has been much dissatisfaction as far as the players are concerned, with the way the West Indies Cricket Board conducts its affairs. More importantly its treatment of players as they depart the International arena."

Marshall calls for a more open policy to be adopted by the Board, a policy of early disclosure of selectors views to players and the promotion of more benefit games for players.

When regional icons of excellence are set up and then cast aside it damages and destroys an inspirational source for the young and diminishes us all in the eyes of the world. The issue of the relationship of the Board to former test players, must be addressed. Is it merely a coincidence that none of the great players from the "glory days" of West Indies Cricket are playing any significant role in the management of the game? We think not. We go further to posit that an effort must be made to bring more of the former test greats into the management of the game.

The constitutional modus operandi of the Board needs to be addressed so that former players are brought directly into the decision making process of the WICB. We urge that expression be given to the view that the powers and the composition of the present Cricket Committee of the WICB be reviewed. All cricket decisions ought to be made by this Committee including selectors, grounds, coaches, umpires and cricket development. The Committee ought to be able to make final decisions rather than the system at present where the Committee may only make recommendations to the Board who can and do refuse to implement recommendations. The Cricket Committee should comprise principally but not exclusively persons who have cricket experience and an effort should be made to "refresh" the Committee with younger members who are more able to relate to contemporary events.

Further, the issue of the accountability of the Board must be seriously considered. The WICB must be accountable to the public and cricketing fans in the Caribbean. To this end, we propose that the WICB tables annually its audited financial statements and a report on the activities of the Board before the Parliament of each and every member state from which the West Indies team is selected.

This requirement ought to be a condition precedent for the approval of the WICB's application for a Caribbean Lottery to fund West Indies Cricket which we understand is before the Heads of Government.

In order to ensure greater efficiency in the WICB and restore and maintain excellence to West Indies Cricket, we propose that the position of CEO be abolished and the position of President and Vice President be upgraded to remunerated positions. In the new and improved structure the President will become the de facto and de jure CEO of the WICB. Consequently, great past test players would become qualified for these positions which hitherto they could not hold because of the lack of remuneration.

In addition, the President and Vice President would devote all their time and effort to the development and management of West Indies Cricket and not as presently is the case where these positions are held by businessmen and professionals who devote only a part of their time and effort to these positions at best.

We further propose the rationalisation for the WICB bureaucracy to ensure optimum efficiency in the Secretariat itself and greater expenditure on cricket and cricket development in the Region.

To ensure employment of the best available talent by the WICB, we propose that all vacancies for administrative, managerial and technical positions be advertised by the Board in the newspapers of each and every member state where cricket is played competitively. This will promote an employment policy based on merit, expertise and experience.

The Coach selection fiasco is the " last straw to break the camel's back."

In light of the forgoing, we humbly request that representations be made on our behalf for an urgent review of the constitution, rules and practices of the WICB. We believe that greater rationalisation of resources, greater transparency, accountability and a change of the modus operandi of the Board are necessary for the greater good, that of West Indies Cricket.