Another contract brawl in West Indies cricket

by Gary Smith
for Caribbean Net News

Monday, June 20, 2005

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad:  For the second time leading up the start of a Test series this year, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) is in a contract brawl with the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA).

Earlier this year a contract dispute between the two parties saw several players, including double record holder Brian Lara, being dropped from the team for the first few Tests against South African in the Digicel home series.

According to reports reaching Caribbean Net News, the breakdown between the two parties (WICB and WIPA) came about following a meeting last Friday, which also included a third party in Justice Adrian Saunders, who was appointed by Grenada's Prime Minister Keith Mitchell to help resolve the relentless dispute over players' contracts.

"The WICB disagreed with WIPA's proposal and stated that they would have to first seek the agreement of its major sponsor, Digicel," said Dinanath Ramnarine, the Executive President of the WIPA in a news release.

"WIPA is disappointed by this turn of events as we firmly believe that having regard to the differences between parties the most appropriate solution would be for a process of mediation and adjudication," he added.

Last Tuesday Ramnarine stated in a news release that the WIPA was disappointed with the actions taken by Roger Braithwaite, the CEO of the West Indies Cricket Board, who allegedly had a meeting with the players during the second Test in Jamaica, without the prior knowledge of WIPA.

"In this regard, WIPA is most disturbed and disappointed to learn that you (Braithwaite) met with the players sometime earlier today (last Tuesday) in Jamaica without our knowledge, reportedly to give an update of the negotiations between the WICB and WIPA and specifically the Retainer Contract."

Braithwaite was not present at Friday’s meeting, but participated via teleconference.

"Having regard to the fact that there were differences in the parties' proposals with respect to the Adjudicator's terms of reference, Justice Saunders proposed that the parties meet urgently in mediation," Ramnarine said.

The West Indies departs next month to play in two Tests against Sri Lanka as well as participating in a triangular one-day series which also involves India.

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