Reprinted from Caribbean Net News
caribbeannetnews.com
BRIDGETOWN, Barbados: Caribbean Governments have been urged to launch an investigation into the affairs of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
The call has come from the Clement Payne Movement which says CARICOM states should develop a plan of action in which each government works with its national cricket association, the stakeholders and shareholders in the WICB, to set up an independent inquiry into the board’s affairs and ultimately, a plan for restructuring the organisation.
The movement’s President, David Comissiong says there will be no settlement between the WICB and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), nor any advance in West Indies Cricket as long as the Digicel controversy is unresolved.
He says since that controversy broke, the moral authority of the WICB to lead the region’s cricket has been in question, and there is therefore a need for a rigorous, independent investigation into the affairs of the board’s leadership. And he says the only entities powerful enough to wield enough influence to set up a credible investigation into the affairs of the WICB are CARICOM governments.
“The Clement Payne Movement therefore cannot accept the position of Prime Minister Owen Arthur that the role of our governments must be limited to facilitating a discussion between the WICB and WIPA,” Mr. Comissiong said, referring to Mr. Arthur’s comments coming out of the Heads of Government conference in St. Lucia last week.
“We are of the view that West Indies cricket is so critical to the well being of the Caribbean people and to the success of the regional integration movement that our CARICOM governments are duty-bound to intervene and to do whatever is necessary to protect and save this precious cultural institution,” he added.
According to Mr. Comissiong, an investigation is needed as a matter of utmost urgency and should be commenced immediately in light of the fact that the Caribbean will host the Cricket World Cup in another two years.
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