PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – New Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has called for an end to the recurrent bickering between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and West Indies Players Association (WIPA). Persad-Bissessar, who became the country’s first woman leader following general elections last month, said cricket was the most powerful uniting force in the region but it could only flourish if two of the major stakeholders built a strong relationship.
“The game of cricket means so much to us, it defines us, it unites us and it gives us a sense of belonging,” Persad-Bissessar said.
“CARICOM cannot produce anything that can resonate as cricket does in the region. I am calling on the West Indies Players Association and the West Indies Cricket Board to improve their relationship in order to return cricket to its glory days.
“Both parties must have mutual trust, respect and full disclosure in order to achieve better relations.”
The relationship between the two bodies has rapidly deteriorated in recent years, following several public bruising battles over various issues.
Just last year, a bitter contracts dispute between the two parties crippled Caribbean cricket, forcing a second string West Indies team to be chosen for the home tour against Bangladesh and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
Not even the intervention of CARICOM chairman, Guyana’s President Bharrat Jagdeo and former Commonwealth Secretary-General Sir Shridath Ramphal, could have brokered a deal in the impasse.
Persad-Bissessar said cricket in the region had reached a juncture where solutions needed instead of exploiting the blame game.
“Blame is the comfort of the weak. Change is the name of a warrior, so we must be willing to make that change that would make a difference and not keep blaming each other,” she contended.
Persad-Bissessar argued that the involvement of regional governments was also necessary to rebuild cricket in the region.
“I think that the governments of the region must be the proverbial 12th man and get involved in rebuilding the sport,” she pointed out.
“Cricket is the platform that keeps us together and we must get on board to help out. With the governments assisting financially we will be able to create an enabling environment geared towards development.”