Saturday, December 6, 2008

Patterson Committee lashes out at the WICB

Source: http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20081206/sports/sports2.html

In a four-page letter - which was copied to the media - signed by Patterson, Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr Ian McDonald and addressed to West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president, Dr Julian Hunte, the committee members expressed their disappointment with the WICB hierarchy.

In its letter, the committee said though they were a little late with their final report, they were initially disgusted that they did not get a chance to present or discuss it with the full board.

Now, according to the committee, "... after more than a year, the people of the West Indies are still in the dark as to the outcome of your deliberations and the consequent fate of our report. There have been innumerable comments and enquiries in the public press from players, writers and lovers of the game, to which no reply has been forthcoming from the WICB," the letter continued.

The Patterson Committee said (that) while the board rejected its recommendation to reduce the number of territorial directors, this was not communicated at the meeting in St Lucia.

"We left the meeting in St Lucia without any knowledge or intimation as to what the executive committee was likely to recommend to the full board. And we are still to hear what the board finally decided, notwithstanding your assurance that instructions had been given for this to be conveyed," the committee's letter to Dr. Hunte further stated.

The committee said the WICB failed to understand that West Indies cricket belonged to the people of the region.

"As presently structured, the WICB, as the trustees, has no obligation to account for its decisions and actions to the numerous stakeholders. Unless extensive changes are made to the existing governance structure, and soon, we fear the eventual demise of 'cricket, lovely cricket'."

In its final sentence, the committee said: "We have no interest in embroiling West Indies cricket into more controversy, but we can no longer remain silent."

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