Another legal battle brewing between WIPA and WICB

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC-Another legal battle is brewing between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

WIPA will be pursuing legal action against the WICB after it failed to disclose full details of a pension fund, highly placed WIPA sources have confirmed to Jamaica’s TVJ.

The pension fund for former and current cricketers known as the provident fund surfaced during the current trial between the WICB and WIPA.

WIPA claims WICB had diverted and withheld payment from the players meant to go to the fund and that the board had also withheld its own contribution to the fund using the money instead to cover ongoing expenditure.

Dr. Ernest Hilaire

Confirmation came during the trial from Former Corporate Secretary of WICB, Anthony Deyal, who also admitted it had possible serious criminal consequences.

WIPA had demanded that the chief financial officer Barry Thomas be a witness in the case but he was withdrawn by the board.
Former CEO Dr. Ernest Hilaire is now the sole witness for the board despite not being involved with the WICB until 2009, four years after the provident fund came into effect.

WIPA plans to report the matter to the fraud squad in Trinidad and Tobago and seek civil redress.