PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad, CMC – A leading member of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), Patrick Rampersad, has scolded the president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dave Cameron, over his failure to stage a Town-Hall meeting on the island.
Rampersad has also taken issue with Cameron for refusing to hold the meeting while in Trinidad and Tobago for the finals of the Caribbean Premier League.
Cameron’s letter to TTCB reportedly listed “a critical change in my schedule” and “pressing obligations” as the reasons for not being able to facilitate the meeting.
Rampersad, third vice president of TTCB, has also criticized the WICB for issuing a statement which erroneously stated that Trinidad and Tobago was among the countries which hosted Town Hall meetings.
“In any event the town hall meeting was not held in T&T and to suggest otherwise is misleading at best, and cynical at worst,” said Rampersad.
“It was disrespectful and dismissive of the local cricket community. Is it that the views of the local board and the fans and stake-holders are not important?”
Meantime, the WICB issued a statement yesterday saying efforts to host a meeting in the T&T could not be finalised from as far back as June when the President’s office made contact.
The WICB statement referenced a letter from TTCB General Secretary Arjoon Ramlal, to WICB dated June 22, stating that affiliates could not agree on a venue for the meeting.
The letter objected to Queens Park Oval in Port-of-Spain as the venue for the Town Hall meeting on the grounds that it is not a central location and would not attract the wisest public participation.
The TTCB letter to WICB suggested that the meeting be held at the National Cricket Centre in Couva or at an auditorium in Chaguanas.
“Any of these venues will draw much wider participation from our rich mix of cricket lovers,” the letter said. “Suitable arrangements can be made by the TTCB in the event that this recommendation is accepted.”
However, the WICB has said that it remains committed to hosting the meeting in Trinidad.
“The President while visiting for the Caribbean Premier League final, agreed to return to a venue and time suitable for all affiliates,” the WICB release stated.
Trinidad and Tobago and the Leeward Islands are the remaining venues to host WICB Town-Hall meetings hosted by Cameron and Vice President Emmanuel Nanthan.
Barbados, Dominica, St Lucia, Guyana and Jamaica have already hosted meetings in which topics ranging from team selection and player relations to pitch preparation and governance issues have been raised.
