Speaking against the backdrop of claims made by WIPA’s president Dinanath Ramnarine on a radio sports show here, WICB chief executive Ernest Hilaire rebuked the WIPA for continuing to vent ongoing issues in public, contending their actions further weakened the relationship between the two bodies.
“It makes no sense that WIPA continues to openly attack the policies and programmes of the WICB when it cannot get its way and expect a constructive relationship,” Hilaire argued in a media release yesterday.
“The pattern is clear, every time WIPA is planning to incite players, cause a disruption or cannot get its way, public differences or unresolved issues are put out in the public domain.”
Hilaire also refuted criticism from WIPA that the WICB lacked transparency and that injured fast bowler Fidel Edwards had been badly treated by the board.
Contending that WIPA should be the last organisation to accuse the WICB of transparency issues, Hilaire pointed out that while other players unions were headed by the captain or a senior player, Ramnarine served as both president and CEO.
The WICB top official also pointed out that players had complained about the manner in which WIPA’s elections were held, the absence of financial statements, and the fact they had no input in the policy and decisions of the organisation.
Hilaire also challenged Ramnarine to reveal the details surrounding WIPMACOL, a company he alleged owned players’ rights.
“How can WIPA claim to be transparent when it is not clear what is or who owns WIPMACOL, why the players do not own their rights anymore, how were the players rights able to be owned by WIPMACOL, why WIPA is informing WICB that players cannot sign contracts since WIPMACOL owns their rights, and why is it that players are not sure who really represents them,” the CEO argued.
In relation to Edwards, Hilaire said WIPA’s claim that Edwards had followed all advice given to him was untrue.
He said the WICB had, nevertheless, met with Edwards and his legal representative and reached an agreement on a programme which would see the board paying for the player’s medical bills and rehabilitation.
Hilaire also dismissed WIPA’s claims that Cricket Australia would have sued the WICB if a second string team was sent to Australia last year for the Test series, stressing that “the rules and regulations of international cricket do not allow such action to be taken.”
He encouraged Ramnarine to focus instead on reaching an agreement on the special arbitration and finalising a new Memorandum of Understanding.
Last year, both parties engaged in a bitter dispute that resulted in the leading players making themselves unavailable and second string squads being selected for the Bangladesh Home Series and the Champions Trophy in South Africa.
