(Jamaica Observer) Months after naming the players’ Pavilion at Sabina Park in recognition of former batting maestro Lawrence Rowe, the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) has made a sharp about turn.
In a release issued yesterday evening by honorary secretary Fritz Harris, the JCA said it revoked the naming of the Pavilion mainly due to subsequent comments Rowe made in a radio interview that he had done nothing wrong by going to apartheid South Africa in 1983 and 1984.
“The Board of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) after much consideration, decided at its last Board meeting to revoke the decision it took on June 20, 2011, to name the players’ Pavilion at Sabina Park in honour of Mr Lawrence Rowe,” the statement read.
Speaking to the Observer yesterday, JCA president Lyndel Wright conceded that the local body had been “embarrassed” by Rowe’s utterances to the media.
“By virtue of what he said he showed no remorse. The people of Jamaica have been hurt and as a national sporting body we have been embarrassed by his statements in the interview,” Wright said.
In the interview Rowe stoked the flames of the already contentious issue when he declared that by going to apartheid South Africa he had done nothing wrong. He argued that going to South Africa may have contributed to the dismantling of apartheid.
He also stated that years from now he may be seen in the same light as National Hero Paul Bogle.
“While it was a hot issue in the media, we didn’t want to rush to a decision so it took us some time to deliberate and consider the issue.”
Almost 30 years ago Rowe led two rebel tours of Apartheid-ruled South Africa in contravention of an international ban on sporting activity.
He and others on those tours were banned from cricket. The bans were lifted in 1989 with the release from prison of Nelson Mandela, and a rapid movement to dismantle the fascist system of apartheid and establish democracy in that country.
Under apartheid, racial segregation was enforced by the Government of South Africa between 1948 and 1990. The majority black population was not allowed to vote, had no role in the Government and was subject to unbridled abuse by agents of the state.
Despite consternation in some circles when news broke that Rowe was to be honoured, the JCA went ahead on the premise that the former batting maestro would publicly apologised.
In the interview Rowe stoked the flames of the already contentious issue when he declared that by going to apartheid South Africa he had done nothing wrong. He argued that going to South Africa may have contributed to the dismantling of apartheid.
