Judge grants WIPA injunction in WICB case

PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad,  CMC – Trinidad & Tobago High Court Justice Ricky Rahim has granted an extension to an injunction filed by the West Indies Players Association.

The injunction prevents the West Indies Cricket Board from terminating the Memorandum of Understanding and the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the two sides.

WIPA Executive President Dinanath Ramnarine said his organization was forced to seek an emergency judicial intervention from the T&T High Court.

Sources said that if current negotiations between WIPA and the regional governing body were not concluded by November 30, the WICB could terminate the current MOU and CBA and this could leave the players at the Board’s mercy.

The T&T High Court heard WIPA’s application on November 30 and ordered that the agreements and all terms of the MOU and the CBA should be treated as if in full force and effect and binding until determination of the application.

After hearing arguments from attorneys on both sides on Thursday, Justice Rahim ordered that the injunction continue and requested further submissions in writing in January.

This means that the terms of the current agreements remain in force until the matter comes up again on January 19, when the judge will decide whether to discharge the injunction or to grant a permanent injunction.