St John’s, Antigua – The West Indies Cricket Board regrets the comments made by Prime Minister of Jamaica, the Honourable Portia Simpson-Miller at the Jamaica Cricket Association awards dinner.
The WICB believes that the Prime Minister did not have the benefit of the full information pertaining to the matters on which she spoke. The WICB is further disappointed that the relevant officials in Jamaica did not, or did not properly, brief the newly-elected Prime Minister.
Had this been done the Honourable Prime Minister would have been informed that the West Indies v Australia tour was, for reasons pertaining to scheduling and weather, always slated to be played in the Southern Caribbean.
The West Indies v New Zealand tour is slated to be played in the months of, July and August in the northern Caribbean at a time, during the hurricane season, when that part of the region is less prone to adverse weather conditions. Therefore, Jamaica was never a consideration for the Australia tour but would feature as a host venue for the New Zealand tour.
Had the Honourable Prime Minister been briefed she would have been informed that Mr. Chris Gayle has been written to by the WICB, clearly outlining the full details of what is required of him. The WICB is awaiting a response from Mr. Gayle.
The WICB implores the Prime Minister to use her good office to urge Mr. Gayle to respond favourably in an effort to put this issue in the past.
The WICB does not believe that the Prime Minister is suggesting that Mr. Gayle be returned to the West Indies team without withdrawing his comments.
This would be tantamount to a member of the Jamaican cabinet lambasting and deriding the leader of the cabinet and fellow cabinet colleagues and being returned to that august body without any accountability for his or her actions.
The WICB believes the Prime Minister would appreciate the seriousness and repercussions of the case had she been provided with all the relevant information. The WICB is available to provide a complete dossier of all relevant documents.
