St. Lucia PM pays glowing tribute to former WICB resident

CASTRIES, St.Lucia, CMC- St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony has paid glowing tribute to former President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr. Julian Hunte for his 33 years of unbroken service to cricket in the region.

Prime Minister Anthony says as well that Dr. Hunte’s six year tenure has transformed the regional game and will guarantee its success.

He noted that with decisive and visionary leadership Hunte instituted and implemented the measures and programmes necessary to first bring an end to the spiraling decline then lay the foundations for the future success of the game.

“The region has already begun to see tangible results and progress of the foundational work done under his leadership,” Dr. Anthony said in a statement released yesterday. “His tenure will be recorded in history as the one which transformed the regional game and ensured its future success consistent with the desires and expectations of our cricket loving public”.

Hunte lost his bid to be WICB president for a fourth successive two year term, losing a two way fight to Jamaican Dave Cameron in the general election in Barbados Wednesday.

Cameron, who served as vice-president to Hunte, won 7-5 while his running mate Emmanuel Nanthan, the Windward Islands Cricket Board chief, also defeated Barbados Cricket Association president Joel Garner, 8-4 to become vice-president.

“We salute him for his achievements and accomplishments and fearless representation of our beloved West Indies cricket on the international front and in the sometimes, hostile regional environment,” the St. Lucian Prime Minister said.

“To have become the first President originating from a small island was a statement of his strength and to have survived six (6) years is telling of his character”.

Dr. Anthony said Dr. Hunte’s selfless service to cricket in St Lucia, Windward Islands and what was then the Combined Islands is also deserving of the highest commendations and acclaim.

He said Hunte served West Indies cricket, for which he has an unyielding passion and love and represented St Lucia with the utmost dignity, class and honour.

Hunte, a St.Lucian, has been credited with introducing measures to pull West Indies cricket out of a dark era.

“His tenure will be recorded in history as ‘the’ one which transformed the regional game and ensured its future success consistent with the desires and expectations of our cricket loving public,” Dr. Anthony said.

“His record will be remain unmatched for a very long time.”