President seeks truce between WICB, WIPA

Jul 22, 2009 Sports

…in interest of West Indies cricket

President Bharrat Jagdeo, in his capacity as Chairman of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), brought together Dr. Julian Hunte, President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and Dinanath Ramnarine, President of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and other representatives of the two organisations at the Office of the President yesterday, to broker a truce between the two parties in the interest of West Indies cricket.

WIPA President Dinanath Ramnarine (left) and Dr. Julian Hunte, WICB President, shake hands to signify the completion of the agreement between the two parties, as President and CARICOM Chairman Bharrat Jagdeo (centre) looks on.

Senior West Indies players including captain Chris Gayle, Guyanese Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Ramnaresh Sarwan and others boycotted the recently concluded two test series in the Caribbean against Bangladesh, forcing the WICB to raise a second string team that was defeated 2-0.

The outstanding issues between the two teams revolve around the failure of the WICB to pay the players for the last four tournaments in which they represented the region, and to provide them with retainer contracts.

The Head of State, who assumed the CARICOM Chairmanship on July 1, has moved quickly to resolve the outstanding issues between the parties, given the importance of West Indies cricket to the region.

He met with the representatives of the two organisations separately to establish their requirements from the discussions, before bringing them together to iron out their outstanding issues.

According to a press release issued, the two parties have reached agreement on immediate mediation of the dispute between them.

Under the agreement, the parties have jointly invited Sir Shridath Ramphal, former Commonwealth Secretary-General, to be the mediator.

They have done so on the basis of their mutual acceptance of the importance and urgency of resolving the immediate differences between them, and setting their relationship on a path of lasting cooperation.

It was also agreed that, in light of the mediation agreement which the parties expect to lead to the resolution of outstanding issues, all the players will make themselves available for selection.

The President has been very active since his assumption of the CARICOM Chairmanship, meeting with CARICOM Secretariat officials several times and working on the regional task force established to review the effects of the global economic and financial crisis on the region and to find solutions.

Dr. Hunte speaking briefly with the media said that the discussions came out very well and they’ve agreed on mediation which will outline the way forward.

Asked when the date for the meeting with the mediator is scheduled, Dr. Hunte indicated that the two parties involved will meet shortly to fix a date.

Meanwhile, Ramnarine speaking on behalf of WIPA was extremely reticent in his comments, content on stating that the two entities have agreed to invite a mediator on mutual grounds and the process have started.

“We are going forward and we do not want to predict the outcome.”

Other members who were present at the meeting included WICB Vice-President Dave Cameron, Legal Officer Alana Medford, WICB Adviser Gerard Pinard, WICB Adviser Derek Ali, Adviser Robert Morris and WIPA Legal Adviser Dr. Tusha Haraksingh.

All the representatives are expected to depart today.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News