WICB, WIPA Mediation ends unsuccessfully

Sep 02, 2009 Sports

The Mediation Process established by Agreement between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association on July 21 under the good offices of the Chairman of CARICOM, President Bharrat Jagdeo, has ended without agreement between the Parties.

President Bharrat Jagdeo

In announcing this yesterday, a clearly disappointed Sir Shridath Ramphal, said that it was another bad day for West Indian cricket which, without fundamental changes, is now likely to deteriorate further.

Sir Shridath explained 24 hours before the end, he believed that Agreement between the Board and WIPA was at hand; and that he had actually invoked assistance of various kinds to make implementation of the Agreement feasible. However, all that changed dramatically when one Party introduced an entirely new document and refused to negotiate on any other.

Sir Shridath said that he will now report to President Jagdeo as Chairman of CARICOM and to the Secretary-General on the outcome of the Mediation effort.

Meanwhile, he counseled followers of West Indian cricket not to despair. “Cricket”, he said, “is in our regional genes; it cannot be lost”.

Head of State Bharrat Jagdeo upon learning of the failed mediation process in a statement to the media said that he was disappointed to learn of the failure of the Board and WIPA to reach agreement in the cricket Mediation, “but I am not wholly surprised.”

Sir Shridath Ramphal

He stated that when the Mediation under Sir Shridath Ramphal was agreed upon with him on 21 July 2009, it was in context in which WIPA made all their players available and, “I understand this is to be basis of a return to normalcy in Team selection.”

Jagdeo added that the members of the, “Board did not disclose to me or to WIPA that the Board had already selected a ‘B” team for the Champions Trophy in South Africa.”

The President later apologised for the omission; but the damage had been done; the Mediation was weakened from the start.

Now, it seems that the Mediation has been the victim of the same spirit of Board insistence on getting its own way whatever the consequences for our cricket. CARICOM Governments will have to consider what next to do to save West Indies cricket, and West Indians, everywhere, from still further humiliation.

“I thank Sir, Shridath for his effort, and await his further Report.”