‘Only the WICB Shareholders can dissolve the WICB’ says VP Nathan

Dec 22, 2015 Sports

Feels Governments not doing enough for WI cricket

By Sean Devers
West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) Vice-President Emmanuel Nathan says the WICB is in constant

Emmanuel Nathan

dialogue with the CARICOM Committee on Cricket and are mindful that there is a ‘disconnect’ between the fans and WI Cricket as a result of the poor performances on the field.
“We are prepared to make some changes as we did following previous Governance Reports. However, on the basis of a corporate review and legal advice, only the Shareholders of the WICB can dissolve the Company- the WICB. And similarly only shareholders can appoint new Directors to the Board, whether they are independent or shareholders directors,” informed Nathan.
The Cabinet in Dominica, headed by Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit, this year appointed Nathan as Director of the Citizen by Investment Unit, while he is also a Director of the WICB and a member of the Dominica Labour Party.
“The opportunity at professionalism is being provided at a time when the Shareholders of West Indies Cricket, i.e. the six Territorial Boards are under attack to dissolve the WICB because some CARICOM Governments and their Academic Functionaries believe that what is being undertaken here is obsolete, and is not addressing the requirements of a modern world of Sports as a business,” said Nathan, who celebrates his 48th birthday today.
The WICB Director said to his knowledge, professional cricket is established in all major ICC countries and in the State Education there are not many Sports Academies established by Governments in all or any of the Caribbean States.
“Early education in sports in schools is the responsibility of the State. The responsibility of training to achieve successful performance and results for National teams in regional and international sports is the responsibility of the Governments,” Nathan said.
Nathan believes that building a Stadium by a Government is not enough for human resource development. He feels that teaching of skills, values and competitiveness is the foundation of human development, and when undertaken successfully, results in Nationals putting their Country on the world map through elite performance and results.
Nathan says that every country must of necessity want their citizens to be outstanding at the regional or international level and the Governments must step up in providing resources to that end, if they are not satisfied with the performance of West Indies Cricket Teams.
“It costs the WICB about One million US dollars to train a cricketer from the Under-15 level to the elite level in international cricket.
Eighty-seven percent of all amounts spent by the Windwards and Leewards in age group tournaments is represented by Accommodation costs, Air and Sea Travel costs and the cost of meals for players who are away from their homes. No wonder on an annual basis the Windwards and Leewards are always at the bottom of the table in the early rounds of the Regional Competition,” Nathan said.
Nathan informed that all funding is by the National Associations and the WICB, funds which ideally should be spent on training and development to result in better performance on the field, adding that this issue is not a Governance issue but one of resources to finance more and better training for better elite performance.
“Did the Academics look into this? Are the Nation States encouraging cricket in the communities,” asked Nathan
“I say all this so you can understand the costs of the opportunity, which you have been offered through the opportunity of the Professional Cricket League,” said Nathan, who has been involved in cricket Administrator for the past Twenty years.
The veteran Cricket Administrator disclosed that the Board of Directors of the WICB has put these issues to the Shareholders and will convene an AGM to finalise the position.

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