Former national cricketer and sports commentator Colin Murray is calling for the appointment of an Independent Commission to look at the proposals raised by the National League Representatives and make a recommendation.
His call comes mere days after attempts at amendments to the T&TCB constitution failed to get the support of the majority of members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday last at the office of the T&TCB in Balmain, Couva.
Among the changes the national league representatives were lobbying for were; a one club-one vote system, a two term limit for presidents, the removal of the 12 outgoing votes enjoyed by TTCB executives and for a representative from the Women Cricket Association, the Secondary School Cricket League, the Primary School Cricket League, the Tobago Cricket Association and the Umpires and Scorers Association Council to be added to the executive.
The resolutions needed a two-thirds majority to be passed and after a marathon session, the one club-one vote system was defeated 25-14; attempts at a two-term limit for presidents was defeated 26-12 and the resolution for the removal of 12 outgoing votes by TTCB executives was also defeated 26-16. Yesterday Murray said the commission will be appointed by TTCB executives themselves and this commission must look at the proposals of the NLR and make recommendations to the board.
Murray explained that he was confused as to why T&TCB executives did not want to support the initiatives. “The only reason I can see for them not wanting to make the changes is if they do not want to be removed from office. There was constitutional change to the T&T Football Association constitution so why can’t it be done in cricket” Murray said.
When quizzed as to the distance the NLR can go to get a resolution, Murray said he has not studied it to see what the options are but said to get a judgement in most cases you will have to go to court. He told Guardian he cannot find any club in T&T that would not want the one club-one vote system because it is fair and democracy must always prevail. Meanwhile, Manager of Queen’s Park Cricket Club Jeffrey Guillen said he too is in full support of the one club-one vote system but once it is done in a structured manner.
Like Murray, he too is suggesting the formation of an independent commission to look at the proposals being offered by the national league clubs. Disgusted by the impasse, Guillen explained that he recommended to both parties that the commission be implemented. “I have suggested this commission to the TTCB and the NLR but it seems to me that the current executives are not interested in solving the problems in local cricket” Guillen said. He added “It appears to me that they are all in it to serve themselves. At present the constitution is very biased in favour of the incumbents but something has to be done very soon.”
He lashed out at the TTCB executives, saying it is very wrong for 12 out-going members to vote for themselves. “Now while the cricket board cannot just go and make changes to the constitution just like that, the initiatives proposed by the NLR need to be looked at seriously and recommendations must be made.
He pointed out that the problems with West Indies cricket stem from the regional boards and we in the West Indies are facing serious problems in all formats of the game. He called on the TTCB to appoint the independent commission and deal with the unfairness taking place in T&T cricket, if they have the interest of cricket at hand.