Shallow is not afraid ah De Deep

Is ah lot ah Vin-cent-shun people like me-self, ain’t have ah clue who is dis Dr. Kiss-her Shallow, de President of Cricket West Indies (CWI), yet all ah we, clones sorry, clowns like Dick, Tom ‘n’ Harry dey passing mouth pon him like he ain’t nobody pickme. Lie-Za says dat Dr Shallow, de proverbial Lickle Black Boy (LLB), will mystify de crowds in de 2025 General Elect-shun!

About 20 years ago while on ah job in Pembroke, ah met and spoke briefly wid Kiss-sure ah young University student who was home foh semester break, think he was preparing foh his Masters Degree. Was our first and only conversation, ah overs dat he played senior level cricket in SVG, and his ambition den was to play foh de West Indies. Ah didn’t see him foh some years, but ah knew he was home, very much around and involved, serving cricket at de helm of both de local and Windward Islands Cricket Associations. Ah didn’t know either dat he had moved from “Shallow” waters plying his cricketing administration expertise within and beyond de deep Carry-Beyond Sea. He actually served as a Director on the International Cricket Council (ICC), the world governing body for cricket. Fast forward. In March, 2023 ah was overwhelmingly happy ‘ n’ surprised when ah saw on de front page of de Searchlight Newspaper: “ Shallow installed as new President of Cricket West Indies (CWI)!” Shallow who served as Vice President of CWI from 2019 to 2023, took over leadership of Cricket West Indies from Ricky Skerritt on March 25, 2023, Shallow was also de first Vin-cent-shun to hold de Presidency of Cricket West Indies (CWI), as well as de 20th President of dis august regional cricket body. From there on De Kiss-sure Shallow Administration showed positive financial vibes. Ah release from de CWI Audited Financial Statements on Saturday, 23rd March 2024 states: “ Cricket West Indies records revenue of US$62.3M for 2023 and net income of US $14.25 million for the year ending 30 September 2023. CWI has successfully reversed the deficit of over US$2 million, which was over US$23 million in 2021, we now record a surplus of US$12 million”, and at it’s Annual General Meeting (AGM), held in March dis year, Cricket West Indies (CWI) overwhelmingly returned President Shallow, and Azim Bassarath as Vice President unopposed, to begin a new three-year term, effective March, 2025. This would mark the second successive election in which

President Shallow would be elected unopposed, reflecting the confidence and support he continues to receive from the cricketing fraternity across the region. Nuff respects for Team CWI under dis brilliant young man who has fought de good fight, finished de race, done his ground wuk! yard wuk! house wuk! Removed every encumbrance and N-V-Us! Jel-Us inhumane obstacles blocking de path of success foh young Men/Woe-men seeking to earn de Noble title of : “Lickle Black Boy!”

Shallow is ah gift sent to rescue de constituents of North Leeward. And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

•  Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.