Healing those wounds

The affiliates of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association spoke loud and clear, and last Saturday exercised their voices through the ballot at a special general meeting, removing former president Julian Jack via a motion of “No Confidence.”{{more}}

It was, for the sport, a landmark occasion, as it was the first time that the organization had to go through that route to effect changes.

Jack left office in quite a different manner to his predecessors. Previous long-standing holders of the position Dr Gideon Cordice and Jack’s immediate predecessor Lennox John had both called it quits when they thought it was time to vacate.

But what occurred on Saturday, where people were willing to literally stand up and be counted, exhibited a new mood that persons have embraced.

Whilst there was not much open rancour, there is no doubt that wounds were opened and fractures suffered as a result of last Saturday’s meeting. The divide was obvious for the incumbent, as it was for the new breed of young cricket administrators.

Unfortunately, much of the mutterings were against those who have taken over the reins of power of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association, under the presidency of former assistant secretary Kishore Shallow.

Some of the utterances overheard were that persons of influence will be instructed not to support the new executive.

There was also distinct disapproval of persons so young heading a national association. Many hold the view that the no confidence motion was hatched within the formal executive. There was an uneasy feeling of mistrust and some back stabbing last Saturday, that, in some instances, was glaring to the core.

Others expressed the view that some executive members would have conflicting interests, as in the case of committee members Rommel Currency, Miles Bascombe and Samantha Lynch, who are still active national players. The point was raised that they could possibly influence decisions made at the St Vincent and the Grenadines teams level.

However, now that the elections are over and persons’ aspirations have been met, how can the revival of the confidence in the sport and the support for the new executive be fostered?

Will all those who supported the motion now put their hands to the wheel and give Shallow and company their fullest support?

Surely, this is paramount, as the sport is in a state of decline, fast forwarded by some of the said issues as outlined in the motion of no confidence.

Of course, it will be not plain sailing for Shallow and company, as their stewardship, whilst in the short term in the first instance, until the next Annual General Meeting is called, will be scrutinized with precision. Not so much for the questioning of the executive’s capacity, but for the manner in which they assumed office.

The current executive has been installed in consummate ease, which for some was a foregone conclusion. This sort of overwhelming support can work against those who are seated in the chairs of decision.

Those who supported the ousting of Jack should not expect that everything they want to see going well for the sport, will be switched on overnight.

Cricket in St Vincent and the Grenadines was not only in need of a new dispensation, but a refreshed look, as too much has happened on the reverse side of progress.

Modern ideas and practices, networking and a hands on professional approach to administration are some of the panaceas for cricket at this time.

Most of all though, people must begin once more to love cricket, want to play cricket, want to be associated with it, as well as support it.

The task is, therefore, in the hands of Shallow to show his leadership mettle and make the above needs met, even at least in the short term.

Shallow’s apparent thirst and aspiration for the position and his promised travel through the pathway of inclusion augurs well in principle for the progress of the new executive and eventually excavation of the sport from being lodged in an abyss of despair.

A prerequisite, though, is for the healing of the wounds that have opened up in the process of change.