SVGCA executive faces day of reckoning tomorrow

The beleaguered executive of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association will have a vote of “no confidence” read against its president Julian Jack tomorrow, at special meeting to be held at the Media Centre at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, beginning at 10 a.m.{{more}}

Additionally, the entire executive has been asked to vacate, making way for fresh elections. This was confirmed by a press release from second vice-president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Denis Byam.

According the release: “This special meeting was instigated by a petition moved by an affiliate.”

The petition, which has 40 signatures, has as its lead carrier Marvin Harry, the captain of First Division outfit Smashers.

In his letter to the executive, Harry listed a number of reasons for dissatisfaction with the administration of the sport.

Harry, in advancing his case wrote: “President Jack has provided no short-term or strategic plan for SVG Cricket and has displayed a distinct lack of leadership…. His poor leadership continues to disintegrate our local cricket and offers no road map for the improvement of our next generation of players, both male and female.”

The letter also touched on the state of youth cricket, stating, “Our national Under-15 team has not won a game for over three years and has placed last for over seven years straight… Lack of interest and incompetent chairmanship of the female committee has instigated the decline of female cricket…Failure to establish a comprehensive development programme for our national players and all players on a whole.”

Other concerns raised in the letter relate to issues of spending and conflict of interest. The letter pointed to the refusal to increase prize money to teams, while on the other hand the cricket office, located at Arnos Vale, is over-staffed, and is outfitted with cable television, with the sports package to go with it.

“The use of the cricket office to support the operations of private distribution of Cricket equipment for return of cash… Failure to demonstrate comprehensive management and accountability of the grassroots programme money,” Harry’s letter lamented.

Decisions of the executive were also questioned, including the choice of financial institution where a significant amount of monies of the association were lodged, as well as the deficiencies in scoring at local cricket matches. The relationship with the National Sports Council and allegations of bias towards Radcliffe cricket club were also areas of concerns in Harry’s view.

The current executive of the SVGCA was elected in January 25, 2013, for a two-year term, with Jack re-elected unopposed for the third consecutive time.

Apart from Jack, those elected were Elson Crick – first vice-president; Denis Byam – second vice-president, Rawle Caine – treasurer, Samuel Holder – secretary and Kishore Shallow – assistant secretary.

The four committee members elected were Kenroy Martin, Cecil Charles, Deighton Butler and Calvin Glasgow. Reports are that one committee member has already tendered his resignation ahead of tomorrow’s meeting.

It is widely believed that the executive will not survive the “no confidence” motion brought against it.(RT)