New cricket head embraces inclusion

Newly elected president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Cricket Association Kishore Shallow promises inclusion and says he will hit the ground running, soonest.{{more}}

Speaking to reporters soon after being elected unopposed at a special meeting held last Saturday at the Media Centre at the Arnos Vale Playing Field, Shallow projected: “One of the things we have discussed is to actually have a retreat and involve the affiliates, because it is more than just the president, more than just the executive…. We have to have all the affiliates involved.”

Shallow’s rise to the position came after the sitting president Julian Jack was defeated 65-25 in a vote on a ‘No Confidence’ motion brought against him, tabled by captain of Smashers Marvin Harry.

However, deposed president Jack will not be part of Shallow and his executive’s think tank.

Shallow, in pointing out that he has nothing personal against Jack, when quizzed about his promise to be inclusive, stated: “In terms of formal planning and development of St Vincent and the Grenadines cricket, that right now rests mainly in the hands of the executive members and we will decide that together.”

Shallow believes that the support the motion got last Saturday meant that persons were prepared for a change.

“I expect everybody to be on board in terms of all hands on deck. …this is the way forward, everybody wanted this change. This is the positive way forward, and everybody should be supportive,” Shallow said.

The 30-year-old Shallow expressed pleasure in the confidence shown in him and his executive by the affiliates.

“It’s a great feeling; obviously, getting the support of the affiliates at this age, it shows a lot of confidence in the youth and I am a firm believer in the youth, in their competence and ability going forward. So, it’s a great sign, for not only cricket, but St Vincent on a whole,” Shallow said with a tone of gratification.

Shallow, who was elected as assistant secretary of the SVGCA in January last year, also has with him four other persons who served on the previous executive.

Retaining their posts were first vice-president Elson Crick; second vice-president Denis Byam; secretary Samuel Holder and committee member Deighton Butler.

Joining the national cricket set- up for the first time are treasurer Jenry Ollivierre, assistant secretary Cleton Burnett and committee members Rommel Currency, Miles Bascombe and Samantha Lynch.

Shallow said that the new executive, which will be in place until the next Annual General Meeting is called early in the new year, is one with a mix of experience and youth.

“I think we are more than competent to execute all these tasks ahead of us in the next few months and we are look forward to the challenge,” Shallow noted.

Shallow, however, does not see any conflict of interest arising with the presence of Currency and Bascombe on the executive, given that they are still active players for both St Vincent and the Grenadines and the Windwards.

Using his case as an example, Shallow said: “I was actually a member of the national cricket team when I actually got elected as the assistant secretary and it is about being professional…They (Currency and Bascombe) are competent individuals and more than capable of executing the job in a professional manner and I have every confidence in them.”

A release from Byam on Monday thanked former members of the executive in the persons of Julian Jack, Rawle Caine, Cecil Charles, Calvin Glasgow and Kenroy Martin for their service. Byam further wrote: “The SVGCA will host a press conference in the coming days to lay out plans for the advancement of cricket in St Vincent and the Grenadines.” (RT)