Chairman of CARICOM’s subcommittee on cricket, St. Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister, Dr. Ralph Gonsalves says the unification of Caribbean cricket and implementation of governance reforms are the two pressing issues for new Cricket West Indies president, Ricky Skerrit.
Gonsalves speaking in the wave of the change in the leadership of CWI recently, said Skerrit and new vice-president Dr. Kishore Shallow, had campaigned on a visionary l0-point Cricket First Plan, and it was now important to first bridge the gaps between stakeholders and also lay out a timetable for the restructuring of the CWI framework.
Gonsalves also agreed with Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister, Dr. Keith Rowley on the need for a regional consultation to urgently discuss the state of the game and the way forward.
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines prime minister said one of the first things they have to do is unite the whole cricket family in the West Indies.
Gonsalves said that the CWI will have to go to all the stakeholders in the countries — the respective boards, players, the governments and other interest parties, including territorial board who didn’t vote for the new administration.
He said the regional consultation proposed by Rowley would be an excellent starting point and should be facilitated in a manner to ensure it was a productive as possible.
Gonsalves who was speaking on a radio program advised the new leadership to be patient in their planning and execution, and to be inclusive in their approach.
