BCA profits slips

After two successive years of significant profits, the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) has made insignificant financial gains this year.

According to the audited statement of revenue and expenditure to be released at the July 20 annual general meeting, the BCA made a profit of only $12 635 for the period April 1, 1999 to March 31, 2000.

It was a substantial drop from the previous year when the BCA's revenue exceeded expenditure by $310 730 and an even further decline from the 1997-1998 period when the profit was $457 754.

In addition, the BCA revenue includes a grant of $200 000 for cricket development. Without that grant, it would have showed a $180 000 operating loss.

'There were a few things which contributed to such a small profit this year,' a source said.

'The most significant, however, appears to be the dividends from the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

'The WICB's profit was cut in almost half this year, so that's why our dividends from the WICB was about $250 000 less than last year,' the source added.

In light of administrative difficulties that led to the BCA's 1999 annual general meeting being delayed from July to October, the period under review was overseen in almost equal proportions by the outgoing and incoming boards.

Expenses were almost identical ($2 562 739 this year compared to last year's $2 526 486), but revenue decreased from $2 837 216 to $2 575 374.

A look at the statement of revenue and expenditure showed that the following sources of income declined significantly:

l Dividends from the WICB was cut by more than half (from $389 034 to $133 679).

l Subscriptions and entrance fees dropped by $72 124.

l Gate receipts from regional matches de-creased by $75 278.

l Gate receipts from international matches were reduced by two-thirds (from $102 023 to $34 181).

l The WICB's grant for regional matches de-creased by $44 541.

There were, however, revenue increases in sponsorship, rental of boxes and a grant of $200 000 from the WICB for the purpose of a development fund.

While the BCA's expenditure remained almost the same, bank charges and interest and legal and professional fees went up by more than $80 000, while costs of security and miscellaneous expenses increased by more than $35 000.

The cover of this year's report features a new look with an aerial back-drop of Kensington Oval incorporated with pictures of the late former president Sir Conrad Hunte, Malcolm Marshall and Sylvester Clarke. The trio died within the space of a month late last year.