Cricket meet a major success

The Major players in the historic CARICOM-University of the West Indies (UWI) Cricket Conference are excited about its success. 'We superceded our aims and objectives,' UWI Pro Vice-Chancellor Hilary Beckles said after Friday's conclusion.

'This was meant to be just a gathering of stakeholders to debate and to discuss, but what came out of this conference was quite extraordinary.

'We are more than satisfied that the answers to many of our predicaments reside in a collective approach.'

The conference climaxed with the major stakeholders of West Indies cricket meeting over two days at UWI's Cave Hill campus after three months of national consultations.

After the two-day event, it was decided that the recommendations would go to the Heads of Government Summit in July.

'We have also resolved that there will be a conference this time next year,' Beckles said. 'We are hoping that ... next year when the heads of governments meet that many, if not all, of these resolutions will be implemented.'

The conference identified 16 resolutions aimed at regaining excellence in West Indies cricket.

'Most of them are dealing with issues of ensuring a new culture for West Indies cricket ... a new culture dealing with a stakeholder approach bringing all of the elements together to share in the creation of new knowledge, to create new basis for decision-making and to remove the notion of a top-down approach to solutions, but to find a more inclusionary approach to solutions,' Beckles said.

After hearing the many presentations, CARICOM Secretary-General Edwin Carrington wondered 'how come we allowed our cricket so sink as low as it did before we came together to do this'.

'I will convey to the heads of government the tremendous sense of togetherness, commitment, drive, hope and expectations which you have engendered here.

'Let us keep in touch with the standing committee to ensure that it is translated into the results which we and our children wish to see,' he said to loud applause while wrapping up the conference.

Carrington also thanked Beckles for the dynamic, persistent and effective leadership which he provided through the many stages of the exercise.

Beckles said the conference was not only a success because of the historical moment, but it terms of the contributions from all the stakeholders, the way in which they debated the issues, and their expressions of great care and concern for the future of West Indies cricket.

The major stakeholders included players, administrators, officials, sponsors and the media.