Let the healing begin-Thorny issue

'Tis the time for healing and time for members to allow the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) to get ahead with its mandate to develop the sport.

In recent weeks the executive of the BCA scored two notable victories.

The first, the high court judgement which found that there was nothing wrong with the procedure in the way board members David Holford and Clinton St. Hill were elected at the last annual general meeting.

Another, at a recent extra-ordinary general meeting where members wanted an explanation about a $200 000 grant given to the association by the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

There were also questions raised about the appointment of a chief executive officer for the BCA and yet another about the availability and circulation of the so-called Shorey Report which was a comprehensive study of local cricket and recommendations on how to improve it.

From all reports, BCA president, Stephen Alleyne, handled the issues raised like an inform Test batsman, effortlessly dispatching verbal deliveries. He showed why he's the man at the helm.

It is hoped that with these matters out of the way the executive will be able to focus on the big picture and the will of the members will be carried out.

After all, it seems that the association has quite a lot on its plate for the coming year and wouldn't want to be distracted or burdened by controversy.

Continual bickering is not good for the BCA's public image and there are some key programmes to be implemented which would need all the support they can get to stand a chance of succeeding.

First and foremost among them will be the readjustment of the hours for first division cricket and the covering of pitches, both measures seen as vital in the revival of cricket, especially at the senior level.

This is not to say that members don't have the right or shouldn't ask for transparency or indeed explanations about matters they don't clearly understand.

In fact, I think that kind of vigilance is needed to keep administrators on their toes so that at all times or wherever possible, the interests of the sport and members will be best served.

In too many organisations there is a closed shop mentality, which involves only a few in the decision-making process and this in turn undermines the level of success that is possible if a majority of the stakeholders are allowed to make an input.

Therefore, any organisation worth its salt and one as broad-based as the BCA, should allow for dissent and criticism with substance.

The most meaningful consensus that can be reached out of these deliberations is that all hands are needed on deck to make a significant revival in the fortunes of our national sport.

Now is the best time to start.