Show to go on despite umpires' dispute

Despite the on-going dispute between the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Umpires and Scorers Council (T&TCUSC) and the Association of Cricket Umpires of Trinidad and Tobago (ACUTT), the Carib Sunday and Super leagues are scheduled to get off this weekend, with the TTCUSC promising to field enough umpires to officiate the entire season.

However, the ACUTT, who say they have the support of 70% of the umpires in the country and are lobbying to replace the TTCUSC as the representative body for umpires to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), are claiming that the percentage is incorrect and that the TTCUSC do not have sufficient qualified personnel to carry out the job.

Last week, as part of a process to arrive at a resolution to the impasse, representatives of both entities met with Ronald Ramcharan, the Chamber of Commerce mediator.

The TTCB are reportedly awaiting the report of that mediation effort. But Parasram Ramsubar, a TTCUSC representative, said yesterday that no matter what the outcome of the mediation, there will be officials to ensure the smooth sailing of the 2006 Carib sponsored competitions. "We have already appointed the umpires that have said they will be available," Ramsubar stated. "We have more than 20 qualified umpires and that will be sufficient to run the (Carib Sunday) League." Ramsubar added that those figures were based on the responses to a request from the TTCUSC seeking the availability of umpires from the five zones last December.

And while there were no replies from the North and North East Zones, acceptances were forthcoming from umpires in the Central, South and South East Zones. Ramsubar indicated that they would need a minimum of 16 umpires to officiate the league competently.

However, Harry Mahabal, the ACUTT chairman, suggested that cannot be the case. "Let's put it this way," he emphasised, "when the season starts you will see what will happen with the clubs. But according to our record, I don't think they can have as many as 20 qualified [umpires]. We also understand they have recalled several umpires who have stopped umpiring for the last 15 years back to the fold. Most of these people have not even seen the cover of a new rule book."

Regarding the mediation, Mahabal stated that Ramcharan was now seeking a legal opinion after the ACUTT presented two legal opinions of their own. Forbes Persaud, TTCB general secretary, said the local governing body would recognise the TTCUSC as the official body of the umpires as they had done so for the last 49 years. But Mahabal stated that the TTCB would determine the representative body at a meeting later this month.