Where are our umpires?

Minister of Sports Rudolph Greenidge is concerned that local umpires are not being chosen to officiate in international cricket matches. Speaking on the final day of the Barbados Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) seminar at the Grand Salle yesterday morning, he said there was great concern among Barbadians that our list of 'competent umpires' has not been reaching the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

'I consider it to be virtually a national shame that there are One-Day Internationals being played in Barbados and we have to import umpires from within the Caribbean to adjudicate in our own backyard. We have not had a Barbadian umpiring cricket here at that level for about two years now,' he pointed out.

In this regard, Greenidge urged the BCUA to remain committed and ensure its members receive the best treatment. 'The Barbados Cricket Umpires Association has a duty, therefore, to remain strong. It must not allow its members to be treated like outside children... the association must not allow anyone to rob it of its pride and dignity,' he stressed.

The Sports Minister also called on the local association to take its message beyond the playing field.

'Umpires must go out to clubs and into the communities. You can go and explain the laws of cricket. Such sessions can be used as part of your recruiting strategy because you have to do new things in order to attract young people to umpiring.'

Mr. Greenidge also touched on the issue of match officiating, saying it was time the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA) match referee be used in first division cricket.

'This would take the responsibility for certain aspects of discipline out of the hands of the umpire, and he would be able to concentrate more on his job,' he said.

According to the minister, this move would also be advantageous to the BCA.

'This would give the BCA an oversight of the umpires and therefore be able to know first-hand who the top umpires really are. I hope this initiative comes about very soon.'

BCUA president Mervin Jones pointed out that his association had written the WICB regarding international umpiring duties for local officials, but the response was not favourable. 'This association wrote the WICB through our parent body well in advance of the 1998 international season.

'We never got a response until the end of the season, and it was quite terse. Again, we wrote them this year, and we have had no response,' he said.

Jones also agreed with the minister in his suggestion that BCA match referees should be used in first division competition, noting that was one of the recommendations made to the local cricket body.

'Whether this will become a reality or not, we don't know because up to this point we have had no direct response on this matter.'