Renowned University of the West Indies (UWI) Jamaica Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Hilary Beckles says he supports current CARICOM views of West Indies cricket.
According to Beckles, the West Indian nation stands proud against the debilitating history from which it has emerged and continues to erupt with the inevitability of its dignified independence.
He noted that the region’s political leaders have expressed their right to rise to the responsibility of contributing to the restoration of public decency and sustainability in the affairs of “our proud cricket nation.”
Professor Beckles said the leaders are duty-bound by the imperative of political best practice to intervene in the affairs of this heritage with a view of protecting and promoting it for the benefit of future generations.
He said the governance of West Indian cricket has reached a perilous state, and that the place where there was once universal respect is now riddled with ridicule.
“After two decades of performance decline, efforts to chart a path of resilience and recovery have failed. The evidence of obvious failure emanates from the system of governance and accountability that has let down the community of cricketers and the wider society.”
The UWI vice-chancellor said it would be a dereliction of duty if governments were to sit passively and allow the public good that is cricket culture to be further diminished and destroyed.
“West Indians have made their greatest single cultural investment in cricket, and governments are duty bound to protect this investment and assure appropriate returns,” he added.
