Called To Account

Movement For Change challenge Murray regime

The group calling themselves the Movement for Change officially launched their campaign to the media yesterday, accusing the current Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) administration of lack of accountability and serving private interests.

And they contend that the incumbent, president Deryck Murray, also a West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director, is compromised because of his role within the regional cricket body in assisting to solve the impasse between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and WICB.

At the Hotel Normandie yesterday, members of this group, including WICB director and current TTCB official Dr Allen Sammy, former Minister of Sport Manohar Ramsaran, former TTCB member Baldath Mahabir, and current first vice-president Assim Basarath, presented their case for a changing of the guard.

There was also a message from Justice Anthony Lucky, absent because of international judicial commitments, read by Ramsaran.

After Basrath, chairman of the proceedings made an opening statement, accusing the current board of straying from the themes of change and accountability that they had campaigned for back in 2005 and the Friends of Cricket group led by Murray of sidelining dissident voices on the executive, Ramsaran made Lucky's feelings on the issues known.

Ramsaran communicated that Justice Lucky--the man who chaired the committee that investigated the WICB/Digicel sponsorship row back in 2005--thought Murray was ineffective in dealing with the issues facing the TTCB and WICB.

"What have they (Murray and his team) achieved by boycotting the last AGM (WICB)? As you know, at an AGM, several matters are discussed and appointments made. The end result is that a third rate side has been picked for the next tournament, the tournament has been devalued....Trinidad cricketers have been sidelined and the TTCB has been silent," Ramasaran said, reading from Lucky's prepared statement. "We have to face the truth: Deryck Murray is a member of the WICB."

Lucky's correspondence went on to state that the WICB had taken part in seven arbitrations against WIPA and lost all seven and the regional cricket organisation had opted to belittle high-ranking and eminent officials like himself, Justice Saunders, former Jamaica PM PJ Patterson and lately, the former Commonwealth secretary general Sir Shridath Ramphal when they were found lacking in a number of areas instead of accepting their recommendations and rulings.

"The WICB thinks it is always right but the evidence shows otherwise," said Lucky, adding that it is time for the current administration led by Murray to go.

At his turn at the mike, Mahabir detailed some financial questions that he suggested the Board needed to answer.

Based on the audited accounts of 2008 and under item three of the TTCB notes to the financial statements, was a Guardian Asset Management-Money Market Fund amount of $3,149, 733 dollars, he claimed.

"There are three questions that need to be answered," Mahabir said.

One: the investments approved by the board of the TTCB?

Two: Who placed the investment and were commissions received? And three: Were alternative investment quotations sought?," Mahabir asked rhetorically.

Mahabir also disputed the transparency of payments to four board members up to as much as $210,993 as well as catering expenses of just over one million dollars, together with salaries paid in cash to employees that amounted to an estimated $1.5 million.

Sammy then referred to a document that presented the Movement for Change's vision and pledge entitled: "A Blueprint for Excellence".

Sammy indicated the group planned to cut club registration in half across the National League and Zonal Leagues; work actively for a larger prize structure for all competitions; provide each club with $3,000 for annual presentation functions; establish a Club Development fund; expand insurance coverage to include players, umpires support staff and day-to-day administrators; expand the Players Welfare Fund; and host one to three major fund-raising events annually to supplement the expected decrease in government subsidies during the economic downturn.


Mark Pouchet
Daily Express