Barbados, Guyana boycott CWI meet to demand rotational presidentship

Cricket West Indies (CWI) seems to be in yet another problem, which comes right after the abandonment of the final of their premier domestic 50-over tournament between Jamaica and Barbados.

In the recent turn of events, Barbados and Guyana, two of the six constituent members of the CWI, boycotted the board meeting scheduled for December 7 (Saturday), forcing the meeting to be abandoned. It was conveyed that the constitution be amended and the tenure of the president and vice-president increased from two years to three years.

As per the CWI rules, at least nine of the 12-member board must be present to complete a quorum of the meeting. 

"CWI regrets to announce that a quorum was not met for today's pivotal meeting on governance reform," Cricbuzz quoted CWI's statement regarding the meeting. 

The six members of the CWI board are the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA), Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA), Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB), Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB), and Windward Islands Cricket Board (WICB). Each board has two seats in the CWI boardroom. 

Apart from Barbados and Guyana, all four other members and their representatives were present for the meeting in Antigua. 

The reason for Guyana and Barbados boycotting the meeting was they wanted the abolition of the current presidential and vice-presidential election system and the restoration of a rotational policy for the two posts, giving each member, however big or small in size, to hold the post on their turn. 

"We want an end to elections and have a rotational president and vice president...with a long-term Cricket Development Plan," Bissoondyal Singh, the head of Guyana Cricket, was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz. 

"We maintain our stated position that the proposed amendments are self-serving and cannot and will not change the many issues affecting West Indies cricket both administratively and on the field of play," he added further. 

This was the second meeting convened but not met since 2021, when it was decided for the first time to increase the tenure. To do so, an amendment to the constitution is needed.

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