WRITING in the SUNDAY SUN of September 11, Fazeer Mohammed has used a very broad brush of misinformation in attempting to dilute the importance of having a forensic audit into the affairs of West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
He has personalised a bundle of allegations levelled at five former officials (of which I am one) for having failed when they had their turn in office to correct the “downward spiral of the board”, of contributing to the board’s failure “by aloofness and lack of transparency” of not contributing “in any tangible way” to the board, “of collective and convenient blindness” and of doing nothing to change the corporate culture of secrecy of the WICB.
If only to ensure that his misinformation does not achieve its objective, I respond by making two points.
1) The merit or otherwise of my performance during my two-year term of office as president of the WICB was gratuitously and formally conveyed to me by the board in its letter of August 6, 2007.
I add only that this comes from a board which included a small cabal whose behaviour was frequently disgusting and I told them so at my final meeting.
2) The WICB undertook the most financially successful World Cup in the Games’ history. It earned a surplus of more than US$54 million; managed a work force of 9 000 people across nine countries; delivered 12 world-class stadia and 22 impressive grounds on time; moved 16 teams throughout the region without losing one item of baggage; and executed the largest ticketing operation in Caribbean history with 672 600 tickets being distributed almost flawlessly across the world to 436 000.
Such results could not have been achieved without the utmost transparency. There was widespread involvement of Caribbean effort and managerial skills. Much more can be said but I hope the foregoing makes the point.
Clearly, the misinformed allegations on grounds of performance represent little more than an attempt to distract from the issue of a forensic audit.
The issues which need to be confronted are:
1. Are there serious issues about financial probity?
2. The arrogant dismissal of reports commissioned by the WICB itself and which they have refused to even discuss.
3. The ongoing disrespect to some of the most eminent people in the region who have freely sought to assist.
4. The ongoing breakdown of authority and hostility between the board and players.
5. The formidable outcry from the cricket public.
For all your obfuscation, Mr Mohammed, a forensic audit into the use of regional state resources by an organisation which accounts to no one, is required.
– Ken Gordon, former president of the West Indies Cricket Board.
