Claiming to be frustrated at almost every turn, Jeff Broomes, a pivotal figure in the administration of cricket at all levels for two decades, says certain elements have made it difficult for him to continue to serve in the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).
Last month, Broomes opted not to stand for re-election on the board of the BCA management, and yesterday the Alexandra School principal said he had been “extremely unhappy” over the last year and was closing his innings on serving at the national level.
He told the WEEKEND?NATION, that attending some BCA?board meetings was like entering a “war zone.”
“There is no anomosity. I just decided I had enough of this. I felt that going to BCA?board meetings was going to a war zone and it’s a waste of my time,” he said.
Broomes said he was not getting the support from some quarters of the BCA and that the programme and plans for the development of youth cricket were not headed in the right direction.
“I have spent a long time as a member of the BCA board of management and I think the time has come for me to say goodbye. I do not like being part of anything just for the sake of being part of it. I felt the last year was the most frustrating time of my life.
“I think the BCA board has some good strategic plans, but I think that implementation has been a significant challenge. Personal relationships with the board have been hurtful and at times very upsetting,” he said.
The former first and third vice-president of the BCA acknowledged there were some personality issues.
“There were some personality clashes. I would rather not be around some people, that is true, but my major issue is, I don’t think that things are going the right way in terms of where our cricket should be,” he said.
Broomes said he was not able to make any significant contribution in the BCA in recent times, saying the team spirit was unlike previous administrations he served in.
“I served on a board very well led by people like Peter Short, Keith Walcott and Cammie Smith, with some exceptional hard workers like Tony King, Owen Estwick and Vernon Williams, but also there were four people I never really had a good relationship with, like Peter Lashley, Charlie Griffith, Seymour Nurse and David Holford, but it was never a personal thing.
“Those guys had a focus on cricket and did everything to enhance the development of the game. I am not sure that I can say the same thing for most of the members of the board of management now,” he said.
Broomes, who managed the Barbados Youth team for nine successive years (1986-94), does not fully endorse the BCA’s junior programme.
“I have been an educator all my life working with youth, I believe that the structure relative to the development of youth cricket is not the right one. We can say that we have some good players at the Under-19 level, like Kraigg Brathwaite, but they didn’t come through from this structure.
“I am saying that our successes over the next two years will drop because I think we are not going in the right direction. I have tried to openly say that but I didn’t think many people listen.
“I think Joel Garner as president is very committed and has his head in the right place, but I don’t think he gets as much support from the members of his board that he deserves,” he said.
