Joseph heads W/Cup 2007 technical arm

ST JOHN’S: Clarvis Joseph, who failed in his bid to become the president of the West Indies Cricket Board last September, has been named chairman of CARICOM’s technical committee on preparations for the Cricket World Cup 2007.

Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Lester Bird, chairman of CARICOM’s Prime Ministerial sub-committee on West Indies cricket, announced the appointment on Wednesday. “Clarvis has proven himself on the national and regional level time and time again and I am sure that he will represent us all well on the CARICOM technical committee,” PM Bird remarked. “Notwithstanding our political differences, Clarvis has a passion for the sport, as I do, and I know that he will make a significant contribution,” PM Bird added.

Joseph, who was vice-president of the West Indies Cricket Board, is an outspoken critic of PM Bird’s Antigua Labour Party administration. The Prime Minister said, however, he recognises Joseph’s abilities and the contributions he has made to West Indies cricket and, in the interest of the nation, the region and cricket has selected him to chair the technical committee. PM Bird indicated he had conveyed his wishes by way of telephone to CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Edwin Carrington, and has subsequently written him on the issue.

PM Bird outlined that the CWC 2007 is fundamentally important to the region’s economies and for the further development of the sport in the Caribbean. “It is important that we have the best minds within the region that are knowledgeable about cricket to plan and manage the event,” he said. Joseph served as president of Leeward Islands Cricket Association, president of the Antigua Cricket Association and the first president of the Cricket Council of the Americas.  He is also a member of Antigua and Barbuda CWC 2007 bid committee.