Jagroop takes over as Comets president

The 88-yearold club elected a new president, Dayanand Jagroop, after his predecessor Dinanath Ramnarine decided not to seek re-election after two years at the helm. Jagroop is a long-standing member of the club.

He has been the club’s most successful captain and a prolific batsman, leading Comets from the Central Zone to the National League. In addition, Jagroop also managed and coached various teams in the Comets club for a number of years. He is the last of four brothers who all represented the Club with distinction over the years.

On being elected Jagroop stated, “It is an honour and privilege to lead the Alescon Comets Sports Club for the upcoming year and I look forward to working with the other Executive Members who were also elected at the AGM on Sunday.” Jagroop expressed his thanks to the outgoing president, Dinanath Ramnarine, for leading the club through what he described as “difficult” times.

He said that the club is now back among the most respected and professional sporting organisations in the country and under Ramnarine’s guidance was able to reach two finals and placed in the top half of the league.

Jagroop praised Ramnarine for his selflessness and for strong and vibrant leadership over the last two years. He said that while all the members would have liked Ramnarine to continue as president, they respected his decision to hand over the club’s leadership so that he could concentrate on the good of cricket nationally. Ramnarine will continue as an ordinary member of the Executive so that his vast experience would still be available to Comets.

The former TT and West Indies cricketer, who led the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) for 10 years, was selected by members at the Club’s 75th Anniversary function as the Club’s best cricketer over the years. He was also responsible for developing, implementing and getting the funding for the KFC Youth Coaching programme which is in its 16th year and continues to be an important initiative by the organisation.

The Club’s AGM also made some important recommendations for the future: Increasing the term from one year to three years; term limits for the president of the Club with no more than two consecutive terms; strengthening the disciplinary procedures; increasing the club`s membership with a special focus on youth and women.

In addition, the members approved the audited financial statement and thanked the Executive for the prudent management of the Club’s finances given difficult economic times. They also expressed their satisfaction with the Club’s healthy financial position.

The new Alescon Comets Executive comprises: Dayanand Jagroop - president, Ricky Persad - vice president, Greg Yacoob - secretary, Jairam Ramnarine - treasurer, Faizal Isahak - Assistant Secretary, Davindra Rohit, Rasheed Mohammed, Dinanath Ramnarine, Tara Bansi.

Bansi is the first female to be on the Executive and is in keeping with the Club’s objectives to develop a governance structure that is in accordance with best practices locally and internationally.

Bansi is also a coach at the club and plays an important role in the KFC Youth Coaching programme.