TTCB governance under review

The IRC is a three-person committee which will be chaired by Justice Vashiest Kokaram and includes Dr Sheila Rampersad (UWI Lecturer), and former TT CB president Ellis Lewis.

The IRC will look at the TT CB’s constitution and organisational structure as well as study submissions made by stakeholders regarding same. The IRC will be communicating directly with stakeholders on their submissions.

The appointment of the IRC became effective yesterday, and will present its recommendations and findings to the TT CB within 45 days.

There have been calls over the past year to make changes to the TT CB constitution. Among those who have called for changes is the National League Committee (NLC) led by newly elected Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago chairman Dinanath Ramnarine and former West Indies opener Daren Ganga. The NLC is also in an ongoing court battle with the TT CB executive concerning the TT CB election process.

Ramnarine and Ganga were aiming to defeat TT CB president Azim Bassarath at the TT CB elections originally scheduled to take place last October, but the elections were put off because of the court matter.

Ramnarine and Ganga have been advocating for the “One Club, One Vote” System and removing the 12 outgoing votes currently enjoyed by the Azim Bassarath-led administration.

There were also calls for the Tobago Cricket Association, Primary schools, Secondary schools, Umpires Council and women’s cricket to have a seat on the executive of the TT CB, while being full members.

CEO of the TT CB Suruj Ragoonath said hopefully the IRC could help the TT CB and the NLC find a solution. “The idea is to find a way for the parties to resolve the matter that is in the court and the heart of the matter in the court is the constitution of the cricket board,” Ragoonath said.

Ragoonath believes that the IRC would help prove the TT CB is a creditable organisation and committed to moving cricket forward. “We are an accountable and transparent organisation and this is an indication of our confidence in our ability to stand at every level.

We brought in independent people to examine the situation and hopefully they will make recommendations to us that might help our fraternity.” Efforts to contact Ganga for a comment proved futile as he indicated he was in a meeting and failed to answer further calls to his cellphone.