Mediator stumbles in row

A MISUNDERSTANDING involving the mediator appointed by the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control to resolve the row between local umpires threatens to throw the upcoming 2006 cricket season in turmoil. Disgruntled officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Umpires and Scorers Council (TTCUSC), said to represent about 75 percent of the membership, recently formed a rebel group called ACUTT,  the Association of Cricket Umpires of Trinidad and Tobago. ACUTT have demanded recognition from the Cricket Board but instead a mediator was appointed to examine the issues that have led to the current impasse. On Monday, businessman Ronnie Ramcharan was appointed from the Mediation Unit of the Chamber of Commerce, and he met members of ACUTT to hear their side of the story.

However Harry Mahabal, the interim chairman of the break-away faction revealed yesterday that Ramcharan wanted to meet his association and discuss matters that did not concern them. He did not elaborate on what those problems were. Mahabal said it may have been a misunderstanding by the Cricket Board who he believes instructed the mediator on what issues should be on the agenda with the new group. He said however that Ramcharan has scheduled another meeting with both parties (the TTCUSC and ACUTT) this week to thrash out the problems facing both associations. The thorny issues stem from earlier disagreements between members of  TTCUSC, who showed signs of disunity leading up to the election of officers of the Cricket Board in September. The organisation had made public their support of former West Indies wicketkeeper Deryck Murray for the post of president, which he won, but other members were backing Dudnath Ramkessoon for the job and criticised the executive’s position on the election.

Mahabal said over the years umpires have been treated badly and are deeply disappointed that ACUTT have not supported their cause and worked harder for their benefit. It is understood that umpires are paid just $60 a day for standing in the broiling sun all day and only get their renumeration  after the cricket season has ended. Added to this they are subject to harsh criticism and threatened with bodily harm on occasions for their decisions on the field of play. Mahabal said the majority of umpires in the North Zone, North East Zone and South support the new group and called for the TTCBC to recognise them. He criticised the flagging TTCUSC whose administration he said has been tarnished with nepotism and unfair treatment of their members. Meanwhile Forbes Persad, secretary of the Cricket Board said that they took a decision to appoint Ramcharan to work out the problems between the parties. The letter appointing the mediator from the board that was signed by Murray, and stated that issues by the warring parties should be raised with Ramcharan.

It is also hoped that the umpires will co-operate fully in the process in order to bring about an amicable resolution to the issues which the board said will be in the best interest of Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies cricket. But Persaud said the Cricket Board stands behind the TTCUSC who have been in existence for the past 49 years and will be celebrating their 50th anniversary next year. But Lalman Kowlessor, vice-president of the TTCUSC is bracing for the worse case scenario concerning the impasse so close to the upcoming local cricket season. Kowlessar said yesterday that he is expecting umpires from three zones — North, North-East and South Zones to take strike action next year. But he said his association was in a position to deal with the expected reduction in the amount of umpires that will turn out for matches in the domestic season. “I think the repercussions will not be as severe as people are making it out to be,” Kowlessor said yesterday. He said TTCUSC has already asked the respective zones for a list of the umpires who will be available to officiate in next year’s competitions.