Finance among challenges facing BVI Cricket Association

By Dean Greenaway

Finance is among a series of challenges facing the new BVI Cricket Association, which was elected on January 30. The BVICA is preparing for the 2003 season which has been set to begin on March 22 with eight teams.

On last Thursday's Sports Beat Magazine Program on ZROD, BVICA president Theodore Skeete outlined the obstacles his association has to overcome.

"The biggest challenge facing the association right now is limited funds," Skeete said. "We move into this year with minimum funds. As a matter of fact, the account is at rock bottom. We have no money."

Each member of the BVICA executive has been given an area of responsibility Skeete said and he's optimistic after an executive meeting and one with team managers. Vice president Valston Graham will oversee local cricket. Secretary/treasurer Dr. Joel Warrican is in charge of youth cricket. Assistant secretary/treasurer and Public Relations Officer St. Clair Amer Lorna Kirwan will head fund raising and marketing. DeCosta Jeffers and Earl Prescott are responsible for ground preparations.

"The whole idea it to get some well needed funds generated with what we anticipate getting from Cable and Wireless and Government," Skeete pointed out. "We just can't sit back and rely on handouts and sponsors. We have to help ourselves."

In addition to the financial crisis, Skeete outlined the other challenges his association has to deal with. "With respect to the game outside that context of money, I would say the biggest challenge is to get the youths remobilized. Get our seniors recommitted and obligated to cricket so that with all the push we have from the executive, if we get the support from all the cricketers and the support from the parents, we should be at a better takeoff point and should be able to level off at a high altitude."

Before the league can begin on March 22, there's a lot to work to be done on the A. O. Shirley Recreation Grounds to bring the field up to playing standards.

"We have a venue which is equally competitive with anywhere in the region in terms of space," Skeete pointed out. "At the moment the field is not in the best condition to play. It is strewn with boulders of different sizes. Cricket and Football players did some raking and cleaning last weekend, but, a lot more need to be done if we are going to get that venue in shape to even play local cricket," he added.

"When you look at the field and the state it is in, it's going to take a lot out of the association in collaboration with the authorities, that is government, to really get it back to a condition that is not only suitable for local cricket but more than that, for Carib Cup Cricket next year and the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies."