Moontown

Former West Indies fast bowler Kenneth “Flipper” Benjamin is making a call for the Caricom (Caribbean community) heads of governments to launch an investigation into West Indies cricket.

Speaking on ZDK’s Sportsline programme last Friday night, Benjamin said it is time for Caricom to investigate overall operations of West Indies cricket and not just the regional governing body for the sport, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

“I believe it is about time that Caricom has an inquiry into West Indies cricket. You cannot have an inquiry into the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). You have to have an inquiry into West Indies cricket and that is the difference. That is what India and Sri Lanka did when they pushed aside the people running cricket in those countries and took it over.

When you do that, what you would find now is that you would set up a committee comprising people who are outside of the board because you don’t want people inquiring about themselves,” Benjamin said.

“Now, each island would have their people inquiring into the cricket in their respective island because the West Indies Cricket Board really doesn’t own any ground anywhere and they don’t own any cricketers, they don’t really own anything.

“Therefore, I think it is time that Caricom considers this and have an enquiry into West Indies cricket.”

Pointing to the Patterson Report, which was commissioned by the WICB Governance Committee on West Indies cricket some years ago, Benjamin said an independent inquiry is needed to avoid a conflict of interest.

The final Patterson Report was presented to the WICB in October 2007. The Governance Committee at the time included, P.J. Patterson, who is a former Prime Minister of Jamaica, Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr. Ian McDonald. The then WICB Corporate Secretary Tony Dyal also served as secretary to the committee. Benjamin said Caricom is an ideal independent body that can be used to investigate West Indies cricket.

“The P.J Paterson Committee was formed by the WICB and it took its report back to the WICB who should have acted on its findings. Now, if Caricom has an independent inquiry into West Indies cricket, they would select their own committee to do their investigations and then that committee would then report back to Caricom,” Benjamin pointed out. “This is where Caricom can say to the WICB that they don’t have any grounds, they don’t own any players so we are going to write to the ICC (International Cricket Council) if we cannot get it right.

“It is about time the Caricom governments act. Caricom should tell the WICB that the cricket in this region belongs to the people of the Caribbean and we represent the people so we are taking a stand.”

Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer is ready to meet the challenge of the opposition Antigua Labour Party to debate the economy.

He threw out a challenge of his own during an explosive meeting of the House of Representatives on Tuesday evening, which was taken up mostly by opposition members posing a variety of questions to ministers of government.

“I hear them ranting and raving about debate, we are prepared to challenge them on a debate on the economy of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Spencer said while delivering a statement to the House.

His challenge was greeted by a chorus of hands slapping tables from the opposite side of the house as ALP members seemed eagerly ready to engage the United Progressive Party government on the burning issue of the economy.

“We laying down the gauntlet now. You want debate, we will debate the economy of Antigua and Barbuda,” Prime Minister Spencer stated.

Prime Minister Spencer indicated that the Antigua Labour Party members will have to meet his side on its own terms for the debate.

“You not setting the agenda. We are the government, whether you like it or not. We are the government of the day,” he affirmed.

MP for St. Mary’s North Molwyn Joseph had been seeking to get Parliament to discuss the economy as a matter of urgent public importance. But his request was reportedly denied by House Speaker D. Giselle Isaac-Arrindell.

It set the stage for confrontation in a Parliament where the UPP is holding on to a slim majority and Joseph responded angrily during the statement by Spencer, who repeatedly blamed the previous ALP administration for the country’s current economic woes.

Isaac-Arrindell had to enforce her authority in forcing opposition members to keep quiet while PM Spencer addressed the House.

Spencer noted that an approach to the IMF is a must, confirming earlier indications by the AntiguaSun that the government was preparing to engage the lending institution.

“Let me make it clear that this is our programme. In October 2009, IMF representatives are expected to visit Antigua where they will meet with government officials to commence negotiating the terms of their assistance. Under this fund assisted programme, the IMF will not prescribe structural adjustment conditions but rather agree with the government on the various targets established in our home-grown programme,” Prime Minister Spencer explained.

“The fiscal consolidation programme is one component of the government’s National Economic and Social Transformation (NEST) Plan. Another essential element of the NEST Plan is a social transformation programme.

“As such, the government’s fiscal consolidation programme is fashioned in a way to ensure that social safety nets are maintained so that the most vulnerable in society continue to be protected. The IMF has taken note of the importance of these social safety nets, and has been working with other countries to protect and even increase social spending,” he added.

He said the public will be informed about the details and results of the government’s negotiations with the IMF.

“Over the coming weeks we will share with you the details of the fiscal consolidation programme and the overall NEST Plan, the likely impact on the population and, as soon as we complete our negotiations, the amount and terms of the fund assistance that is to be provided to Antigua and Barbuda.

“It should be noted that this engagement with the IMF does not only provide access to resources from the IMF. By embarking on this fund assisted programme, Antigua and Barbuda will be able to finally deal with its debt to Paris Club creditors. This group of creditors includes the United States, the United Kingdom, Brazil and France.

“These countries do not engage in debt restructuring with any country unless it is officially engaged with the IMF. All of these creditors lent monies to the ALP administration for various purposes and should have been repaid decades ago,” PM Spencer said.

KINGSTON, Jamaica – There have been mixed reactions to Tuesday’s announcement by Prime Minister Bruce Golding that one of the major highways in the country dubbed Highway 2000 is to be named in honour Jamaica’s track star Usain Bolt.

Speaking in Parliament, Golding said Bolt will also be given the country’s fourth highest honour, the Order of Jamaica (OJ) and appointed Ambassador at Large with full diplomatic status.

While many have lauded the news, lecturer in Communication Studies at the University of Technology (UTECH), Martin Henry stated that some of the honours being bestowed on Bolt should be reserved for someone who has delivered a lifetime of distinction.

“Bolt is 23 years old, (anything can) happen over the next 40 years of his life in terms of future accomplishments which he may or may not have ….. certainly when you name outstanding things after outstanding people, you’ll want this kind of high credibility factor to be retained,” he said.

According to Henry, the highway should be named in honour of former Prime Minister PJ Patterson.

“…..If anybody deserves to have their name attached to the highway it should be the retired politician, (who’s) still fit and able but has a long track record of political accomplishments and who was the principal architect of this system,” Henry said.

Concerning the national award, Henry believes that the National Awards Committee should look at a new category to honour achievers such as Bolt.

Meanwhile, it is being reported that questions have been asked about the government’s authority to rename Highway 2000 as the highway is still under the control of the French firm Bouygues and permission may have to be sought in order for the name to be changed.

Bouygues is part owner of the highway and has a 35-year concession on its development.

SPLIT PEAS AND RICE; MACARONI PIE

SAUTEED BREADFRUIT; CANDIED SWEET POTATO

GRILLED TUNA; FRIED KING FISH

BAKED PORK; BAKED CHICKEN

BBQ SPARERIBS; TOSSED SALAD

COLE SLAW; LAMB STEW

FISH GRAVY

THE BANK of Jamaica will be issuing a high-security $5,000 banknote on September 24. The note will be legal tender for all monetary transactions, and will complement the existing family of banknotes, namely $50, $100, $500 and $1,000. The portrait of the late former prime minster of Jamaica, the Right Honourable Hugh Lawson Shearer, appears on the front of the note.

The reverse features blossoms of the frangipani and an aerial view of Highway 2000.

Normal operations are scheduled to resume at the University of the West Indies today, following the lifting of the restriction on social activities which had been imposed in the wake of an outbreak of the influenza A (H1N1) virus on the campus.

“The University Health Centre has indicated that the situation continues to improve with a significant decline in the number of persons presenting with flu-like symptoms, and the majority have had a full recovery within 36 hours,” the UWI said in a release yesterday.

“Members of staff, students and the wider community are reminded that, while the threat has abated, they still have a personal responsibility to help slow the spread of the flu virus through regular washing of hands with soap and water, the use of hand sanitisers, and the proper disposal of tissue with respiratory mucus.”