Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), Dr Ernest Hilaire, has once again appealed to the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) to refrain from undermining the process of building a sustainable and constructive relationship between the governing body and WIPA.

Hilaire explained that since assuming the post of CEO, WICB has repeatedly asked for a mature relationship where differences can be aired in the proper forum and not in media.

Hilaire said: “It makes no sense that WIPA continues to openly attack the policies and programmes of the WICB when it cannot get its way and expect a constructive relationship. The pattern is clear, every time WIPA is planning to incite players, cause a disruption or cannot get its way, public differences or unresolved issues are put out in the public domain.”

Whilst, WICB does not want to engage in such a practice, the WICB has no choice but to respond to numerous calls from media houses and the public to provide clarity and explanation.

The WICB explained that while it does not want to discuss players’ injuries in public, WIPA’s explanation that Fidel Edwards followed all advice given to him is untrue. Nevertheless, the WICB has met with Mr Edwards and his legal representative who have agreed to a programme for Mr Edwards to ensure his re-entry to international cricket. The programme included WICB paying for his medical care, a rehabilitation programme under expert supervision to be paid for by WICB and his re-instatement as a retained player once full fitness is attained.

The WICB noted the claim by WIPA that Cricket Australia would have sued the WICB if a second string team was sent to Australia and that the ICC WT20 West Indies 2010 tournament would have been taken away from the WICB. The simple truth is that the rules and regulations of international cricket do not allow such action to be taken and WIPA should appreciate the tremendous support that the WICB has from the international cricket fraternity.

In responding to the claim that the WICB is not transparent, Hilaire pointed out that WIPA should be the last organisation to accuse WICB of not being transparent, noting that WIPA’s President is also the CEO, while other players unions are headed by the captain or a senior player.

Hilaire further noted that players have complained about the manner in which WIPA’s elections are held, the absence of financial statements from WIPA, and that they have no say in the policy and actions of WIPA.

Hilaire asked: “How can WIPA claim to be transparent when it is not clear what is or who owns WIPMACOL, why the players do not own their rights anymore, how were the players rights able to be owned by WIPMACOL, why WIPA is informing WICB that players cannot sign contracts since WIPMACOL owns their rights, and why is it that players are not sure who really represents them.”

Hilaire appealed to Mr Ramnarine, “for WICB and WIPA to focus on resolving its list of outstanding items including the Special Arbitration and finalisation of a new MOU which should have been concluded by December 31^st. These are critical matters and WICB is looking for good faith and commitment from WIPA to clearing the list of outstanding matters for the sake of West Indies cricket.”