This is not the first occasion on which one of my public lectures has been unethically edited and its contents manipulated to achieve an unpleasant special purpose.
At the University of the West Indies in St. Kitts, I presented an assessment of the public images that surround some of our former captains from Sir Frank Worrell to present. I stated clearly that “these are the images before us.” At no time did I say that I believe these images to be true.
I insisted, however, as a social scientist that I have a duty to analyse these images, how they are constructed and how society reacts to them. I know that Sir Garry Sobers is not a King, Sir Vivian Richards a General, Brian Lara a Prince or Chris Gayle a Don because they are all fine professional cricketers whom I admire, but these metaphoric images are based on public observations and perception.
My references in that lecture were to assess the impact of these images upon each generation. I also stated in my lecture that “it is said that” the WICB is seeking to uproot donmanship from the cricket culture. Again I did not state that the WICB is so doing. I consider Chris Gayle an amazing cricketer whom I personally celebrate but my lecture mentioned the public image that surrounds his leadership.
It saddens me that this manipulation and abuse of my academic work to meet ends clearly not intended are obviously designed to distract from the task at hand, that is diagnosing the crisis in West Indies cricket and developing policies to fix it; also, seeking to assess how we as West Indians will treat with the issue of our cricketers rejecting the West Indies cricket team.
his unfortunate event might satisfy the wishes of those who by their continued actions seek to create conflict and strife in West Indies cricket but they will not succeed.
Editor’s note: Sir Hilary Beckles is the Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies
Bad boy Benn is Bajan he will never ‘pick’ on him……
He is now just trying to cover hie rear, I believe some of his statement were prejudicial and very nasty and that he owes Gayle and apology. It’s people like him who thinks that because he is an intellect that he can just say things and win the hearts of people whom he perceive ignorant of the facts. These are the sort of people who actually have West Indies cricket in the chaos it is today because he is an “intellect” with high regard…
did you read the notes from his lecture and compare them with the article writen about what he said. if you did then you have the right to blast him if he is leing, if you are making your comments based on his personality then we have a serious problem….
Why would Smurfy or any one else for that matter have a serious problem if they find the personality of the pompous Hilary Beckles repulsive? Wasn’t he denigrating the personality of Chris Gayle when he referred to him as a ‘Don” and mentioned him in the same breath with Dudus, a reputed head of a criminal enterprise, the notorious Shower Posse? Incidentally forkit sounds like the same serial poster known as frocktail who gets up early in the mornings and assault the Trinidad Express with all sorts on insular and nonsensical arguments defending the WIBC. Beckles could have chosen to attack his own bad boys Benn and Best, the former currently serving a suspension for bad behavior, instead he picked on Gayle and Marlon Samuels, the latter having served his suspension from the game and has been given an opportunity to get his career back on track . By the way forkit what does “if he is leing” mean?