Jamaica’s Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller is demanding an apology from the West Indies Cricket Board for its statement issued by earlier this week which she has described as rude.
“They owe me an apology,” Mrs Simpson Miller declared, referring to the WICB statement, which said that the prime minister should have spoken to the Jamaica Cricket Board.
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It is so sad. If we had maintained the quality of our cricket we would have matches to spare. but now Hardly any team wants to play against us. And with the board kicking the best players out of the team and bringing in incompetents like Sammy or novices whose entire regional team can hardly bat out 2 sessions vs a weakened Jamaican bowling attack I doubt Australia are very excited about the series next month. Reminds me of the team WICB selected after the strike in 09 before Bangladesh series If Australia didn’t threaten to cancel the tour in November maybe Floyd Reifer & co would still be playing. That is the type of embarrassment WICB enjoys
The condescending manner in which the WICB responded to the comments made by the Jamaican prime minister is extremely disrespectful to not only her but to all Jamaicans! It is quite obvious that they dont believe in meeting to come to a decision that is amicable to all involved until they have no other alternative. They have a ‘my way or the highway, take it or leave it’ kind of attitude. Only incompetents and unintelligent persons or persons who believe what they say is the gospel & they are above being questioned would actually make such a poor excuse for an excuse reach the media. I strongly doubt Weather has never stopped Sabina Park from hosting a match in series against England, Australia or India in this time of year before. In any other Test Playing nation of consequence this & many other releases by the WICB would have been torn to shreds by the media. But here we choose to tolerate their constant supply of dishonesty & drivel
Only an imbecile of the highest order would believe the excuse given by the WICB for not allotting a match from the Australian tour to Sabina Park
. Implying that a match in March /April which is during the dry season in Kingston is more likely to be affected by inclement weather than a match in Guyana or Dominica is asinine to say the least. As president of an International Cricket Board Dr Julian Hunte must be able to come up with a better excuse than that:twisted: 
!
chupes to all of alllu
is it that jamaicans think that gaye can do what d heaven he wants because he making plenty money ?
no respect for our boy SAMMY
dem big islanders think that west indies cricket is theirs
shame shame shame
their committment is to the I P L and B P L and not WINDIES CRICKET just see the effort they putting in they lift their game thats where their focus is so lets forget about GAYLE and focus on those who love WINDIES….money breeds arrogance and we are seeing it. GAYLE IS NOT ABOVE OUR GAME!
We are so myopic. The JA PM a woman has shamed the feeble WCIB.Julian Hunte protection of Sammy a fellow St.Lucian like himself is diabolical. I am a Lucian and have seen that Sammy is incompetent as Captain. Our cricket is the laughing stock of the cricketing world. This all started when Lara, a great batsman became captain; and fiasco with the kniving of Adams by Lara on the air flight and his subsequent bust up and expulsion of Franklyn Rose. Compounded by Lara’s treatment of DA’s Stanford. There has been a vendetta against JA cricketers too. The board needs to be purged of these old guard and oblivious old men who has loss touch with the real world, which equates to WI being on par with Bangladesh, ZIM and Ireland…
The state of WI Cricket has nothing to do woth Sammy. It all have to do with the ability of all our players and the management team which is the worst that I have seen.
We are so myopic. The JA PM a woman has shamed the feeble WCIB.Julian Hunte protection of Sammy a fellow St.Lucian like himself is diabolical. I am a Lucian and have seen that Sammy is incompetent as Captain. Our cricket is the laughing stock of the cricketing world. This all started when Lara, a great batsman became captain; and fiasco with the kniving of Adams by Lara on the air flight and his subsequent bust up and expulsion of Franklyn Rose. Compounded by Lara’s treatment of DA’s Stanford. There has been a vendetta against JA cricketers too. The board needs to purged of these old guard and oblivious old men who has loss touch with the real world, which equates to WI being on par with Bangladesh, ZIM and Ireland…
how many remember the west indies federation in the 50’s.when eric gairy said :one from ten remains zero.
Very interesting observation! Jamaica, with its 2.7 million population, might feel it is big enough to field its own team. Image them battling it out against the rest of Caricom(some 3 million people). Now that is a match I would cherish but I suppose I’ll just have to keep on dreaming!
You got your history a bit wrong. It was Eric Williams from Trinidad.
I have been a student of the sport of cricket for three decades but I often stay away from debates like this one because of the pure emotion involved.
Most of those criticising the Jamaican prime minister here do it purely on emotion. Many of you have attempted to make it a Dominica vs Jamaica thing. Nowhere in her presentation did Portia Simpson Miller state that Jamaica should have hosted the game that Dominica is hosting. Like every other Caribbean person, she wanted a game in her country. Nothing wrong with that. This is not a Jamaica vs Dominica issue, but rather, a case of what the current leadership of the WICB is doing to West Indies cricket.
Many of you might not know or recall, but the man who heads West Indies cricket today, headed Windward Islands cricket for many, many years. Years after he left, the Windwards are still struggling to return to life. This is a reality that we have to deal with.
Since Julian Hunte became president of the WICB, West Indies cricket has been racing towards the pits at uncontrollable speed. Then he chose his compatriot, Ernest Hilaire, as the CEO. One of Hilaire’s first acts was to insult the players by calling them uneducated, unable to compete on the world stage effectively, mercenary and incapable of improvement. And that was in the middle of a series against South Africa. Do you expect the players to have any respect for Hilaire after that unprovoked and senseless comment? On the same panel that he made that accusation, he attacked the under 19 players saying half of them could barely read or write. These are the people he hired. These are the people he expected to go out there and make us proud. Yet, he insults them publicly like that. This attitude by Hilaire is what drags West Indies cricket through the mud, not Portia Simpson Miller’s comments.
It was Hilaire who hired an incompetent coach in Ottis Gibson, a man, so insecure, that he fears the performers, particularly the established ones on the team. So together with Hilaire, they set out to get rid of Gayle, Chanderpaul and Sarwan. Gibson, a man with fewer than five test innings, insisting on telling Chanderpaul how to bat and, after Hilaire led an attack on the senior players, Chanderpaul, normally a very quiet person, demanded an apology. You can read Chanderpaul’s letter by clicking on the link below. Chanders also had to remind both Hilaire and Gibson that he has faced the best bowlers in the world and he knew what he was doing.
So while the people charged with developing West Indies cricket put all their energy into destroying the game, they are much too coward to accept responsibility. So they try to place blame on players like Gayle. Chris Gayle has been virtually banished from West Indies cricket because he dares stand up to Ernest Hilaire. The good doctor, so uncertain in his own skin, can’t deal with it, so he keeps moving the proverbial goal post.
To those of you who think that Gayle should not have exposed the incompetence and injustices that take place in the WICB, please understand that Gayle is a professional. He is paid to perform and he should not and ought not be silenced. Mature people are supposed to accept this, very much like the Los Angeles Lakers management accepted that Kobe Bryant had a right to criticize them over the handling of the basketball team.
Unless the WICB changes, the same WICB that commissioned a report by PJ Patterson, then dumped it because they did not want to implement the recommendations, unless there are changes, including the resignation of Hunte and Hilaire- who is leaving anyway, our cricket won’t stand a chance. And instead of us demanding better from the board, we will continue to expend energy in emotional discussions about where test matches ought to be played.
WRead Shiv Chanderpaul’s open letter last year to Ernest Hilaire.
http://wicricnews.com/blog/chanderpaul-challenges-wicbs-alligations
@Anon Again, well said……finally a comment with sense…..Thanks Anon……
The Jamaican Pm said that she will try to get other caribbean leaders to rally with. Can she be serious! Who are the leaders we have that care about sports? These are not the days when we were blessed to have real cricket loving PM’s like Patrick John, Eddison James, keith Mitchell, Morman Manley and Edward Seaga, Bird and others. This is the era of leaders like Mr. Skeritt, kenny Anthony, Spencer and others who are just concerned about personal wealth.
At a time when Dominica is hosting test cricket, the spirit of cricket in Dominica is at its worse. You take a drive from north to south, east to west and the condition of the grounds will speak volume apart from Possie, thanks to the late Rosie.
As for the Viellecase constituency, never in the history of politics have we not had good community league cricket sponsored by former parlreps where young men of different villages competed for a trophy. At a time when we have test cricket in Dominica, with a young rich PM from the Viellecase constituency, and a Windward Island President in the person of Emanuel Nanton who is from Portsmouth, yet they (he and Skerrit) have not been able to come up with a plan to revive cricket in the north. What a shame!
So if Portia Simpson is depending on people like Skeritt to help her save Windies cricket, she has already failed.
Chris Gale has nothing to apologise for. He was interviewed, he gave his views; he spoke about things that were happening with the WICB and only after the WICB had themselves criticised the seasoned players. Get Gale on the team and stop all this childish nonsense. Only primary school children behave in such manner. Grow up WICB.
I agree with you – Lady PM 100%. Standing boldly with and for your countrymen. We could take a page out your book in dealing with each other in Dominica. FOR GAYLE ALL THE WAY. FIRE THE WICB. Total waste of time Board
WOW, WOW, I could only wonder if Barack Obama would have steped in if Kobe was not selected for the Olympics. Our priorities are messed up. That’s why we can never get anywhere as black people.
Good Madam Prime Minister….maybe you should send the W.I.C.B to hell.They deserve to go to hell.They have made all poor judgements and make our Windies players look like loosers.They insist Gayle makes an appology….now is the time to demand one from them.
Most of you are attacking the Jamaican leader because a)You all don’t realize that WICB will eventually kill cricket in the region if we don’t speak out. b)Because the test was given to Dominica all you just conclude that everybody is against us, which is rather unfortunate. However, the reality is, this present WICB members have put our cricket in a very low state.
I am a proud Dominican and happy that we were given a test match against those Aussies,but I am disappointed that Jamaica was not given a test against Australia and also the manner in which Cris Gayle was treated. My reasons are, Australia is no doubt the best team in the world today, and Jamaica has become our best wicket and that’s where we have been beating oponents of late because of the nature of our their wicket and quite a few of our players are from JA and are familiar with the condition. It’s no longer Barbados since they are no longer producing quality players and playing on dead and turning Queens park oval, without Lara, is like playing away from home field advantage. Also, Like Courtney Waltch, cricket has to be the winner and we cannot afford to have Gayle out and say we gonna compete. Cris Gayle is one of the few batsmen in world cricket that really intemedates any bowler, captain, and test team. We need to understand that and find a way to bring him in once he is available. Gayls is not going to aplogize and he should not. If the board wants to teach him a lesson then put a lufty fine on him and when he has to leave Windies to play T20, then charge him a portion of his contract. In that case, he would go and make his money and we could get some of his money to help run the game in the region. But to tell that he has to bow down to these murderers of our cricket, is pure nonsense! I am with you Ms. Portia Simpson because I love my cricket
you really have no clue what is happening with WI cricket. Portia Simpson is way out of line!!!!!!!
So because he can bat, he can say what he want. By the way, learn to spell intimidate before you comment please.
I think the jamaicans should abandon west indies cricket and have their own independent team. And let the coach and the board members of the wicb go to hell. Since they have enough talent to produce a team better than the west indies team anyday
@tell us the truth — Hmmmm……someone’s imagination is again out of control and running wild. Some persons are intent on demonizing the WICB just for the sake of their self proclaimed messiah ie Chris Gayle.
For those who are interested, here is a link to listen to excerpts of that now famous interview Chris Gayle did on KLAS radio in Jamaica which got him into this present predicament with the WICB – http://wicricnews.com/blog/audio-chris-gayles-interview-on-klas
Once that board is at the helm of West Indies Cricket, Cricket in the Caribbean will continue to be rock bottom. Sammy is the worst Captain in the history of West Indies Cricket….One needs to take a look at Cricket in the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands and it is easy to conclude why West Indies Cricket on a whole is in such a mess…The Vindictive, Chauvinistic attitude by the officials in those islands, that unfortunately happens to be at the helm of West Indies cricket too are responsible for it. It also leaves a lot to be desired why those bloggers who are criticizing the Jamaican PM, don’t lobby with the same vigor for Kavem Hodge to be included in the Windward Island team…
Well said….i am not for what the Jamiacan PM said but u hit the nail on the head
“One needs to take a look at Cricket in the Leeward Islands and Windward Islands and it is easy to conclude why West Indies Cricket on a whole is in such a mess”
so basically you are trying to say if we look at the big islands we’ll see how cricket should be run?? and so what about Guyana.
I am not old enough to know WI in their hay days but old enough to have seen us at the end of an era and the beginning of another when we were struggling to stay aflot and our subsequent demise.
During those times when CEO,President and the whole 9 yards were from the “Big Islands” was West Indies cricket at the top. now Hillair and Hunte are from the “small islands” we still are not showing progress.
as far as i see it, its a viscious cycle, next we may see Captain, CEO and president from a different big island and i hope wi will suddenly hit #1.
But if we can look into our past and see the future, it shows nothing changing as long as island politics continue to play a vital role in out cricket.
i think if you all read the whole story… most missed some important part….
“The Jamaican leader had also questioned the WICB’s decision to overlook Sabina Park for the Australian leg of the 2012 Home Series”
don’t be surprised if the rest of the cricket region gets jealous of Dominica’s popularity in W.I cricket….
What Jealousy you talking about??? West Indies cricket is rock bottom and you talking about Dominica’s popularity in West Indies cricket…..My question is why is Kavem Hodge, Dominica most promising cricketer not included in the Windward Island Team????Lobby for that and the future of West Indies cricket, not some petty decision to award Dominica a Cricket match when Australia visit the Caribbean..I personally think awarding Dominica the match is a good experiment…but look at the bigger picture, that is the WICB developing the young talent in the Caribbean and selecting the best possible West Indies team at all times….time to STOP the pettiness in the Caribbean, if we truly want to move forward as a region.
ITS ALREADY HAPPENING.
What these people think – everything have to pass thru Jamaica? I have no problem with Jamaicans per se, but please, we small-islanders are people too. For years, decades ALL these matches used to go to you so-called “big” countries. True, a number of us didn’t have the facilities to handle a series like that, but we have now, why we cannot benefit? Why you have to get a portion? You doh tired get portion? sakway gyas man.
Thats why this whole CARICOM idea is dying; these so-called “big” islands have their nose in the sky, behaving like we not on their level and the only thing they want from us is our money – for us to buy their things. Guess what – the world changing. We want our portion too. I’ll tell you this; yes we may have problems, but I much more prefer we “small” islanders, i.e. OECS countries, stick together and help each other move forward because these “big” islands will not. Leave them in their mess, lets move forward as one BIG group.
i shake your big toe
Oh please, get off your frigging high horse.
WICB was rude! Why you in WICB business? Fix your crime at home. So what was Chris Gayle? RUDER! He feel he bigger than d game. Let him take what he get.
“WICB was rude! Why you in WICB business?”. The WICB business is Skeritt business, it is Kenny Anthony business, Portia Simpson business. it is all of us business. Hhhhmmm. could you tell us which cricketing facility in the Caribbean is owned by the WICB. They are all owned by governments and by ext the taxpayers. Gayle was not rude he was critical of the board. He should not appologise.
leave them fight… more cricket for d.a lol… one ting that j/ca p.m looking hot eh hhmmm
Boy,I wish our ego’s matched our economies! I’m far more concerned that we have adequate facilities for visitors coming to Dominica for the Windies match against Australia later this year. Haven’t heard a word yet about any arrangements being put in place for this event that could truly put us on the map!
But what foolishness!! Some of these Caribbean leaders cannot even fulfill the basics of the jobs for which they were elected but they want to meddle in other business.
How was the WICB rude to you Miss Jamaican PM? Is it because the WICB stated that you may not have been properly informed about certain things by the Jamaican Cricket Association? Was the WICB also rude to ask how would you have handled a similar situation if a ‘Gayle-type incident’ occurred in your cabinet?
Miss PM since you want the WICB to apologize to you, why don’t you also in the same breath ask Chris Gayle to apologize to the WICB for the denigrating comments he made?
yea,, i’m still trying to figure what was rude about the WICB response.
and i always wondered why the JCA and or Jamaican gov’t never took a public stance on the Gayle issue. now Mrs. Simpson-Miller does make a stand its a big drama
The WICB has nothing to apologize for on this issue. It is so typical of these caribbean leaders of the “so called” bigger countries get “so full of themselves”. It is my country first and everything and everybody else later. They blindly use all kinds of methods to illustrate to us why there can be no real integration in the caribbean. Arrogance and selfishness to the core would be their mantra. They will support bad behaviour of their country folks but condemn others. Some of these folks are not capable of leading their countries but will advise others on how it is done. Give me a break!!!
EXACTLY – I could shake your big toe right now
when prime minster skerrit anounced that the third test would take place in dominica,he was criticized locally,some thought this was not his place to make that statement,now it is plain to see that it is matter of economics,portia simpson is defending here share of the pie,good job skerrit is a dog eat dog carbbean fight for yours always.
forreal, I creticized Mr.Skerrit for speaking too soon, and I said that it was not his place to break this news during a political rally. I still maintain my position. As the PM, I am quite sure that he was happy to see the Aussies at home but he should have held his peace and let the Cricket Board break the news. The manner in which the match was switched from Guyana to Dominica required some tactfullness and deplomacy and since the pm is weak in these areas, he should let the WICB and our local board deal with it since the board had already informed the public through their web page that the domestic games in which Guyana was suppose to host had been moved to Dominica and a decision regarding the test match would be made later. It was because the Pm took it out people like Gregory Shillingford was blamed for supporting Windward cricket instead of Leeward where he manages, and Mr Ramnarine said that the WICB disrespected players and association and decided to switch the game to DA without informing them. Ramnarine also said that he got to know the match was switched to DA by the lips of Prime Minister Skerritt during a political meeting.
Portia Simmonds is peaking out after the JCA had already lashed out on the WICB. She did not start it at a political meeting like our PM did.