Cricket commentator Joseph Thomas said he has serious issues about naming the Players Pavilion after Cricket Umpire Billy Doctrove.
“Through the history of cricket in the world, never have there been any facility named after any official and my suggestion is based on this historical fact,” Thomas told a press briefing this morning at the Waterfront and Allied Workers Union (WAWU) office in Roseau.
The Players’ Pavilion at Windsor Park will be named after Doctrove later this year. He will be the only non-cricketer whose name will be affixed to the main structures at the ground.
Doctrove, 54, is currently the only umpire from the West Indies serving on the international elite panel.
“Billy Doctrove has an outstanding career. If Dominica wants to be the first to do it then so be it, but I still have a problem with the Players Pavilion being named after him,” Thomas noted.
Sports Minister Justina Charles had indicated that the three structures that ring the western side of the ground at the stadium would officially be named ahead of two One-Day Internationals between West Indies and South Africa in May, The Sun had reported.
Thomas has also expressed alarm over what he said is the failure of government to officially name the stands at the Windsor Park Stadium.
Thomas had sounded the call several months ago, but he said the matter is even more alarming because soon tickets for the two ODIs will go on sale.
Thomas said the relevant authorities should make public their intentions for the names of the different areas for the stadium.
He suggested naming the Players Pavilion after Dominica’s first test cricketer, deceased Grayson Shillingford, the South Stand- Adam Sanford, West Stand- Irvin Shillingford, North Stand- Caleb Laurent and Lockhart Sebastian, East Stand- Augustus Gregoire and Val Felix, among others.
– DNO Correspondent
oh oh…i even forget you mentioned Adam Sanford…..As much as i respect him as a friend and cricketer,,,,he did not get to the West Indies team on a Dominica or Windward ticket,,,,,,Would you name a stand the DeFreitas stand?..
Ok joe….how about naming the Windsor Park Stadium……The Joseph Thomas Stadium?///…Chuppes
To Mr Billy-ite – who are you to try and belittle Irvine Shillingford? Had not been for Irvine and Jeff Charles back in the sixties and seventies Dominica would have never won the Winward Island title consecutively in those two decades. Everybody depended solely on Irvine’s batting prowess to have always put us in a commanding position. That he answered to gracefully. Once Irvine got out, everybody turned their transistor radio off. Where were you and what do you know of Irvine? Nothing. So shut your mouth. Just like Jeff Charles – Jeff is not at the mike and everybody turns his or her radio off. These two guys took cricket in Dominica to the highest level ever in the history of cricket in Dominica and Winward islands by extension. Once these two guys disappeared from the scene, cricket in Dominica has been at its lowest ebb everin the history of Dominica. And by the way, Irvine did break Clem John’s record by scoring 184 not out against Grenada in 1976. When Clem scored 177 against St Lucia in 1965, Irvine responded by scoring 168 against St Vincent in 1966. What do you know about Irvine, Mr Billy-ite?
While everyone seems to be on Joseph Thomas’ back for his stance, we are all missing a very salient point in this matter. The Pavilion is a PLAYERS Pavilion. It is not an OFFICIALS Pavilion neither is it supposed to be just a cricket pavilion. Isn’t is so obvious that it should be named after a player?
While I respect Billy Doctrove and honor him for the position he has reached in cricket ( as an official and not as a player), he has not represented Dominica, Combined Islands, Windward Islands or West Indies as a player, therefore the naming of the players pavilion should go to someone who has proven himself as a cricketer/player and not an official.
Search the Caribbean and all other cricket stadiums around the world and see if you can find one with a players pavilion named after an official. Are we reinventing the wheel or are we becoming a laughing stock? here have been past cricket officials who were more outstanding than Billy Doctrove , but how many of them have their names on players pavilion. England , the originator of cricket has no stadium or stand in a stadium named after an official but we think that Joseph Thomas is disrespecting Billy.
Are those other officials all over the world being disrespected or does Billy require respect that the others do not?
We need to use reasoning and commonsense and not just our personal preferences.
@ Billy-ite this is not an Irving Shillingford matter but I disagree with you when you said “.. but how much has he given back to Dominica’s youth?” . This man served as Sports Officer in the Ministry of Sports which I think in itself is honorable. Could have done probably alot of other things but chose to serve in this area.
I support 100% that Mr. Billy Doctrove is unique – the one and only in Dominica right now and he will most likely be for a longtime (sorry aspiring umps) therefore I see this being unique situation as he being the only umpire in the pavillion – WELL DESERVED.
Let us not try to dishonor or berate people for the sole purpose of venting or throwing our support behind Mr. Billy Doctrove.
Mr. Billy Doctrove you deserve it – what else can we give you – offer the Billy Doctrove cricket commentators award oops!!
On a real, I am seriously disgusted at this man’s tactics and the people on here who support his point of view. Billy Doctrove has done more to bring a good name to Dominica than Joseph Thomas or even Irving Shillingford. Before anyone jumps on my back, here me out. Billy has had a humble beginning and used every opportunity to advance the level of sports in the cricket and football areas. Irving Shillingford played cricket yes, but how much has he given back to Dominica’s youth? How much has he been an ambassador to Dominica? How much has Adam Sanford contributed? I can understand the call for TK, Clem John, Grayson and others, but in the effort to give our heroes their honour while alive, Billy more than deserves this accolade. How can we come on here and decry the man’s efforts? Billy was never completely supported amongst people he worked with initially when he had to leave the Sports Division and travel regularly. He had to eventually give up his job at home because his employers were not willing to compromise. As far as I know, many other people who are in bands for example are given time off to go overseas but he was not granted that because you could say he had “haters” in high places! Billy Doctrove can easily take his family and move elsewhere like every other person who has some money in their accounts and opportunities available to them because Dominica has “nothing to offer them”. Yet this hardworking father and husband who has to sacrifice leaving his family for long periods on end and who truly represents our country with no scandal and tales of corruption, his name is now the object of the “crab in a barrel” mentality. I will be home for the cricket and I will make it my duty to sit in the Billy Doctrove Stands in honour of a great Dominican hero. Hope Lennox Honeychuch has started writing the history chapter for our children to use in Social Studies classes. One Love
I see clearly that you lack reasoning and common sense. Has not Irving Shilingford been a sports officer with the Ministry of Sports. Who was he influencing then, was it adults or youths?
Your talk about what Irving has done for youths is useless. What has Billy Doctrove done for the youths more than what Irving has done? Has he been a youth cricket coach, or a youth sports instructor, or a youth cricket selector or a youth cricket manager. He has not influenced youth cricket in any of these ways. So go and do some more cricket research and you will find out that Irving has done more for cricket in Dominica, Combined Islands, Windward Islands and West Indies more than Billy has done as an Umpire.
I am happy you mention Lennox Honeychurch? Has Billy done more for the youths or for Dominica by extension than Lennox? It is a big NO. But would you suggest that the players pavilion be named after Lennox Honeychurch? Where is your sense of rationality?
I find this issue is getting unneccesaryly ugly and I find it no longer amusing. I am of the view that not because it is a players pavilion that it is supposed to be named after a player. In the case of other countries they have players that have reached enviable heights on the International arena.Can we honestly say that any of our players have done like wise? We have a unique situation facing us in Dominica where the only cricketing individual that have been consistently performing at acceptable standards,again on the International arena is Doctrove ,an umpire. That is why in my humble opinion he has to be given pride of place at the Windsor Park.The other countries have decorated their “star performers”who happen to be players ,in our case our “star performer” is an umpire so nothing is wrong with the Doctrove pavilion
Remember none of our players have played more than ten tests so they are definetly not house hold names beyond our shores.
All our opinions will never be the same but I find it is an insult for someone to disagree with Doctrove’s name being submitted and go to the extent as to call a press conference to register his disagreement. Does any ones opinion have more weight than others? I get the impression that Thomas is adamant that HIS opinion is THE one that counts. I beg to differ as I beleive that Doctrove has proved himself INTERNATIONALLY,in a much more emphatic manner that any of our players and that fact cannot be ignored or denied.
I also would like to find out if Thomas’ view is also that of the Dominica Cricket Association.They need to break their silence on this issue.
It is not because that our players did not play many tests that they should not be given some well earned recognition.They have worked their socks off at the local and regional level,and to them I say well done. I agree with you that Doctrove have out performed our players and Thomas’ views I think is attempting to belittle his achievements something that should never come from the pen or mouth of a so called journalist more so someone who is an excecutive of the DCA. He should definetly show some more respect to Doctroves achievements and the international recognition that he has given to Dominica over many years.I also would be very interested to hear the views of the DCA on this matter .Congrats to all the persons who will be recognized for their achievements.
Billy is not just an official…For heavens sake, this Dominican ambassador is rated as one of the 10 (TEN) best umpires in the entire world, that’s why he is referred to as an elite..Joseph, Sebo and others need to get their facts straight.
Joe you in trouble again? Your big mouth, I’VE WARNED YOU!! you talk toooooo much nonsense for a big man..time to grow up…for this I find you guilty with a sentence of three years!!!
I’m a resident in Jamaica and after reading all these statements this man Joseph should be held accountable for his statements especially being the secretary of the cricket association.Who was he representing in that press conference? It’s evident that his big mouth has put him in plenty trouble.
Joseph, by now you should apologize to Billy and this blessed country for your nonsensical statements. In Dominica we have passed the stage of being followers..We are leaders..can’t you see?
You are so confused…not one stand was named after Billy in all the names you called yet, you want the entire stadium to be named after him…shame on you!!!You have definitely placed the cricket association in disrepute and you should resign.
Hon Skerrit, When next you and your ministers want to take any decision please remember you have to consult with Monster Bee to get his guidance and approval.
That man just too “KOPARWEYZON”
MonsterB calling big press conference we boy..for what? …
….
My grand mother always say that empty vessels make the most noise….Joseph that’s for you.
who Jah bless no man curse! Billy you have represented your country with pride in cricket and you deserve the honor…
People check this out (Player’s Pavillion) not umpire’s pavillion that is where the understanding of the english vocabulary comes in play. you know ignorance is bliss. take that
Well, well, well, can’t we Dominicans for once make some meaninful discussion rather than degrading one another. Everyone has a right to his/her opinion. Mr. Thomas was simply expressing his views as to why he thinks otherwise; and here it is some of us making a complete nuisance of ouselves. Why can’t some people acept what others think and agree to disagree in a constructive way? This shows how low some of us thinks. Definitely Mr. Doctrove deserves a place in this stadium.
As a suggestion why can’t we be the first to name a cricket pitch ? I say this so as to easily identify which pitch is being played on (usually there are more than one pitches) instead of saying the one to the left or right, ect. Then as further suggestion name one after Mr. Doctrove. I believe we should not have problem with that becuase as an umpire you are the one incharge of the field of play at the moment of the game, and in this way no matter what he will allways be on the field of play.
Kalinago, you make more sense than any of the Bantus.
Did Adam Stanford every played test cricket for DOMINICA? Why name a stand after him? Mr Thomas be real, it seems that we are followers in dominica and not leaders? Let us in Dominica to be the first to take the lead . Mr Doctrove is the ONLY West Indian to be an Elite Umpire isn’t that GREAT? Name it after Billy and not ADAM SANFORD,he never represented us.
Well we have just given Mr. Joseph Thomas exactly what he was seeking…some attention. He should be happy now that so many bloggers have responded to … Maybe if continues his (un)popularity might rise. (Lol)
Joseph Thomas, be honorable for once, and admit that your judgement was clouded.
Billy you don’t know me but I will be the first to cheer you when your name is called…..
When I see you on TV all over the world I get shivers, just knowing that you came from such a small country.
i admire mr. doctrove for his accomplishment and work done, but i support mr. thomas’ views and he makes lots of sense. let us not be too bias here and stop the pleasing people story.
so if everyone kept on doing exactly what was done in the past how would the world be?! Zero innovation, Zero Change, Zero new ideas! I’m so pissed off by Mr. Thomas and his nonsense, its not funny…get a life!
Mr joseph why dont you just take a hike?! who cares who the stand is named after?! Besides Billy has done well and has put Dominica on the map… If you too idle i can give you a job…plz…even calling press conference!…
SKERRIT STADIUM…CASE CLOSE…
Mr Thomas you are entitled to your opinion as a Dominican, but why the press conference on a simple matter as that ? So anytime somebody has an opinion to express he has to call a press conference? What about the thousands of people who agree with the Governments decision to name the pavilion after Mr Doctrove,should each one call a press conference? It seems to me that you are sparing no effort in your attempt to prevent the pavilion from being named after Doctrove .I have no idea what is the reason but it does not sound to me as a genuine sporting concern.Possibly sometime in the future we will all know the truth.
What makes Mr.Thomas beleive that his opinion is the one that counts? Who or what has given him the authority to speak on behalf of Dominicans on any topic? We can be so critical of our people especially those that are doing well for the country.Those are the things that are preventing DA from realizing its true potential.We spend too much of Gods given time bringing down each other. Mr Doctrove shuld be encouraged for the recognition that he has worked hard to give Dominica,recognition that no other sports person has given to this country, so in my mind his name is an excellent choice for the pavillion.
PLEASE big deal…….it’s de players’ pavillion, now what? That doesn’t mean that it has to be names after a player or former player. Such non-sense. And what is more amusing is, Billy has always been involved in cricket…….which reminds me, is this a cricket stadium? What de Hell. Billy has played cricket even if he didn’t play for windwards or west indies. And he’s a good ambassador for de island. Sounds like our people don’t like anything good associated with Dominica… come on, give de man a break. Grown up and stop whining like a school girl.
well well well.. Mr. Thomas shame on you.
I think its an excellent idea to know the stand after Mr. Doctrove.
we should all be proud of Mr. Doctrove and show just that.
keep the faith brother doctrove
JOSEPH HELL YEAH U RIGHT NOT BILLY NO ONE AT ALL
Joseph Thomas has a right to his opinion. There is nothing wrong with airing a controvertial view. What I find disturbing are some of the emotional reponses from those who do not agree with him. it reminds me so much of some of the venom which is prevalent in Africa which incites people to violence against other tribes (not that this is the case here). But we can debate a position without resorting to these types of venomous emotional comments.
Joseph has a problem with the players pavillion being named after billy inspite of billy’s outstanding career, his justification is ‘historical facts’….. well never in history have we had an international standard stadium before! I respect well grounded statements, but this statement is absolutely baseless, most dominicans commenting here can see right through these antics, the guy is a commentator, he feels he is overly entitled to not just an opinion but a decisive SAY IN THE MATTER. Dominicans have a habbit of calling a spade a spade, if it barks like a dog, it looks like a dog, then we say it is a dog….it has nothing to do with violence and venom, too many self appointed ‘experts’ like to dress their ulterior motives in benign reasoning like ‘historical fact’ when the driving sentiment is really that malignant emotion we call JALOUSIE.
I totally agree with you. But on another note. Is Joseph Thomas merely jealous or just running his mouth because he came from the same area as Edison James???? Why can’t we all just get along???
Mr. Thomas was quite comfortable with expressing his views in whatever manner he chose. So should we.
WHERE IS JEALOUSY COMING FROM ? THE MAN IS RIGHT TAKE U ALL TIME AND READY WHAT HIS IS SAYING .TOO MUCH NAME CALLING ,HE IS NOT SAYING THAT THEY SHOULDN’T GIVE BILLY HIS FLOWERS .
hypocrisy…the man having a whole press conference to voice his displeasure and that sound OK to you? Come on billy deserve much more than that, I am disappointed in this guy, why should his view matter more than others? if they were offering to name it after him I wonder if he would refuse and say let somebody else more deserving get the recognition, he is blowing the thing out of proportion and it reeks of jealousy …. if you honest you know its is true, naming the pavillion after billy may be unusual, but it certainly is fitting of the greatness of the man.
all this talk…what about Thomas Kentish…
@Leona
I support you on Sanford. Yes he is Dominican and we are proud of his achievements. But the man made it to the West Indies team playing for the Leeward Islands.
I have never heard so much crap from Joe Thomas. Is it because it is a players pavilion that is has to be named after a player? Is the Peter Short Media Center in Barbados named after a media personnel? No he was an ADMINISTRATOR so get your so called historical facts right.
You and your colleague of the DCA who is trying to cause confusion should stop being so silly, childish and vindictive.
Doctrove is most deserving of it and the matter should be laid to rest.
Bill Doctrove has been a million times more of an ambassador for cricket in d/a than this Sanford guy so why is he going in on Billy and is OK with Sanford?
I swear if someone showed me a picture of 5 Caribs right now I wouldn’t be able to pick out this Sanford guy. As far as I’m concerned he’s a nobody.
Looked dude up on Cricinfo and came up with this:
Hardly an express bowler, Sanford is nonetheless rated as “awkward” by Ian Bishop, for his ability to make the odd delivery explode from nowhere. But his lack of pace caused him problems, and against England in 2003-04 he was described by Geoff Boycott as being a medium pacer who ” couldn’t have got me granny out”.
Remind me again why this guy deserves a stand named after him??!!
I can shake your hand Eric Cartman. This is a clear case of celebrating mediocrity, and is not about indigenous, great is great and sanford ain’t great…..I’m not even sure he all that good either…
Name the stadiumafter our popular centuranian, (MA pampo stadium) it took us centuries before we could have a stadium .
lol. funny
really funny but worth considering
I believe such suggestion from mr j.thomas should be handled in a better way,rather that having big press conference.jo that always yr problem….talking..talkingggggggggggggggggggggg..
You just dam jealous we wanna name our stuff after Mr.Doctrove? So because no other islands named any thing after their officials we must follow in their footsteps? We are a loving country and we wanna honor our great ones….no DAM PROBLEM in that! I bet if it was after u then u would not refuse…so KEEP QUIET and let Billy get his thanks and roses while he alive.
Come on Mr Thomas are you saying that those names that you put forward are more deserving that Doctrove? To my mind none of them have reached the levels that Doctrove has reached and it shows that this is not a sporting opinion and if you have other issues with Doctrove this is not the manner and forum to vent your aggro.
Joe T, is people like you that help to spread hatred and discontent in DA. No other small country in the Caribbean has an umpire who has reached the levels that Doctrove has reached and your coments should never have come from a Dominican.You can imagine if Doctrove had come from one of our neighbouring islands how they would be promoting him,but instead we want to bash him…as D Hunter say “Typical Dominican”.If you were so well informed you would know that Doctrove is not the first Umpire that a facility has been named after. Back off Joe T and leave the man to continue to represent DA all over the world .The name of the Pavilion IS APPROPRIATE…!!!
But what I hearing there nuh, let us set a trend eh, Billy Doctrove has made us proud, he has represented well, yes he is an official, a damn good official at that, he has also contributed significantly to putting Dominica in the international cricket arena. We in Dominica should feel honored to have such a great man amongst us, and the least we can do is celebrate him in this very meagre way. Too many dominicans like to habour secret jealousy, they like to pretend that they so proud of Billy while they are a bunch of snakes in the grass. So what if it hasn’t been done before? Why can’t we set a precedent? Incidentally the last headline I read about a Dominican doing great things in international cricket, was about Billy…at a time when west indies cricket is in a slump, Billy continues to excell internationally, and be an excellent role model to our young people. So if that is not enough reason to name de whole damn stadium after him eh bien I just dunno….no officials no cricket, some dominicans like to belittle people, especially when they cannot measure up to them.
Joseph stop making a fool of yourself…
The MonsterB Pavillion….that’s you wish?You must earn it like Billy..I’m so disappointed in you MonsterB .
He is saying that the player’s pavilion should not be named after Doctrove because it is jus that..A PLAYER’s pavilion.
Instead he is suggesting that it would be quite ok to name the stadium itself after Doctrove….
Maybe he has a point?
Thomas, get a life….Dominica is moving to the next level…. The Billy Doctrove Player’s pavillion.
WELL SUITED AND DESERVED..
As a lover of cricket my self i tend to agree with Thomas that the Pavilllion be named after certain great cricket players of dominica
Isnt a decision like this supposed to be based on the track record of a player during his participation in the games of cricket.
as sure as billy is a gentleman and a great and respected umpire i think his track record as a cricketer ( cricket player) does not justify that the pavillion named after him… I think many deserving crickerts should be given the opportunity
as we have seen there are no other choices, but only one name billy doctrove. I believe that this is unfair to the many splendid cricketers of dominica being letft outlike this.
THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH JEALOUSY. THIS IS JUST THE FACTS THAT ARE being POINTED OUT.
please rethink this decision.
So what was the big stink with the journalist about- journalist was right. Now with that said, Mr Doctrove being the representative that he is and the level he has attained as “the only umpire from the West Indies serving on the international elite panel” can have a place too.
This is a cricket stadium and he is the only one of his kind in Dominica – for goodness sakes we are not naming Dominica after him. There are countless other matters where we proceed as a nation/people well as individuals with little or no regard for staus quo – so why do we have to fish and research all over the globe concerning naming the players’ pavallion after one of our greats in the cricket world too and internationally at that.
Cricket commentator – you have been discreditted, you did not say that, now you did – lol – you love controversy.
I cannot understand how anyone can go to that length to bring down a great Dominican but it seems like this is what we are becoming famous for. Listening to Mr.Joe Thomas at that press conference it sounded like something much more that cricket creeping into this issue. And why does Mr.Thomas beleive that HIS opinion and recommendations are the right ones .
With no disrepect to all the names being submitted, but has any of them given Dominica the International Recognition and Promotion that Mr.Doctrove has given to our country? The answer is a resounding NO and I think Mr Thomas should drop that vendetta that he is waging .To Mr Doctrove, keep doing the country proud,no matter what you do some people for their own reasons will always be against you…remember that Jesus Christ was crucified.You have the very large majority of Dominicans both local and overseas in your corner and wishing you well.
There is a democratic process. Why cant we agree to disagree. whether you agree with thomas or not the man has a right to his opinion. We have a dumb culture here, once someone propose something and it sound good we agree. if someone goes against it for some reason we try to attack their character.
Off course Billy Doctrove is a great Dominican that has contributed to sports and deserve such honor, However it could be something else in the stadium since there were great players that are more deserving of that particular spot.
I understand. at the end of the day if it comes down to a vote and he is selected for that spot then so be it.
Mr. Thomas may have a valid point. A difference of opinion is ok.
HOW CAN STANDS BE NAMED WITHOUT THE NAME OF CLEM JOHN BEING ON ONE OF THEM.CLEM CAPTAINED DOMINICA,WINDWARD ISLANDS AND COMBINE ISLANDS WHICH INCLUDED VIVI RICHARDS.AT ONE TIME CLEM HELD THE RECORD FOR MOST RUNS SCORED IN AN INNINGS IN THE WINDWARD ISLANDS TOURNAMENT.DONT FORGET CLEM WAS IN HIS TIME THE BEST DOMINICAN FOOTBALLER.WHAT ABOUT OSSIE LEWIS ,HE DIDNOT ONLY REPRESENT DOMINICA AND WINDWARD ISLANDS IN CRICKET,BUT ALSO UP TO TODAY HE IS STILL A SPORTS COMMENTATOR AFTER FORTY YEARS.WHERE IS JEFF CHARLES NOW.
While I am very proud of Billy Doctrove’s accomplishments as a cricket umpire, I think the naming of stands in a cricket stadium should go to persons who made a mark as a cricketer and I mean player.
We have individuals like Thomas Kentish and Lockhart Sebastien who made tremendous contributions to cricket in Dominica and the Windward Islands, we had the Shillingfords Irving and Grayson and Norbert Phillip who played for the West Indies . Those individuals should have been given the priority over Billy whose contribution was as an umpire. Imagine giving Adam Sandford priority over the other players when he did not make any contribution to cricket in Dominica and made the West Indies as a Leeward Islands player.
I think the decision should be revisited and priority given to players and not officials.
We are honored to know of Billy Doctrove’s achievements and we are humbled to have been in his company on the same field representing the West Indies. Good Luck Billy Doctrove in your future endeavours.
Monster B empty vessells make the most noise. Billy deserves this award.
I want my name clear ” Kurt Prescott”. You can’t be a fan of Billy Doctrove for a stand being named after him. Why should we bypass of cricketers who represented the West Indies. This shows how poor our government thinks. What are we promoting here? For the record i’m happy that Billy is putting us on the map with umpiring, but we need the stands to be named after cricketers.
suggestion: any cricketer
If you were glad he was putting us on the map, you would be grateful that he can be recognized on such a level. Which other Dominican is representing Dominica right now in the arena of cricket? I’m not saying we did not have some GREAT cricketers, but where are they now? The last time I checked, Dominicans are not making it to the West Indies first class team. So for me to have Umpire Billy Doctrove, travel far and wide and stand on those fields and call the game is simply AWESOME and OVERWHELMNG. You think is just in Dominica he is umpiring man? TOUT PART TOUT!!!! INTERNATIONALLY, REGIONALLLY & LOCALLY!.
Be grateful man!
Cricketers first and umpires next
there you have it. well said
@ Don’t You Wish? response. the fact the Mr. Doctrove is alive and well people are unappreciative. If he was not here not a peep from anyone would be heard. We love our dead people don’t we?
No one can touch this man of God. The good Lord is always on his side and all of us Dominicans will be standing under the Billy Doctrove Pavillion. You hear that JT. So shut up and let it sink in. It’s going to happen.
Might as well include Donald Peters Phd, as a nominee.
To those who are shooting the messanger, please pause and give this some thought. Billy is a great ambassador for Dominica. True. But so have been countless others before him in various fields, not just in the field of umpiring. Are we naming a cricket players’ pavilion after them? No. How many of you would protest if the same pavilion were named after after one of our other top ambasadors? Say, the Kelvin Felix or the Bishop Bowers Players Pavilion? Sounds ridiculous? Maybe. But then, so is the Billy Doctrove Players Pavilion.
We can come up with any number of great Dominican cricketers – Grayson, Norbert, Irving, Sebo, Kentish, Kaleb, Alic Reid, Sharpie Elwin, Javan and on and on after whom the pavilion and stands can be named. These are people who played for country, earning for the most part, nothing at all, sometimes fighting with their employers for time off from work to play for their country. These are the people who should be remembered by placing their names on the stands.
Billy is a good umpire and whenever “Dominica” is mentioned next to his name, we all feel proud. But there what he does right now is by no means anywhere near the sacrifices these players have had to make for country. Please, don’t disrespect these players. Find some other way to honour Billy after he retires from umpiring.
I wish to support Mr. Thomas on what he said. I believe the players pavilion should be named after some player not an official. But MOST DEFINITELY MR. DOCTROVE should be honored and be part of this stadium becuase he have made us all proud. Some other part for example the media section or commentary section should be named after him but his name should be there. So why that long wait to name the stands? This should be the first thing that should have been done.
To the person who said that sanford should not be part of the naming and enven went as far as saying this was a rubbish descision; let me first and formost say this was rubbish thinking comming from a garbage mind of this person who said this. Sanford has indeed contributed to Dominica’s cricket by being one of the esteemed few from Dominica who have made it to the international arena in this sport. Lets not forget his cricket development started right here in Dominica, he have played both at the national youth and senior teams. It’s becuase of his love for the games that he moved on. Had he stayed here i can guarantee that he could have never have made it to the WI team. Sanford has indeed made us Kalinagoes and by extension Dominica proud. He is still a Dominican no matter where he is so lets stop being negative and honor those who have made this island proud.
Well you have to stand up for your race but the fact is that he was not an international-level player.
He sucked at that level. Just making the team and not having an impact is enough to have a stand named after you??!!! Nonsense.
It’s a sad day for Dominica when we have such negative people like Joseph Thomas talking such nonsense, about Billy. This man is a sports legend and is worthy of accorlades greater than the naming of the pavillion. We in the Caribbean admire you and want to distance ourselves from Thomas.
CONGRATS TO THE SELECTING TEAM FOR RECOGNIZING BILLY.
Billy on behalf of the government and people of Dominica, I wish to apologize to you for this nonsensical statement made by Joseph Thomas.
He is simply seeking attention! ALAS!
It is quite disturbing to me to see how we are up until now so mentally enslaved that we are still always waiting for the first world countries to set the precedent in every damn thing. Why are we afraid or ashamed to step out of the shadows into the spotlight and be the very first country to have a cricket stand named after a non-cricketer? Why for once can’t the larger countries follow our lead. Why do we constantly insist on being followers even when we are offered the opportunity to lead. I am quite disappointed with this Joseph Thom-ASS who obviously is green with envy and lacks pride in his country’s efforts at becoming pioneers of naming cricket stands after non-cricketers. He needs to keep his trap shut if he can’t use it for constructive criticism. Statements of this nature are demoralizing both to the subject in the person of Umpire Billy Doctrove and to the readers alike and is something we can sure do without .
Ha Ha Ilike this one. He should shut up and get with the program. ThomASS indeed!
A Players pavilion in an international stadium is should be named after an international player. The record shows that Irving Shillingford is the only Dominican to score a century in international Test cricket. If there is a section for umpires then that can be named after an umpire who is an official. Joseph Thomas has a point.
How do you name a stadium after a Referee… Is Dominica doing this badly off in the criket arena! i Do not support renaming the Winsor park stadium… Unless someone Pays to put his name on that sadium. Serious..! Say, lets name it the Coca Cola Winsor park stadium. Let Companies pay to print their name to the stadium. The Lime winsor park stadium..If you want to do Something different let it make money. Think! you Dumb ass Politicians.
Joseph Thomas is definitely seeking attention. He needs to rebuke all that jealously and hate in his system.Is people like him that have been pulling down sports in our country …he has nothing, I mean absolutely nothing to offer!!!
Please name the pavilion “The Philip Alleyne Players’ Pavilion” and the media center “The Jeff Charles and Reginald St. Havis Shillingford New Media Center”. Sounds good to me. There should be no problem.
First why later this year they are going to name the player pavillion at the windsor park after Billy Doctrove. Why not before the two days international game in May. It is very sad to see how people in high top position since to drag their feet and they are so lay back. These are the persons that make the goverment look bad.
Joseph Thomas needs to understand that Billy Doctrove is not any calibre of an umpire.For heavens sake, this gentlemen is rated as the 10 best in the world. Even if is the player’s pavillion he is a sports personality tied very much to the officiating of cricket. Excellent choice !God bless you Billy.
JOSEPH THOMAS I FEEL SOOO SORRY FOR YOU..YOU NEED TO ASK GOD TO CLENSE YOU FROM ALL THAT JEALOUSY AND HATE..BILLY IS A MAN OF GOD, A GREAT AMBASSADOR, SO WHO JAH BLESS NO MAN CURSE!!!
… Joseph you cannot put a good man down.Dominica and Jamaica are the only two countires in the caribbean with umpires who have reach that calibre.
THE BILLY DOCTROVE STADIUM……SOUNDS GREAT …YOU BETTER ACCEPT IT ….YOU ARE SUCH A JEALOUS MAN!!!
I am a big fan of Billy Doctrove and I have followed his umpiring career from the days when he umpired in inter-secondary school cricket.
I also had the opportunity to play against him in intermediate division cricket.
I admire his achievements as a well respected International Cricket Umpire and I think he has done the Dominica and the region proud.
But I have to agree with Joseph Thomas; I don’t think a players pavilion should be named after him.
Find some other way of honoring his legacy.
Joseph Thomas it is people like you who cause all the division and hatred in DA. A man like Billy Doctrove who has contributed so, so much to the sport of both Cricket and Football in DA and you mean to tell me that you are dissatisfied with naming this pavillon after this man. What does this tell people about you. Tell me is it jealousy or something else? Billy Doctrove deserves even more than the naming of a pavillon after him. I am sure you will agree, but is blinded due to hatred and jealousy.
He has a point…
Tell … to shut his …face. He just jealous it is not named after him. Sometimes I wonder what is wrong with our people. Tell … come let the good doctor examine his head
I know billy to be quite a cricketer at saints(goodwill)
Oh Plzzzzzzzzzzz…… de man doing something good for his darn country and allu want to bring him down, if he was a bum & always in trouble it would be another story… give de man his flowers while he alive…
I don’t understand why we like to bring our pple from our country who is trying their best in life down…………….
d/ca’s plz rise from this ignorance, give our fellowmen their darn praises, and when we depart and go to other countries and never come back all u have all kinds of s*** to say about them,
Plzzzzzzzzzz d/ca’s rise… and stop Hating On Billy D….
Maybe they should name it after him.
The real travesty of justice is naming a stand after Sanford, a man who has done NOTHING for DOMINICA’S cricket. How on earth was this decision made? Was it made by crazy people? And how could the Cricket Association not have been involved in making that decision? Surely the decision makers were afflicted by a madness virus? And what about the Cabinet of Ministers? Did they endorse this decision? I mean … what about Thomas Kentish; Sebastien for example? This decision is a decision for life and deserves the most careful consideration and decision making. Not something to be done lightly. Please, IT IS NOT TOO LATE. We cannot name a stand after Sanford when we have people like Thomas Kentish who is so much more deserving. THIS WAS A RUBBISH DECISION. Let’s do the right thing.
I wish we could still vote on comments so I could give you a thumbs up.
I never understood the Sanford selection either. He just made a (very brief!) cameo on the WI and disappeared back into oblivion.
Dominica’s cricket history has to be real pathetic if there’s no person more deserving than this Sanford guy to name stands over.
I totally agree with you!!!
Thomas I guess it should be name after you? We should give persons their flowers when they are alive. Doctrove we proud of you. i will be in that Doctrove stand. Dominicans always want to keep others down. shame on you Thomas
Tell … go and find work to do. Billy Doctrove is an outstanding ambassodor to Dominica and has given up his time and life to promoting Dominica through sports, particularly cricket. Kudos to the Govt for recognizing his feats.
For once, I tend to agree with Thomas. It’s a players pavilion. So as a result, a great D’can player must have his name placed on the stands. Maybe some other part of the Stadium should be named for Doctrove. Suggestion – the player’s lounge, the Umpire’s locker room… But in my opinion – NOT the Player’s Stand.
Initially I was brushing Joe Thomas off. But I am beginning to feel where he is coming from.
Nuff respect to Billy…all day…everyday. But in the scope of the game…he’s still just an official.
are you for real? “Just an official”. See that’s the problem. We think of the umpires as “just” but do you know that if there weren’t any officials then their wouldn’t be a game?
JEALOUSY NOTHING ELSE.STUPSSS