Having read in the newspaper of the National League Representatives (NLR) not being able to get the TTCB to accept their recommendations with regards to 1) one club, one vote system and 2) term limits for the president of the TTCB, I thought it would be a good idea to share some information from the Constitution of the TTCB which is on their website.
Article 2–Objects, item 2.06 states "To improve the governance capability of the Board."
This would suggest to me that wherever there are deficiencies in managing the cricketing affairs, the Board would welcome meaningful changes once they are equitable and just.
With regards to the voting members of the Board the number is 49, made up as follows:
1. Executive officers–six: president, three vice presidents, general secretary and treasurer.
2. Zonal representatives–21; three from each from the seven zonal councils elected for a three-year term.
3. Affiliate representatives–ten: two from each of the following, duly elected Primary Schools Cricket League; Secondary Schools Cricket League; Tobago Cricket Association; TTC Umpires and Scorers Council; T&T Women's Cricket Association.
4. National League representatives–Six elected for a three-year term.
5. Nominated members–six. Nominated by the executive of the Board at the first meeting of the executive after the AGM at which elections are held and shall hold office until they are replaced.
The issue that I believe the National League representatives are trying to correct is where the executive officers and nominated members, who do not represent any of the cricketing councils, are allowed to vote at the election of officers for a new term.
The Constitution allows the executive officers (six votes) the nominated members (six votes), and to be eligible for re-election and to vote at the election.
Therefore, the executive officers and nominated members can hold on to office by only having to secure 13 votes of the 37 votes remaining. If there is anyone opposing they have to secure 25 of the 37 votes.
It is important to note that the nominated members do not represent any cricketing body in T&T and after the initial election, the executive officers also do not represent any cricketing body in T&T.
This clearly cannot be right and if it is enshrined in the Constitution of the TTCB they have a responsibility to pass the necessary resolutions to ensure a just and equitable constitution whereby the cricketing fraternity and not individuals are the beneficiary of the Board's fruits. Not because they did not create it means that they cannot fix it.
Kiswah Chaitoo,
La Romain