Officials of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) have declared as a "resounding success" Saturday's national symposium titled "Critical Conversations" held at the Preysal Secondary School in central Trinidad.The talkfest attracted a large turnout of cricket affiliates, enthusiasts, umpires, women's federation officers, top zone representatives and a cadre of T&TCB officials who all received a pat on the back for a well-organised event.Speaking afterwards Dr Allen Sammy, first vice-president of the T&TCB, said he was pleased with the outcome of the symposium as the general public and responsible stakeholders welcomed the opportunity to voice their concerns on the state of the local and regional game and make valuable suggestions on how to resolve issues currently facing the sport.Sammy, who along with Baldath Mahabir is a T&T director on the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), said everything presented at Preysal on Saturday was recorded and will be put together and studied by the Symposium Committee."This will inform the T&TCB's Action Plan for 2014 when we attempt to aggressively address all the issues which have been so clearly enunciated here at the symposium. This is the first step in the process of consultation and effecting change in the execution of our mandate to govern in an effective way," said Sammy.
He said in his preamble that with a population of 1.3 million, there currently exists 1.4 million national selectors in T&T and that recently he observed a couple newspaper columnists writing critically about the WICB and the dismal performances of the regional Test team currently in New Zealand."This is all well and good but these commentators must first ascertain the facts before putting pen to paper. The ideas relayed may be sound but are ill-informed and in this regard he accepted that the WICB is doing a poor job on communicating its successes to the people of the Caribbean."It is a failure of the WICB to sell what it does and our symposium here will seek to address this situation as it relates to the T&T Cricket Board," he said.
Sammy said the views expressed would be taken into consideration when a review of their strategic plan is done in the near future and whatever is decided will conform with the WICB's "operationalistic plan." Sammy said it was important to chart the progress made in all areas and this could only be achieved by markers that could answer the important question of, "Are we making our customers comfortable?"
He said invitations to the symposium were sent out to all affiliates and committees of the board and also the general public. Submissions were also requested from some quarters, copies of which were included in a handout/brochure and read out in the first session of the symposium.Those making written submissions were FCB Clarke Road United; Preysal Sports Club, a representative report from four Championship clubs; Valley Boys Sports Club; East Zone; Central Zone; a report from the North East, South, South East and North zones; Primary Schools Cricket Association; secondary schools; umpires and corporate sponsors FCB.In the second plenary session, chaired by nominated T&TCB member Mahabir, and which was interactive, participants were allowed the opportunity to make their contribution, comment on what had been presented in the first period and ask relevant questions.
Among those who made their voices heard were FCB Clarke Road coach Dasrath Maharaj, former Secondary Schools Cricket League president Sookoo Sonnylal, East Zone's Tarandath Sammy, an executive member of the T&TCB, Ian Lalla of the Primary Schools Cricket League, Adrian Ramsingh and Ervin Bailey, who spoke of their cricket Web site and pitched their two new apps, Wesley Dookoo of the Secondary Schools League, Monica Hylton-Sobers of the Women's Federation and John Hunte of the Umpires and Scorers Association.Also delivering addresses were North Zone's Paul Clarke, who lamented the non-attendance of National League officials, Kenneth Samuel, principal of Bamboo Government School, Raul Bermudez, Premchand Roopia of Curepe Sports, Aldwin Beddoe of the Rum Shop Posse, David Mowlah-Baksh of the Union Park Committee, former schoolteacher Premnath Deobaran and Keshwar Chaitoo of the storied Oxford Club of San Fernando.
The event was opened by president of the T&TCB Azim Bassarath who in his short introductory speech emphasised the importance of cricket officials' returning to the people to hear their views and suggestions and answer questions about board's activities."The cricket board depends on the input and feedback of its affiliates and the public at large as this will only help add value to the sport. Feel free to make your contribution and I give you the assurance that we are prepared to take our role as custodians of the game seriously and execute the board's plans and programmes for the benefit of the nation," said Bassarath.