It is with a deep sense of responsibility and obligation to the young, budding cricketers at the T.A. Marryshow Community College (TAMCC) that I am compelled to produce this report on the failure of the St. George’s Cricket Council to properly organise and manage cricket competitions over the last couple of years. This year’s competition, in particular, has been a major disaster. The latest episode in this saga, is the unethical behaviour of the President of the Council, Mr. Cecil Greenidge. Mr. Greenidge has awarded points to the Royal Grenada Police Force (referred to as Police in the rest of the letter) in a match versus TAMCC in an effort to bring closure to a competition which still has a number of matches to be played. Since the competition began, both Police and TAMCC each won six (6) matches. Police lost one (1) match and another resulted in a tie. The said Team has two (2) matches remaining against Grenada Cricket Club (GCC) and TAMCC. TAMCC has lost two (2) matches, and three matches outstanding against Police, SSU and Byelands. Based on the outcome of the matches played, Police and TAMCC are the only possible contenders that could win the competition. TAMCC and Police were scheduled to meet on Saturday, 24th May 2008 at 12:30 p.m. at the Tanteen Recreation Ground. The information was given on Wednesday, 21st May, 2008 as there are no fixtures drawn up for this competition. TAMCC made plans for the match at Tanteen as it related to financing for students, and strategies for the game with the Management Team etc. On Saturday, 24th May 2008, the day of the match, I received a phone call from Mr. Greenidge’s Assistant, informing me that the match venue was changed to Morne Jaloux Playing Field. I indicated to her that it would be impossible for me to communicate with all my players. This was based on the fact that not all the students have cell phones, and that they live all over the island, from Main Street, Sauteurs to Grand Anse, St. George’s. She said she was using her brother’s phone so she had to hang up. About one hour later, I called Mr. Greenidge who informed me that he did not have prior knowledge that Tanteen was unavailable for the cricket match. He stated that because of the previously scheduled event (Sports), alternative arrangements are being made to play the game at Morne Jaloux. I reinforced the point to Mr. Greenidge that it would be impossible to communicate that information to the players. I further stated to him that the players will be heading for Tanteen for the match. He indicated to me that he will send a bus to collect them at 12:30 p.m. at Tanteen, since that was the official time for the start of the match. Again I stated to him that some of the players may be late. His response was then, “they will have to get there on their own.” Mr. Greenidge persisted that the match will be played and that he will send the bus at 1:00 p.m. I said to him, “I am going to Tanteen, we will see what happens.” After our conversation, I called our Team Manager, Mr. Nat Simpson, who was at Tanteen. He indicated to me that there was Sports at Tanteen so the match will have to be rescheduled. He further indicated that some students, like Carvan Ettienne, Ishon Peters and others had left as this was around exam time and students had to utilize their time as much as possible. I told Mr. Simpson that I was on my way, and that I would like him to give one of his motivational speeches to the remaining players because I know that they would have been “pumped up” and then gotten disappointed by the turn of events. When I arrived at Tanteen, there were seven players. Mr. Simpson returned to Tanteen at about 1:00 p.m. and we proceeded to the Unicol Building to have our meeting. At 1:32 p.m. the female security at the TAMCC gate informed us that the bus had arrived. I spoke to the bus driver and again called Mr. Greenidge indicating to him that some of the players had left before I got there and that the time was already “minutes to two.” I indicated to him that the match will have to be rescheduled. His answer to me was if we did not come we will lose the points. I responded to him that if he took that decision we will take him to Court. He said I can do what I want. I wished him a pleasant afternoon and hung up. For the record this competition has been plagued by a number of bad principles and practices. For example, TAMCC was sent to Willis to play and it was found that the field was neither prepared nor did the other team show up. On a next occasion, we were sent to La Sagesse and the same thing occurred. In a match carded for Tanteen against Carib Breweries, after some of my players were already at the venue, we were told that the match was postponed due to other activities on the said field. There is also the scenario where players in the same match serve as umpires and then proceed to take their places as batsmen and vice versa. Unbelievable, but true! Another nonsensical and bizarre decision took effect when police was allowed to enter the competition eight (8) weeks after it started. At a meeting held at the Tanteen Netball Court for all participating teams, I emphasized the point to Mr. Greenidge that such a decision will ultimately affect the time frame for the conclusion of the tournament. My observation and that of the other teams were totally disregarded. The President’s comment to that was that “the police paid their monies”. It is important to note here that the inter-parish competition began Saturday, May 31, 2008. Added to this, the Grenada Football Association (G.F.A.) Season will be starting soon, making things even more difficult as it relates to the use of playing fields. It will be remiss of me if I do not mention the fact that in 2006 TAMCC and Police qualified to contest the 20-20 Finals at Tanteen. TAMCC hired a bus that day since it was a Sunday to collect all its players from the various parishes around Grenada. On arrival at Tanteen, Police failed to turn up for the match. To this day, nothing has been said or done in relation to this particular final event. In 2007, Morne Jaloux won the League Competition and TAMCC won the 20-20 Final, defeating Carib Breweries. Nothing has been done in terms of the presentation of prizes. Prior to the start of this year’s competition, I enquired about the 2007 prizes and I was told by the President that prizes for the previous years will be presented at the beginning of this year’s competition. At a meeting at Tanteen Netball Court, I made further enquires into the prizes and the President announced that last year’s prizes will be presented at the end of this year’s competition. This report is not aimed at discrediting anyone, it is simply to put into context the blatant disregard and lack of respect that has been shown to the teams and the cricketers. I therefore call upon the Council to first of all present a serious and meaningful apology to all the teams and clubs within the League. Secondly, it is vitally important that the Police versus TAMCC match be rescheduled and that a date be set for the completion of this year’s tournament. Equally important is the distribution of prizes and awards won in last year’s competition. It must be noted that we at TAMCC expended in excess of six thousand dollars ($6000.00) on transportation and refreshments to participate in the St. George’s Cricket Council Competition. This figure does not include entrance fee and purchase of equipment. I pray that this report will ignite some positive reflection and invoke some much needed action to resurrect a dead non-performing Council or to establish a new entity that will work for the upliftment and improvement of Cricket in St. George’s and Grenada as a whole. By Anthony F. Dixon Sports Programme Coordinator/Cricket Coach TAMCC Inside Grenada news