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MITCHELLST. GEORGE'S, Grenada, CMC:
GRENADA'S PRIME Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell, acting as mediator in the impasse between the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the West Indies Players Association (WIPA), says he is committed to preserving the West Indies tour of Australia.
The intense conflict between the two bodies -- over players' contracts -- re-emerged in recent days to threaten the West Indies' participation in the VB Tri-Nation Series in Australia starting mid-January but Dr. Mitchell is intent on making sure that the tour goes ahead.
Dr. Mitchell is scheduled to meet with the rivalling bodies today and although there are travel challenges to assemble everyone for the meeting, Dr. Mitchell aims to have conference (telephone) calling as a standby method.
"If we cannot meet physically because of the serious transportation problem we are facing, I may have to have a hook-up telephone conversation and offer some constructive solution to ensure at least that the tour continues without any disruption whatsoever," said Dr. Mitchell, who is chairman of the region's Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on cricket.
CONFLICT
The West Indies' tour of Australia was almost called off last month as most of the senior players, including double world record holder Brian Lara, stayed away from a training camp because of a conflict between WIPA and the WICB over personal endorsements.
The players felt that they risked losing their image rights because of their contracts with Cable & Wireless, the rival company of Digicel, the board's new sponsor.
But both parties soon agreed, after mediation, to allow an arbitrator to sort out the issue.
The adjudicator, Justice Adrian Saunders, has ruled on the issue but Dr. Mitchell conceded that the mediation process is not yet finalised.
"There is a specific decision as far as the legal aspect is concerned, but we have other aspects that we have to be mindful of," Dr. Mitchell said.
Dr. Mitchell, determined to achieve a settlement, reminded that both parties had agreed that the Adjudicator's ruling would be binding to pave the way for a resolution.
"I did solicit the commitment of the parties that whatever the results, that no action would be taken by either party without our having an opportunity to meet with them to offer some advice. Having the results now I
am now in touch with the various parties," Dr. Mitchell said.
"We will engage the private sector bodies, both Cable & Wireless and Digicel in the whole question of a final solution to the problems faced by both the board and the players' association," Dr. Mitchell said.
