BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (CMC):

New regional cricket chief Julian Hunte has promised to redefine the image of the WestIndies Cricket Board (WICB) and to institute changes to make it relevant.

"Our stakeholders represented by the Caribbean cricket supporters and spectators, the governments, civil society and non government organizations, the media, and our own shareholders are not satisfied with the WICB's performance on and off the field," Hunte said after taking over from Ken Gordon as Board president Sunday. "The WICB brand has diminished in value and is in desperate need of redefinition and revitalization.

Ensure relevance

"There is a perception in the public domain that West Indies cricket is at a low level both on and off the field. Indeed, some say that the board has outlived its usefulness in terms of taking West Indies cricket to a high level.

"I definitely do not share this view and would not be here today if I did. Suffice it to say, however, that any organisation that is 80-years old, particularly in today's world of globalisation and rapid change, needs to look at itself from time to time in order to ensure its continued relevance.

"Periodically, several cricketing countries have had to retool to lift their game to high standards, for example, Australia, South Africa, India and England, to name a few."

Hunte, the only nomination for the position of president, formally assumed the reins of power at the WICB at the annual general meeting at the Hilton Trinidad.

The 67-year-old businessman and former ambassador to the United Nations, has been joined by Dave Cameron as vice-president. He replaces Val Banks.

Receiving report

Hunte, a former WICB vice-president, said in order to achieve his goals, he would be looking to the report from the governance committee, recently set up to review the WICB's operations.

"It is in this spirit that I welcome the work of the governance committee and await the committee's report which, with your agreement, I will circulate to member associations throughout the region for their comments," Hunte noted. "I will then convene a special meeting of the board to discuss the report and chart the way forward. I thank the committee for the work done to date and look forward to receiving the report."

The governance committee is headed by former Jamaican Prime Minister PJ Patterson and comprises Sir Alister McIntyre and Dr. Ian McDonald.