Final Caribbean Twenty20 2011 Report

We got our hands on the final report from this year’s Caribbean Twenty20 tournament and it shows us exactly how much money the WICB made in Antigua and Barbados.  The full report (link below) talks about security, sportertainment and the fact that the dancers “may have been a little more risqué than desirable. Could not be shown extensively on TV”.

Download and save your own copy FinalCaribbeanTwenty202011Report.pdf

Crickileaks

Andy Bull from the Guardian is officially a WICB Exposé soldier.

For the last fortnight I’ve been turning over that exact question while looking through the pages of a remarkable blog – WICB Exposé. If it is genuine, then this is a site that really could change the game. Unlike most bloggers, the person behind WICB Exposé appears to have inside information. Lots of it. In fact they seem to have the kind of information that a lot of journalists could only dream of, and more tellingly, that the few who could access would feel compelled to sit on for fear of alienating the source that gave it to them in the first place.

If you’re at all interested in the runnings of West Indian cricket, you can kiss goodbye to the couple of hours of your life you’re about to spend going through this site. They claim to have Ottis Gibson’s official report on West Indies’ performance in the World Twenty20 last year. And damning reading it makes too.

There are other soldiers spreading the word about our project here and here. Salute!

Collapso Cup

The WICB’s inability to attract sponsors has become a running joke. Here’s why the Calypso Cup became the Collapso Cup:

The goal of securing sponsorship for the inaugural Caribbean T20 2010 was not met and as a result the Board covered the full cost of this event. Heineken and RBTT, both candidates for sponsorship of Caribbean T20 2011 and Calypso Cup have declined to get involved at all. WICB became increasingly concerned that whilst there was anticipated sponsorship and TV support from the UK and India for Calypso Cup, overall revenue would not be nearly enough to justify staging two (2) Twenty20 events in the same month that together might cost WICB US$5m.

Here’s an idea for Dr. Money Hilaire, let’s blame it on the senior players. Read the document for yourself heinekenrbtt.pdf

Paul Campbell uses JCA credit card at Burger King

Paul Campbell is president of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) and a director of the WICB. His association, like the WICB, has code of ethics problems. Paul Campbell also complains about the JCA being broke.  Now we know why.

To: The JCA Directors
Fr.: Maurice Clarke, Acting Treasurer
Subject: Abuse of Credit Card Privilege
December 14, 2010

As you are aware and after much discussion as to the merits/demerits of a credit card, the board
approved a card through Scotia Bank for the use of the President to cover matters relating to the
Jamaica Cricket Association. The card was assigned a credit limit of $128,400.

A recent review of the card revealed some issues which I believe are important to bring to the attention of the Directors of this Board as in my view it represents an abuse of a facility. The abuses are as follows:

1. Use of card for personal expenses totaling $712,311.60 (see table below). As you are aware this
   was not the intention of the card.
2. The maintenance of the card limit at a figure higher than was approved even though the
   President was aware that this increase in limit was temporary (as this request was sought by
   him) to facilitate ticket purchases for the India visit. Original limit $128,400, limit is now at
   $638,400 and being fully utilized.
3. What I consider in my estimation is a very heavy use for reported marketing and cricket related
   expenses which totaled over $311,000 for the period 2006-2008. A similar tally could not be
   done for the other two years as the credit card statements did not carry a similar indication of
   allocation of expenditure. Majority of this expenditure surrounds entities such as gas stations,
   restaurants, sports bars, hotels and cricket clubs.

In light of the use of the card for personal purposes, the JCA has incurred finance charges totaling
$130,494.70 as the President did not make refund to the JCA in a timely manner so the bill could be
cleared in full. This delay also resulted in late fees being charged on the card totaling $9.865.00.

We have also seen expenditure on the card when the President travels on WICB business. As far as we are aware the President has expenses (accommodation, feeding and transportation) covered by the WICB and is given a per diem to cover incidentals. We have written the WICB to confirm knowledge of the amounts spent while on their business and to advise when this amount will be paid.

Based on the foregoing where

1. 80% of expenditure on the card is for the President’s personal expenses and against the intended use of the card
2. Fees and charges are being incurred because of the misuse and failure to pay on timely manner
3. The JCA’s funds are as limited as they are and as such charges (annual fees, finance charges, late fees) cannot be afforded
4. Reported marketing initiatives being undertaken by the President needs to be better managed.

I am recommending that the card be withdrawn with immediate effect and the president asked to
account to this Board for such indiscretions on his part.

This official JCA document has a list of the itemised credit card charges, which includes trips to Burger King, So So Seafood and Ocho Rios Jerk.  paulcampbellcreditcard.pdf

Abuse of credit card privilege

Which WICB director rang up $712,311.60 in personal expenses on his association’s credit card and is now facing the embarrassment of having that credit card withdrawn with immediate effect?  We will publish an official document tomorrow to answer this question and to provide a long list of these personal expenses (gas stations, restaurants, sports bars, hotels and cricket clubs).

$20,000 more for the small islands

We just saw minutes of a WICB board meeting that showed the Windward and Leeward Islands receive $20,000 USD more than every other territory in development funds from the board.  It must be nice to have the President, CEO and Mr. Gregory Shillingford running things.

WICB Director profile: Gregory Shillingford

Mr. Gregory Shillingford is a former WICB CEO who was fired by the WICB Board of Directors for non-performance.

“The Board’s decision to terminate the services of the CEO followed consideration of a report on his performance conducted by its Review and Assessment Committee, a review of the evaluation process, and comments from each board member. The decision was unanimous.”

After accepting an ex-gratia payment (big U.S. dollars) under the condition that he not file a lawsuit, Mr. Shillingford turned around and took the WICB to court for wrongful dismissal.  As expected, he lost the case and was ordered by the court to pay the sum of 15,000.00 USD in costs.

That money still remains unpaid.  Mr. Shillingford is trying to get the WICB to say that he gave up certain travel expenses in exchange for paying the court costs but there is no WICB minutes or record to prove this.

Some important things to know

The WICB got less than US$250,000 for the sponsorship of the team for the Champions Trophy 2006 when the West Indies were the returning champions

The WICB got only US$300,000 for the sponsorship of the 2007 World Cup Team even though the games were being staged in the Caribbean.

That these two contracts were negotiated by Roger Brathwaite and he got 15% of both sponsorships.