Saturday 04, October-2003

by Ezra Stuart

THE APPOINTMENT of Edward “Teddy” Griffith as president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has been hailed by his predecessor, Reverend Wes Hall.

He said Griffith, a former Barbados and Jamaica cricketer, who defeated Antiguan Clarvis Joseph by a vote of 9-4 at a WICB meeting in Antigua on Tuesday, combined marketing skills with a cricketing background.

“At this stage of our development, with a very young team of brilliant individuals and our finances beginning to look a lot better, it is really fantastic that someone like Teddy Griffith has become president. I think he will do well,” Hall said yesterday.

“He understands the cricket side of things and with his business, finance and marketing acumen, he has all the requirements for the job. “His ability to act and to speak authoritatively on international matters will be another plus. He has a very good executive body and a good board,” declared Hall.

He made the observation moments after making a presentation of cricket equipment on behalf of Champers Restaurant in Hastings, Christ Church, to three primary schools, including his alma mater, St Giles.

Another factor working in his favour, said Hall, was his familiarity with WICB affairs.

“Teddy is the man who authored our strategic plan after consultation with the stakeholders. Teddy was the chief architect in the WICB seeking and securing the loan last year which allowed us to implement the strategic plan for four years.

“Not only that, he has been a consultant to the board on a continuous basis and understands the system very well. I think his election is very good s,” said the former president, who resigned in June on health grounds after serving two years as the WICB boss.

While acknowledging Griffith might not be widely known in Barbados because he lived in Jamaica for a number of years, Hall said his successor was an experienced administrator.

“When he unfolds his plans on the way forward for West Indies cricket, people will get to know him. “Not all West Indian presidents were known internationally when they took up the position, but in a matter of months people began to appreciate their worth.”

He also said it would be unwise to compare his personality with that of Griffith.

“Life is a dramaturgy, some people are back stage operators, some are front stage, some are charismatic, some are shy. But like the Lebanese philosopher Gibran said: ‘Quietness is not weakness, it is a manifestation of strength and character.’ He will do very well.”

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