The West Indies Players Association (WIPA) met recently to appoint three new board members and to review its three-year strategic plan for the period 2011-2013. The three new additions to the WIPA Board of Directors are the Honourable Derick Milton Latibeaudiere, Mr. Dave Kissoon, and Mr. Michael Hall. The appointments took effect on the 26th of November, 2010.

Over the two-day sitting on November 24th and 25th, the board reviewed the WIPA vision, the mission and the long-term strategy including stakeholder management and the association’s relationship agenda. Central to the discussions were players services (concomitant with best practices in cricket and player development worldwide), the continuation of the WIPA T20 club tournament along with other events-driven engagements; and the expansion of the WIPA in the Community Program. In particular, the success of the WIPA in the Community Program was noted. The association has over a three-year period, expanded program participation from an original 300 youths at start up, to some 1500 beneficiaries– a growth of 500%. WIPA is focussed on maintaining this trend for the next cycle. In keeping with WIPA’s vision for this programme, discussions are on-going with other regional corporate entities in an effort to expand this project to the other Caribbean territories.

President & CEO Dinanath Ramnarine confirmed that existing challenges were addressed and that clear guidance was provided by the board on resolution and closure to some lingering matters. The WIPA Board also made some recommendations for initiatives and interventions that will foster improved player performance and which could over time, see West Indies players on the rise again.

The Board commended Ramnarine and the WIPA Executive Management Team for sticking to its mandate to ensure professional and effective governance in cricket. The team was also encouraged in its ongoing initiatives to enhance the professional competencies and continuing education of its staff and members, and to focus their pursuit of the development and welfare of its membership.

At the end of the sitting, the WIPA board confirmed its commitment to upgrade the performance of the organization and to serving the WIPA Executive Team and its members, and to providing the quality of service and counsel deserving of the association’s forward agenda and remit. In response, Ramnarine assured members present, that “We of the WIPA executive will continue to persevere in the critical role as an indispensable source of player representation in regional cricket.”

With the new appointments, the three new board members join existing members President – Dinanath Ramnarine, Vice-President – Wavell Hinds, Secretary – Andrew Richardson, Assistant Secretary – Samuel Badree and Treasurer – Ramnaresh Sarwan, in overseeing the affairs of WIPA.

Ramnarine also conveyed his deep appreciation that persons of the calibre presented by the new directors, are willing to lend their knowledge and expertise to strengthening the association’s ability to deliver on its mandate. Ramnarine said, ‘On behalf of the WIPA Executive Management Team, I welcome the appointment of these three Caribbean statesmen as an opportunity to bolster the association’s capacity in the areas of law, finance and management and look forward to working with them in service of cricketing excellence in the region’.