Hope returns for another shot at presidency

Vice-president Calvin Hope has again thrown his hat into the ring to contest the presidency of the Barbados Cricket Association (BCA).

He will oppose Jeff Broomes, Henderson Wallace and Philo Wallace at the BCA’s 23rd Special Meeting of Members in seeking election on August 12.

Having played second fiddle for eight years to incumbent president Conde Riley, Hope is looking to take the reins of the 92-year-old organisation which was formed in 1933.

A board member since 1997, he said his experience is vital to local cricket administration at a crucial juncture for the sport.

 “This is the most critical time of Barbados’ cricket. Now is a time to employ experience. I’ve been there, I have grown as an administrator with the organisation,” said Hope, who by three votes narrowly lost the 2023 presidential run to Riley.

 The sitting vice-president has promised to introduce measures for progress at both junior and senior levels.

 “We have to move these kids now to the next level. If elected as president in the next term, I will certainly introduce measures and better systems for improvement at that age-group level and at the senior level,” said Hope.

 “Most of all, my focus will be on strengthening school cricket, strengthening club cricket and by that the systems that are in place there…. improving them with better coaching, and adding advice from cricket legends of Barbados,” he said, indicating that he will be relying on the knowledge of Barbados and West Indies cricket legends.

 “All of these people will be looking to assist us in building the cricket system of Barbados.”

 Expressing worry over the lack of member participation and involvement within the BCA, Hope said he recognised the need to revamp the association’s outreach.

“The eco-system of Barbados cricket needs to be energised, and Hope will do that,” said the attorney-at-law and former Barbados youth captain who teased the release of his manifesto.

 “I am a game-centred administrator, I leave no stone unturned. In terms of the commercial side of our organisation, plenty effort will go into embracing the private sector and building alliances locally, regionally, and internationally,” he said. “In recent weeks I’ve had a meeting with the Commonwealth Society of Barbados and its international link [about] how we can work together to build out cricket in the name of peace…. peace at the crease and peace in our community.

“And for funding, to broaden and to build a fund for the infrastructural development of cricket in Barbados, and there will be other alliances that we will build. With the support of the board and my colleagues, we will build a unifying force to rebuild, restore, and reset Barbados cricket to a level that will inform West Indies cricket.”

 Hope was critical of Cricket West Indies’ decision to restructure the coaching setup in 2019.

 “A lot of things have happened since 2019. The decision in 2019 to dismantle the coaching structure and to dismantle the management team and the whole system around that…. we were very successful against England in 2019…. and then all of a sudden you had a change in presidency or regime, and since then everything has nosedived to where we are today under the former president [Ricky Skerritt] and now this president [Dr Kishore Shallow].” 

Meanwhile, incumbent BCA secretary and Government Senator Gregory Nicholls seeks re-election in the same position against Jo-Ann Haynes. 

 Former West Indies and Barbados cricketer Carlos Brathwaite is seeking a directorship post, along with recently retired BCA Chief Executive Officer Dr Roland Toppin, Dr Rudolph Alleyne, Winston Haynes, Kamal Springer, and Henderson Wallace who has been nominated for the posts of president and director.

rohansonnwaithe@barbadostoday.bb