Embattled West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president and chief executive officer Wavell Hinds isn’t going anywhere.
Moreover, he has hit back strongly at Dwayne Bravo, rejecting a host of allegations made by the West Indies One-Day International captain.
In response to two letters on successive days, the last one demanding the resignation of the entire WIPA executive, Hinds made it clear that there was a process embedded in the organisation’s memorandum and articles of association regarding the election and removal of officers, and that calls for such action were not supported by the process.
“We were placed here by the rules of our association, and will leave only according to the will of the majority of our membership as provided for in those rules,” Hinds told Bravo.
“There will be no resignation by any member of the current executive as our negotiating team considered they had a mandate, took legal and industrial relations advice, consulted with members from time to time, if not all members, acted diligently and in good faith in the interest of all members mindful of our fiduciary duties as directors, and are of the view that they acted and fulfilled their duties properly in all the circumstances, including the subsequent ratification of the signing of the new agreement by the directors present at our board meeting held in Jamaica on October 2.”
The war of words between Hinds and the West Indies players started in a letter on Tuesday when the players claimed they were not consulted during the negotiations prior to the signing of the new memorandum of understanding (MOU) and collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between the WICB and WIPA and there was no little or no legal and industrial advice sought in the negotiations.
While Hinds concedes that best practices may not have been observed by not sharing the MOU/CBA with any but a small group of WIPA members, he disagrees with Bravo’s assertions that it was common practice for players to be given the opportunity to consider such documents.
The WIPA boss also said that contrary to the claim that match fees had been decreased by 75 per cent, the new agreement between WIPA and WICB reflected increases in match fees of 15 per cent across the board and annual retainer contracts moving up by between 12.5 per cent and 25 per cent.
In supporting his claim, Hinds said fees for Test matches were proposed to move from US$5 000 to US$5 750, ODIs to increase from US$2 000 to US$2 300 and Twenty20 Internationals to go from US$1 500 to US$1 725. Additionally, retainer contracts are to be increased from an annual range of between US$80 000 to US$120 000 to a new range of between US$100 000 to US$150 000.
Hinds also disputed assertions claiming ignorance on the part of the “senior players” regarding the proposal to discontinue the payment of US$35 000 per day of cricket for the benefit of members of the senior West Indies team, and the reallocation of the cash to help to fund retainer contracts for an additional 90 members of WIPA.
Hinds contended that Bravo and other senior players attended WIPA’s annual general meeting in Trinidad on February 1 and participated in lively and lengthy discussions on the matter following a presentation by WIPA director Michael Hall.
“The minutes of that AGM record your comments expressing 100 per cent support for this initiative and you will be provided with a copy of the resolution authorising the WIPA executive to pursue same, which was passed by majority vote of the members present on the floor,” the WIPA boss added.
Hinds also responded to suggestions that there was a “special relationship” between WIPA and the WICB which seeks to “embarrass” and “demonise” some players who represent the West Indies, by stating that the relationship which exists between WIPA and the WICB is special only insofar as it is a departure from the previous adversarial nature which characterised it under WIPA’s previous leadership.
“My executive has made a designed effort to operate in an environment of mutual respect and professionalism, with the common goal of providing an opportunity to earn a liveable wage for more of your fellow cricketers, while attempting to produce better cricketers. I hope that you would see the value in such an approach,” Hinds said. (HG)
