Dinanath Ramnarine, president of WIPA. - File

PORT-OF-SPAIN, Trinidad

(CMC):

THE WEST Indies Players' Association (WIPA) has contended that the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has again breached the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that exists between the two parties.

WIPA disclosed that the WICB's extension of its sponsorship agreement with Digicel was in contravention of Article 11 of the MoU, which states that prior consultation is necessary before any such arrangement is signed.

'Unilateral process'

"While WIPA is pleased to know that the WICB is always looking for ways to improve its finances through its sponsors or any other company, it is this unilateral process that WICB continues to insist on taking in deciding what is to be or not to be, thatWIPA cannot accept and which is erroneously construed in some quarters as 'obstructionist'," WIPA boss Dinanath Ramnarine said in a news release.

"WIPA believes that history is repeating itself with the signing of the renegotiated Digicel deal which WICB chief executive officer Bruce Aanensen gave the assurance that he expected no problems with the players' body.

"This (recent unilateral action or absence of consultation) by the WICB continues to undermine the maintenance and strengthening of good relations between both parties," Ramnarine said. "Further-more, WIPA is now forced to pay more careful attention to the protection of the players' intellectual property rights."

Property rights

Ramnarine questioned if after perusal of the new agreement which the WICB intends to send to WIPA and the players' representative takes exception or questions any part of it, will WIPA then be seen as the villain and being disruptive.

"Did it not occur to the WICB that a MoU exists and that WIPA should be included in discussions that affect players' intellectual property rights and welfare?" he asked. "Does the WICB recognise WIPA, as the MoU intended, or does it not?"

Ramnarine concluded that WIPA recognises and respects the authority of WICB within agreed parameters, but his organisation will continue to insist that the regional governing body operates in accordance with agreed procedures.