Last Monday evening, the West Indies Cricket Board and the Jamaica Cricket Association commemorated some significant events in the life of West Indies Cricket. It was a celebration of George 'Atlas' Headley 100th birthday, the 60th anniversary of Sir Everton Weekes' five consecutive Test hundreds, the 50th anniversary of Barbados' national hero, Sir Garfield Sobers' world record of highest test score of 365 not out, Shivnarine Chanderpaul's award as 2008 test cricketer of the year and quite appropriately, in light of the visit of the Andrew Strauss-led English Team, the remembrance of the 50th anniversary of England's first tour of the West Indies.

This commemoration was to herald West Indies Cricket back to winning. It was an excellent idea to parade the greats and their dominance of world cricket with the hope that this legacy will inspire the Christopher Gayle-led West Indies cricket team to formidableness.

Therefore, by today, the West Indies should be showing early signs of dominance. This is likely when it is remembered that we have the number one One Day batsman, Gayle and the number one test batsman, Chanderpaul. At the gala event on Monday, Chanderpaul related how earlier in the day, he offered, to a certain bowler, to buy a bottle of beer if he was bowled in the nets. Needless to say 'Shiv' did not have to spend any money which means that Steve Harmisson and company will be having a hard time getting him out. And, indeed, West Indies cricket is on the rise. We have moved one place up on the ICC rankings.

His analytical best

Nevertheless, the honourable Bruce Golding, prime minister of Jamaica, the guest speaker at this elaborate event, did not give an after-dinner speech. In any case there was no dinner. Instead, the prime minister was at his analytical best and told the West Indies Board that 'individual empires must give way' to the collective good. He reminded the audience that CARICOM heads of government have given cricket special attention as a sport. He magnanimously recalled the work of the former prime minister of Jamaica, P J Patterson and his committee and recalled that only 60 per cent of the recommendations of the Patterson committee have been implemented.

Good step

The West Indies Board needs to address the issue of the composition of the Board. Let's hope that the problem with the failure to address the composition of the Board as recommended by the Patterson Committee was not due to the fact that the Committee was established by the Ken Gordon Board.

The West Indies Cricket Board, under the leadership of Dr Julian Hunte has allowed a player's representative to be in attendance only at Board meetings. That was a good initial step. However, it is time to give the players representative voting rights. I have recommended previously that the team captain as well as a past captain should be on the Board. The West Indies Cricket Board has lost nine consecutive arbitrations. It is obvious that it needs a good lawyer on-board and no doubt, persons with other specialised skills.

The Board also needs fresh ideas. Years ago Brian Lara, batting genius, suggested that we develop a fan base in which West Indian fans could become a member by making a nominal donation (in US currency). No one has implemented this idea.

West Indies cricket needs to get back to winning both on and off the field, both on the pitch and in the board room.

FOOTNOTE: In last week's article, 'Who wants to be a GG?' (January 29, 2009) there was the statement 'And the governor general should, in my opinion, have resigned.' That was an editorial amendment. I apologise for any inconvenience caused to the governor general, Sir Kenneth Hall.

Devon Dick is pastor of the Boulevard Baptist Church and author of Rebellion to Riot: the church in nation building. Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com