The Editor, Sir:

For some time now, the people of the Caribbean have watched the West Indies Cricket team plunge deeper and deeper into a state of disrepair. We have watched the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) perpetuate old and worn ideas, dressed up as new and stimulating materials, only to be disappointed even more.

Over the last few years, the contentious issue of the players' contracts between the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and the WIBC take the spotlight just before the start of every Test series. The sad thing is, no member of the WICB seems adept at providing the Caribbean people with an explanation regarding the real issue and how they intend to resolve it.

A contract is a written agreement where all parties list their obligations and expectations in simple, declarative sentences in plain and unambiguous language.

A good contract is a win-win deal and must pass three basic tests:

1. Everyone gets what they want out of it.

2. Everyone is assured of equal measures of protection should the other party or parties fail to meet their obligations.

3.It should be as simple as possible and unambiguous.

A contract does not force a party to do anything he or she does not want to do. That's what the courts and laws are for.

I find it difficult to understand that the individuals entrusted with the administrative responsibility of the cricket are persons who have had successful careers in business, or who head large organisations, yet they cannot seem to settle a dispute over contracts for fewer than 30 people. The plain and simple truth is they do not care. They seem to have the form but the the truth is they lack the real power and vision.

Proper planning

I read an article in one of our newspapers saying that the WICB was "committed to the make-shift team". How can you declare your commitment to an arrangement devoid of proper planning? How long will it be before this "makeshift team" becomes disgruntled over the same contractual arrangement? Do you again declare commitment to a new makeshift team? One word describes all of this - visionlessness. What has become of the Patterson Committee's Report?

Regardless of what is happening, our leaders should make an effort ensure that the people of the Caribbean have the best West Indies Cricket team representing them at all times.

Where there is no vision, cricket will perish.

I am, etc.,

DONOVAN MCNEILL

dmcneil98@yahoo.com