Fletcher

Western Bureau:

Jamaica cricket umpire Cecil Fletcher was, on Sunday, re-elected unopposed to serve a second term as president of the St James Cricket Association (StJCA) at the association's annual general meeting, which was held at the Montego Bay Cricket Club in St James.

"It is clear to me that the affiliates are pleased with the work that was done during my first term so they have asked me to continue," said Fletcher. "I have a very good team working with, so I am quite confident that we will be able to continue on our mission to rebuild the parish's cricket."

The new administration reads: Fletcher, president; Ian Brown, first vice-president; Cleveland Blake, second vice-president; Coretta Longman, secretary; Oniel English, assistant secretary; Howard Dears, treasurer and Clive Waldron, assistant treasurer.

In addition to the central executive, Jerry Reid, Chester Sterling, Heroy Clarke, Ainsworth Henry, Grantley Miller, Raphael Houston and Osmond Erskines were all elected as directors and will serve with the executive.

In a bid to ensure that future administrations will have enough time to develop and execute programmes, the StJCA adopted a resolution to extend the life of the board from one to two years, which means the next voting annual general meeting will be in 2011.

Plans to expand competition

Fletcher, who got high commendations from the affiliates for the sterling work he did last year - which included reviving the domestic competition, which had seen no action under his predecessor, the late Tom Chambers - said the competition will be expanded this year.

"We are looking at starting the domestic season towards the end of the month with some 14 competing teams," said Fletcher, who as chairman of Cornwall County Board, is the top cricket official in western Jamaica.

"We will be having new teams in Norwood, Police and Cornwall Courts," said Fletcher, who stated that he is looking for a full-scale revival of cricket in St James.

"In addition, we will be seeing the return of Cornwall Regional Hospital, which has been out of St James domestic cricket for several years."

The 14 competing teams are: Roehampton CC, Riahs CC, Montego Bay Cricket Club, Overton CC, Orange SC, Mafoota, Cambridge, Belmont, Montego Bay CC, St James Youths, Norwood, Police, Cornwall Courts and Cornwall Regional Hospital.