BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - NEW St. Kitts Cricket Association (SKCA) President, Dennis Phillip has outlined his plans to resurrect cricket to levels once enjoyed in the past by once again getting the public excited about the sports discipline.
In an exclusive interview, Phillip shared the SKCA’s vision with SKNVibes.
“My election was based on a vision to resurrect cricket. Cricket in the last decade has been in the doldrums and my vision and primary goal is to re-energise local cricket and take it back to a level where people are excited about it and young people want to play cricket, and the pinnacle putting somebody on the West Indies Team.
“Cricket has been in the doldrums for the last decade and is due to the fact that we have so many grounds government-owned and controlled, and the availability to use these grounds are not there.”
He explained how the new executive plans to tackle the issue of unavailability of grounds to the SKCA and cricketers.
“It is therefore our intention to partner with the Ministry of Sport and have them vest the control of the Conaree Cricket Ground to the hands of the St. Kitts Cricket Association, who in turn will maintain and improve the condition of the facility. With that being done, it will give young people and cricketers on a whole the possibility of a ground being available almost 24/7, from in the mornings when they feel like practicing until the evenings. And then we will use that facility to expose them in the forms of leagues and matches on the weekends.”
Phillip further explained the plans they have for the facility.
“We want to build our office over there. Put on an additional level to house the cricket association and also the Leeward Islands Cricket Association that is based here in St. Kitts. We want to have a full presence there; run all of our affairs there in addition to cricket.”
He was then asked what the new executive’s priority is.
“We have had to refocus and correct some of the administrative policies. We are looking at a proper MOU with the Government. And really, the main focus in all of this is to get local cricket going again. We have not had cricket played for at least three years…we had some forms of it where there was no climax.”
Phillip is confident of being able to change what has become the status quo of local cricket, in the league not being completed year after year.
“We are so confident! What we looked at is that in the past all the administrations went in and they followed a particular pattern that was set. In politics a new government doesn’t really go in and follow old government policies unless they can’t be changed. What we have looked at if it has not been working, is that it needs to be changed.
“We are confident if you have access to a facility even though it is in Basseterre. I believe that in time we will develop another ground or two using the same policy in the rural areas. We certainly don't have the resources to concentrate on all the grounds, so we want to start with one, basically starting all over again.”
Phillip disclosed that they are currently looking at developing a calendar with the aim of getting cricket started as early as May. He also disclosed plans of a T20 tournament to be named after Keeth Athurton.
“We believe by the middle of May to the end of May we should see it kickoff. Right now we are going to be sensitising the public and going on membership drives as we put all these things in place. Additionally, we want cricketers to get back out there and start practicing. We don't want to start a league with people who are out of form.”
The SKCA President also commented on the relationship with the Government thus far.
“The Ministry itself has been responsive. We are moving to put in place a MOU. As you know, there is a new administration in and though they might adopt the same policy on cricket, we still need to sit with them and discuss the matter.”
Phillip will be ably supported by Vice President Charles Morton, Treasurer Franklin Maitland, Secretary Conrad Kelly and Assistant Secretary Treasurer Robert Jeffers.
