Lequay Wins The Day
Alloy Lequay was not even in the race for presidency of the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board but he won the day nevertheless.
After 21 uninterrupted years as head of the TTCBC, Lequay stepped aside and handed over the gavel to his handpicked successor Ellis Lewis -- who won the election in a 30-13 vote over absent challenger Deryck Murray.
Murray, who was not allowed to attend the meeting, picked up only 13 of the 43 available votes and, at the end, Lequay hinted strongly that he'll be around in 2005 when the post is again up for grabs.
Throughout the run-up to the elections, Ellis Lewis kept a very low profile and allowed Lequay to take the attack to Murray. At times it got downright dirty with Lequay accusing the former West Indies wicket-keeper of being ungrateful. Not once during the campaign did Lewis make a public statement, a strategy that allows him to take the reins without having been involved in the public tit-for-tat.
Lequay stays on in the paid position as chief executive officer.
Lewis, a West Indies Cricket Board's (WICB) director, told the gathering afterwards that although it was hard to fill the shoes of Lequay, he would still be an effective leader.
"I therefore hope, that while styles may be different, effectiveness is not compromised. Alloy's view will still be important to us as CEO, but I am the president,? Lewis said.
In the two other contested positions, former executive member Baldath Mahabir (28) defeated Lalman Kowlessar (11) for the second vice-president office, while the incumbent Anana Daniel (28) won over Forbes Persaud (14) for the post of secretary.
Former Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies opening batsman Suruj Ragoonath is one of two new Executive members. The other is Arjoon Ramlal.
Four persons retained their position on the Executive including Rambhai Patel (38) who polled the most votes, Azim Bassarath (31), Patrick Rampersad (32). and Anne Browne-John (31). Long serving member Harry Narine was voted out off the Executive.
* With reporting by the Trinidad Guardian.