10 Questions For Whycliffe 'Dave' Cameron

CaribbeanCricket.com posed ten questions to Whycliffe "Dave" Cameron who is one of two candidates nominated for the post of President of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). Cameron, who is the vice president, withdrew his candidacy for president two years ago when current president Dr. Julian Hunte decided to run for another term. With Hunte again changing his mind about giving up the presidency, the two candidates will vie for the votes of six territorial boards when elections are held on March 27.

The voting members of the WICB are the shareholders, who each have two votes. They are as follows:

Barbados Cricket Association; Guyana Cricket Board; Jamaica Cricket Association; Leeward Islands Cricket Association; Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control.

1. Why have you pressed ahead with your campaign to be West Indies Cricket Board president this time around, in light of Dr Julian Hunte’s wish to serve yet another term?

I have pressed ahead with my campaign to be President at this time as the majority of the Board members at the WICB, felt that it was time for a new and diverse vision for West Indies Cricket. They felt that this time was the opportune having had some success on the field recently to build on.

2. What sets you apart and therefore makes you feel you are the best candidate for the job at this time?

My involvement in cricket dates back 31 years. Although I have not played at the highest level, I have served in all capacities and have relationships across the region having attended the University of the West Indies - Centre for Hotel and Tourism Management in the Bahamas. I recognize and have an appreciation for regionalism, Caribbean unity and pride.

3. If victorious, how would you spend your first six weeks in office?

My first 6 weeks in office will be spent reshaping our strategic plan. The plan exists and one of the objectives was to strengthen the Territorial Boards. This will be utmost in the plans as these shareholders need to take on more responsibility and be accountable and the WICB will be held accountable by them. This will be achieved by finalizing an MOU between the respective Boards.

Not in a particular order, but we have a judgement on the MOU with WIPA due the day before election. Win, lose or draw I would be seeking to extend the contract on the basis that we can negotiate and finalize an agreement before Sept 30, 2013 to coincide with our new financial year. This will be on the basis of a percentage of the Board's revenues being allocated to a player pool and WIPA and WICB deciding how that pool gets allocated between International and Regional Players.

Immediately the Board of Directors will undertake a culture workshop with the staff at the secretariat to ensure that our vision and mission are aligned.

4. Why have you chosen Emmanuel Nanthan as your Vice President? Given that he is the President of the Windward Islands Cricket Association, this must put the Directors in an awkward position, trying to decide who to support.

Mr Nanthan has been a sterling performer in the Windwards. I am sure you can attest to the improvement of the Windwards under his leadership, hence the reason for choosing him. As leader of the team, we will always pick performance.

5. Speaking of territorial boards, whose support are you sure of at the moment?

Windward Islands, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Barbados is also undecided as well as Guyana.

6. Elected officials are often blamed for forgetting the electorate after making endless promises on the campaign trail. What are the key points in your manifesto and what assurance can you give all territorial boards (TB) that, should you win, their needs will be considered during your term in office?

Taking blame is not new. I have been President of my club for 14 years, Treasurer of JCA and a director for 11 years. Please see a copy of manifesto attached.

7. You have played cricket at the school and club level and you have been President of the Kensington Cricket Club for many years. What do you think the WICB needs to, and can do in the short term, to quickly bring back the enthusiasm and excitement to club cricket?

As I have stated in my manifesto and previously, the strategy is to focus on the TB and transfer the responsibility. With the transfer of responsibility we will also have to reallocate monies to ensure that the clubs and TB's have some amount of direct funding to assist with their continued responsibilities and they will be held accountable for the resources that they receive.

So a performance and reward system will be introduced to keep all stakeholders vested and hopefully attract private investors to the game who would otherwise not be attracted. Hence the clubs will benefit directly when players attain International status. This change in structure will also allow more players to remain in the game for longer and contribute to the improvement of the clubs.

8. What has been your strategy to shake the suggestion of impropriety in your handling of Digicel’s sponsorship of your club’s refurbishment during the negotiations between them and the WICB to be team sponsor?

I am not sure how one shakes the suggestion when that was insinuated by a learned Judge. However for Justice Lucky the report did not uncover any mishandling of the process of granting Digicel the rights to sponsor West Indies cricket.

9. How will you approach improving the relationship with the West Indies Players Association and in what way might it help that its President is Wavell Hinds, Kensington’s former captain?

The fact that Wavell Hinds is President is a big plus. I have held discussions with him and Michael Hall on the way forward and we agree on a number of issues. The issue with WIPA and WICB is one of mistrust as it is with us as Caribbean people. Our discussions centre around how can we give each other a chance and be as transparent as possible while respecting the rights of each other's organization. WICB also need to recognize we need to support the organization and they have to be more accountable to the board and to the region as a whole.

10. What are two interesting non-cricket facts about you which the public might be surprised to know?

I was shortlisted for the Rhodes Scholarship in 1992 having attained a First class honors and was President of the Students Association in 1991-1992.

I represented Jamaica at the World International Practical Shooting Championship in South Africa in 2002.