Elsie,
I hardly know what to make of your piece but what peeks my attention is your assertion that WI Cricket will eventually break up.
Why ?
If you are of such certainty then it would be more prudent and best for every one that this is done sooner rather than later.
But I disagree about your assertion. WI cricket does not have to go the way of the ill conceived Federation.
People who wants it to survive will work for such.
One country's Exit should not mean its demise but whether it lives or dies does not matter a row of pins to me.
Each Nation should pick its own poison. West Indies was not invented or birthed by Caribbean people but by the Enslavers through their
Colonial Office via the MCC who even gave it a Maroon colour separate from England,Australia,New Zealand and South Africa who were
all acorded red white and blue as their identifiable state.Much later the KIWIS through their main past time ,Rugby veered to black.
No one knows the significance of Maroon, except some may guess that it honours the Jamaican Maroons who were the first to defeat the
British in war in the new world. Perhaps you and others who so revere this West Indies concept can shed some light.
Were it left to me and others, Jamaica would have gone on its own at Independence in 1962 .As an independent nation ,
a paradigm shift should have occurred. As it transpired, my country still set out to assert itself on its own in other sports
endeavours and other things to have worldwide recognition. And that we have done. We we alone in cricket we would have done the
the same as a national imperative.
We don't need to be a part of any joint venture in Sports to achieve. The world ,including the Caribbean Islands know well
our resolve and achievements and leadership as a people.
We do not have to prove ourselves to anyone. That we have been linked with cricket is no fault or design on our part.
Our cricket was not developed by the triangular series among Guyana,Barbados and Trinidad. Rather it was by
the several tours of British teams but were in pole position as a Jamaicans was the first Captain on the initial
Test tour in 1928. Barbados first visit to Jamaica was in 1947. Yes 1947.Guyana came in 1951. We played one or two
games in late 1800s in the then Demerara(BG) and Barbados but none in Trinidad until the 1930s although Trinidad
visited us in 1910 and again in 1946.
We did not need WI cricket as much as you all. Yet the first captain was Jamaican to the initial Test tour in 1928
and Jamaicans were included as quota picks for early engagements in England in 1900 and 1906. even bi lateral arrangements were few and far between.
History has shown that you could NOT DO Without us ,even though we were not closely alligned.
I am sure you are well aware of the history but I painted that picture just to show that the Colonial enslavers were the ones that
named West Indies and even dictated the color Maroon. What was and is the significance of that color.
She some light on it as I doubt that it is related to the Maroons of Jamaica who beat the British in war in early 1700s .We had little or no say in our own affairs
then and apparently still so in Jamaica.
If you can't do without us tell us so. Because apparently you still do and can't do without us. Another example of this is a CEO, recently named
and he is Jamaican. I for one would never have taken any position in West Indies cricket. But to each his own.
We were as a people dictated to. And we still are in many ways.
I have no malice towards towards anyone about anything let alone over a fraud of a 'country' called West Indies.
I am well aware that for some of you ,that is all you have and that being so, it must mean a lot to you.
Since the powers that be in my country would not consider leaving, I entreat you all to use your feet
and place on our derriere.OUT. You can do without us fine.
Thanks for now and I will thank you very much, LATER.
