WHITHORN, Westmoreland — Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) president Paul Campbell and first vice-president Lindel Wright both outlined their plans for the local association at the Westmoreland Cricket Association’s (WCA) AGM on Monday.

Campbell had high praises for the WCA in respect of its successes in Women’s Cricket and Men’s Twenty20 and especially for outgoing president Cleveland ‘Danny’ Keddo.

Keddo, who has been at the helm for the past 26 years, received a standing ovation from the over 60 persons present, before Campbell recounted the successes of his two years as JCA head.

“October 2008 to September 2010 has been the most successful period in the history of Jamaica’s cricket, not only in terms of winning six of the eight trophies competed for, but also in terms of administration and technical direction to see to the business of the sport,” Campbell said.

He said his team includeds Wright and Fritz Harris, who was also present, along with other JCA officers Randy Nelson (who like Harris is a director) and Honorary Secretary Ian Brown.

His slate includes Cornwall Board chairman Cecil Fetcher and both the president and secretary of the St Mary Cricket Association, Derrick Worrell and Jeanette Rose-Brown, respectively.

“The first thing we did was to strengthen the accountability and transparency process by having the finance, cricket development and the marketing & development committees chaired by non-board members,” Campbell said.

“Next term I will ensure there is an ethics committee to look at concerns raised,” Campbell added. He, however, admitted to a weakness in effective communication, which he proposes to fix by “establishing a presidential council”.

“The business of sport is critical, so we must do more to promote it,” he noted. “We’ve assembled a team that has the requisite skill to build on solid foundation.”

Said Wright: “Tonight is your night,” while assuring the gathering he would not stay at the crease for long.

“… I must say how pleasing it is to likewise give praise to Keddo and his board and also for you supporting Stephanie Taylor.

“As a former player who had encouragement from the Board, sponsors and club, we think that the road for Jamaica cricket is development of the whole man — mind, body and spirit.

“We want to ensure they will be able to live and give back,” Wright stated, explaining that “we want to establish a chaplaincy unit to provide mentoring for players.”

“Good governance, effective communication, proper marketing and promotion are areas we will work on as well as establishing a relationship with the Ministry of Education for player development at the Early Childhood Institution stage,” Wright said.