WEST Indies Players Association (WIPA) director Michael Hall has praised the efforts of president Dinanath Ramnarine, despite criticism in some quarters that the former regional leg-spinner has been overzealous and abrasive in his interactions with the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

The outspoken Ramnarine, who is also WIPA’s chief executive officer (CEO), has on numerous occasions been at loggerheads with the regional governing cricket body in matters relating to players’ disputes, cricket scheduling, accommodation and playing facilities, but Hall insists the Trinidadian’s understanding of the issues is unrivalled.

“I have every confidence in the job that he is doing because he knows the issues inside out and I know that he will follow them through in the way they ought to be. I know that the president and CEO of WIPA is very much a man who believes in procedure and following things to the letter.

“I don’t think there is anybody in the Caribbean who understands the issues as they now exist better than he does and if he is guilty of anything I think it is for working harder than anybody else would, to improve the conditions for the players,” Hall told the Observer on Saturday.

With the impending expiry of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) and the collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that govern the relationship between WIPA and the WICB, both sides are set to meet and negotiate on new terms in the near future.

He explained that both parties have already put forward their proposals and emphasised the need to put “the interest of West Indies cricket first”.

“Both agreements expire in September this year and both parties have put forward proposals for certain changes to what was previously agreed upon. We will sit down and try to negotiate. WIPA is waiting on the WICB to decide on dates that have been put forward. If we come to the table with a genuine desire and be rational and recognise that the proposals conform to what is normal in other professional sports then I think we can make some progress.

“Both sides have to come to the table with an open mind. If people are willing to be honest and mean what they say about putting the interest of West Indies cricket first, I don’t see why what has happened before needs to cloud what takes place,” Hall said.

The MOU and CBA outline rights and responsibilities with respect to terms and conditions for engagement of players, match fees and grievance procedures, but in the past WICB officials have described the documents as “unworkable”.

Since the signing of these agreements in September 2006, when issues between the two have not been resolved at the negotiation and mediation levels, the regional players’ body has won every case that has been brought before an independent arbitration.