STAFANIE Taylor and Marlon Samuels were predictably named 2012 Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) Female and Male Cricketers of the Year, respectively, at the local body’s annual Awards Dinner at the UWI Mona Visitors’ Lodge on Friday, but the evening was arguably highlighted by a bold declaration from former Prime Minister PJ Patterson.

Patterson, in thanking the JCA for a special presentation made to honour his contribution to the sport regionally, spiritedly said he has an outstanding goal and that is to “ensure that the Sabina Park is properly lit” in time for the start of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) Twenty20 (T20) tournament.

The Jamaican Government has been lambasted for not putting in lights at Sabina Park, either prior to the region’s staging of the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup or since, though the country disbursed over US$100 million for its part in hosting the tournament.

Six years on, Jamaica remains the only leading Caribbean nation without the requisite infrastructure for international night cricket.

The country is currently a franchise holder for the inaugural CPL set to run from July 29 to August 26, but could lose that status if temporary or permanent artificial lights are not installed.

In a speech that provided a profound boost for the Lyndel Wright-led JCA, Patterson, who was head of Government between 1992 and 2006, held no secret as to his interest in having the implementation of lights at the Sabina venue.

“I thank you (the JCA) very much for this honour… I’m pleased to have contributed to the game in the way that has been mentioned and I think I have at least one immediate task, and that is ensure that the Sabina Park is properly lit,” he said to rapturous cheers from the gathering, which included minister with responsibility for sport, Natalie Neita-Headley and guest speaker and GraceKennedy Group Chairman Douglas Orane, members of the JCA hierarchy, and various government and private sector officials.

Others in attendance were president of the Jamaica Olympic Association Michael Fennell, Jamaica Boxing Board of Control president Stephen Jones, and members of the diplomatic community as well as players, coaches, administrators, and officials.

Taking aim at influential persons from the private sector to play a role, Patterson remarked that it would be a “total tragedy” if Jamaica was to miss out on the CPL opportunity.

“It would be a total tragedy if when the T20 starts, Jamaica, the major cricketing country in the Caribbean, not only by dint of size, but the record of performance we’ve heard described…if we were to be deprived of the opportunity of hosting the matches,” Patterson said to another thunderous round of applause.

Earlier in the reception, Orane, in his concise but lively speech, also stridently urged for lights to be put in at the Sabina Park ground.

“I’m heartened to hear that a new Caribbean cricket competition is in the offing called the Caribbean Premier League,” he said, while adding that having lights at Sabina is “highly desirable” for all concerned.

Significantly, Orane was also forthright in his call for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) to implement the Patterson-led Governance Committee on West Indies Cricket Report of October 2007, also known as the Patterson Report.

“There has been universal disappointment and frustration about the non-implementation of what is colloquially called the Patterson Report of 2007.

“I vociferously add my voice to the demand for change,” he said amid cheers and nods of agreement from the audience.

The report, commissioned by then WICB President Ken Gordon, outlines a radical restructuring of the regional governing body that many argue would see a change towards a new era of transparency and cricket governance.

In making suggestions on how financially strapped clubs can regain relevance and respectability on the local circuit, the GraceKennedy head honcho encouraged former players to play more active roles in the entities that helped to form their careers.

Meanwhile, Taylor and Samuels, who also won the respective awards the season before, were acknowledged by the association for their gigantic achievements throughout the last year.

Samuels, the West Indies middle-order batsman, was remarkable in all formats with the bat and was perhaps the regional team’s most influential performer during their sensational triumph at the T20 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Taylor, the top-ranked ICC Women’s One-Day International (ODI) all-rounder, led the West Indies team admirably with both bat and ball throughout the year, and missed Friday’s function as she is away with the regional side on a tour of Sri Lanka.

The senior Jamaica men’s team was presented with memorabilia in honour of their winning the Regional Four-Day title for five-consecutive years and was also acknowledged for being the Regional Super50 title-holder.

The national women’s team was awarded for their championship winning exploits in the inaugural Regional Twenty20 competition on home soil.

The national Under-17s and the visually impaired teams were also regional champions.

A special award was presented to former national hairman of selectors Ruddy Williams for his over 50 years of service as both player and administrator.

Kingston Wharves Chairman Grantley Stephenson accepted a JCA sponsorship award for his company’s long-running partnership in staging the annual local Under-15 competition.