Heaven hits Henry for six in JCA presidential race
WILLIAM ‘Billy’ Heaven will be the man to guide Jamaica’s cricket for the next two years.
Some were predicting a close battle but Heaven ran away with victory in style.
Heaven, the CHASE Fund chief executive officer, resoundingly beat Milton Henry 71-25 in the presidential battle near the end of the association’s annual general meeting at the Jamaica Conference Centre yesterday.
The president-elect told reporters after the announcement that the delegates were clear.
“I think the result reflects the sense we were getting on the ground. We presented the way forward and our strategic planning, and the delegates bought into that,” Heaven said.
He added that the new Jamaica Cricket Association administration has “housekeeping matters to deal with” before moving cricket forward.
Crucial on the agenda, he says, is the task of bringing floodlights to Sabina Park to facilitate night cricket.
Henry, the first vice-president to former boss Lyndel Wright since May 2011, speaking in a soft tone, was humble and gracious in defeat.
“Let me congratulate Team Heaven. The delegates decided that way. You could not run (in an election and lose) and not be disappointed but we have to accept the results,” he told the Jamaica Observer.
Heaven’s entire slate was also successful.
Dr Donovan Bennett, who was second vice-president under Wright’s administration, beat Major Radcliffe Daley 69-28 for the job of first vice-president.
Heaven’s slate maintained its landslide operation when former fast bowling great Courtney Walsh defeated South West St Ann member of parliament Keith Walford 80-17 for second vice-president.
Fritz Harris beat Junior Stewart 75-21 for secretary; Clinton Clarke won 69-24 against Major Marlon Kennedy for assistant secretary; Wayne Sutherland defeated Nigel Logan 64-29 for treasurer; and Hopeton Morrison beat Mark Hill 67-26 for assistant treasurer.
