A need for change.

Those were common words used by the Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven-led team ahead of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) elections last Thursday.

The majority of the 101 eligible delegates were apparently convinced.

Heaven, the CHASE Fund CEO swept to an emphatic 71-25 victory over the former JCA first vice-president Milton Henry, who for many, represented the old guard.

Henry, who was backed by the outgoing JCA boss Lyndel Wright, conceded that the magnitude of the defeat was telling.

“The voters have supported him (Heaven) strongly,” Henry said after Heaven was declared president at the Jamaica Conference Centre.

Additionally, Heaven’s entire executive slate won by similarly gaping margins.

“The delegates decided they want a change and they want to have fresh leadership,” said Henry, while adding that he will step away from cricket administration and focus on his job as an engineer.

The confident Heaven said his team had “presented the way forward” for Jamaica’s cricket. That, he believes, won over the minds of the electorate.

Dr Donovan Bennett, the second vice-president in Wright’s previous administration, beat Major Radcliffe Daley 69-28 for the job of first vice-president.

Dr Bennett has worked with Heaven before and he is confident in the latter man’s ability to garner revenue for the severely under-funded JCA.

“We were short of fresh thinking. We now have Mr Billy Heaven, who I worked with at the CHASE Fund for four years. I know his capabilities and I really expect him to bring in new ideas and new partners. We should be able to access the funding to move the programmes forward,” Dr Bennett said.

West Indies fast bowling legend Courtney Walsh turned back the challenge of South West St Ann member of parliament Keith Walford in an 80-17 rout for the job of second vice-president.

Walsh expects an increase in financial support will help the association to organise a greater number of cricket competitions.

“We have some plans that we want to execute. Cricket is going to be on the front-burner for sure,” said the former regional team captain.

Fritz Harris, who, like Dr Bennett, was a part of the previous executive, 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.

The elected board of directors are Baron Watson, Leston Pinnock, Lynden James, Deltonio Williams, Daren Powell, Cecil Fletcher, Wavell Hinds, Osmond Dann, Akshai Mansingh, Wayne Lewis, Mark Neita and Keith Campbell.