TENSION continues to rise amongst the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) board of directors after Tuesday’s vote to support cricket legend Joel Garner instead of the beleaguered incumbent Whycliffe ‘Dave’ Cameron for the presidency of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).

It is understood that some board members have put forward resolutions for there to be a determination by the entire association at the JCA’s annual general meeting on February 17, which could see the decision being overturned.

JCA secretary Fritz Harris confirmed the split within the board membership of the association.

“Members have expressed some level of unease with the process that was used,” he told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. “There are arguments from both sides and, at least, it warrants a discussion.”

At the meeting on Tuesday, the JCA directors voted 10-6 in favour of Barbadian Garner, the former West Indies fast bowler and current head of the Barbados Cricket Association.

The vote has not gone down well with some board members who feel that Jamaica’s support should have been thrown behind their compatriot Cameron.

But it is believed that others among the JCA lost faith in Cameron after the premature end to the India-West Indies series late last year, due to players on tour falling out with the WICB as well as with WIPA, the union representing them.

Since then, the powerful and wealthy Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has made a US$42- million claim in compensation from the WICB, given the substantial loss of money involved in the termination of the tour.

Future tours between the teams are also at risk.

Cecil Fletcher, a JCA director and head of the St James Cricket Association, has tendered a letter of resignation, apparently unhappy with the decision taken by JCA directors at that meeting.

Wayne Lewis, another director and the secretary of West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), said in a television interview that members had not been given the opportunity to make an informed decision when they voted in Garner’s favour.

According to Lewis, the former Jamaica batsman, on January 20 members discussed which direction they would take after the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was set to have nominated Cameron and was asking for Jamaica’s support.

There was a delay in that process, but it was said that JCA president Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven argued that both candidates should first make presentations to the members.

Lewis said Cameron made a presentation to the JCA members ahead of them voting. He argued, however, that Garner was not able to make a similar delivery after a failed telephone link.

He said that there was a connection with Garner via the phone, but that move was aborted because the presidential aspirant was barely audible. Despite not getting Garner’s presentation, members went on to vote, leaving Cameron stranded.

The Observer did try to make contact with Heaven for a comment, but multiple calls and text messages to his telephone number went unanswered up to press time.

Garner, who recently stepped forward to challenge Cameron, will have Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board executive Baldath Mahabir as his vicepresidential running partner.

Cameron, who is seeking a second two-year term as regional cricket boss, will again rely on Windward Islands Cricket Board of Control president Emmanuel Nanthan as his deputy.

The WICB’s AGM and election for president is slated for March 7 in Jamaica. The deadline for executive nominations is tomorrow.