DESPITE growing concerns surrounding Dr Kishore Shallow’s dual role as Cricket West Indies (CWI) president and a minister in the St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) Government, Jamaica Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett has come out in his defence, dismissing claims of a conflict of interest.

Last week, Shallow revealed he wouldn’t seek re-election as CWI president when his term ends in 2028. The announcement came weeks after he was voted in as a Member of Parliament in St Vincent’s general elections and subsequently named as minister of tourism and maritime affairs.

While not opting to run for another term, Shallow says serving in both positions wouldn’t be an issue.

“We have therefore conducted comprehensive due diligence to ensure all legal and ethical standards are fully met. While there is no conflict of interest, the legitimate question is whether I can effectively manage both portfolios. Having consulted widely with our board and leadership, I can assure you that I can and will,” he said.

Several stakeholders have since criticised the move including former JCA president and CWI Director Wilford “Billy” Heaven and former SVG Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves.

“CWI is a stakeholders’ organisation and there should be an extraordinary AGM for the stakeholders to instruct the way forward. The two positions cannot simultaneously be done. They cannot work together,” Heaven told Barbados’s journalist Andrew Mason.

“By being a candidate in the election, he ought to have demitted his office as president of Cricket West Indies,” said Gonsalves.

However, Bennett, who currently serves as a CWI director, told the Jamaica Observer that a conflict doesn’t exist.

“I’m still trying to find somebody who can convince me that there’s a conflict of interest. I know that there’s no conflict of interest,” he said.

“There are people who have the capacity, the energy, the experience and the intelligence to do more than one job at the same time. So, you can’t just throw a line out here and say, well, there is a conflict of interest.”

Bennett believes Shallow’s reputation and character negate concerns about a conflict.

“There may be a conflict of interest with other persons but with this particular gentleman, who I know very well and I am aware of his ability to govern and the type of energy that he brings to any job that he is involved in, that there won’t be a conflict of interest and I don’t see Cricket West Indies suffering in any way from him being president and a minister at the same time,” Bennett said.

Bennett says Shallow should be allowed to remain as CWI president, citing others who have held political and cricket-related roles.

“He’s not the first MP who will be sitting on the ICC board of directors,” said Bennett.

“Also, people who have been involved in politics have sat as president of the West Indies board before. For example, Julian Hunt was president for two terms, who was involved in politics in Saint Lucia so not only does it depend on the person you are dealing with, but there is also a precedent.”

Although the criticism of Shallow continues, Bennett declined to speculate on any agenda behind it.

“I wouldn’t accuse people of doing that because I don’t know and what I don’t know, I’m not going to say yes to,” he said.

“I honestly don’t know if it’s a vendetta against Dr Shallow or whether people are just generalising and coming to a decision based on generalities. Because, like I said before, you have to examine who you’re dealing with, the competence of the person, the training of the person, the energy levels of the person, etc.”

Bennett praised Shallow’s leadership over the past two years as CWI president. However, the JCA boss says he understands his decision moving forward.

“I’m not ecstatic about it but I would want to respect his decision and his views. He may very well have other issues on the table that he has to deal with going forward. So, I can’t say to you that when and where he will decide to step down. It’s totally dependent on him. All I can say is, at this point in time, I do not see any conflict of interest,” said Bennett.

Jamaica Cricket Association President Dr Donovan Bennett (Photo: CWI Media)

Dr Kishore Shallow, Cricket West Indies president .