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BY
VINODE MAMCHAN
An office in St Lucia which is used by the president of
the West Indies Cricket Board, Dr Julian Hunte, is now the
subject of raging controversy.
And WICB officials are calling on Dr Hunte to clear the
air on the circumstances surrounding the acquisition of
the office.
Board members claim that some US$150,000 was spent to construct
the office on property owned by Dr Hunte.
“It
is not unusual for the president to have an office in the
country in which he lives. But it is the first time that
WICB money has been spent on a property belonging to the
president for his own use,” said a Board source.
The West Indies Board’s office is on Factory Road,
Antigua, but its last president Ken Gordon operated from
an office in Port of Spain, for which the WICB paid a rent.
The official also claimed that Dr Hunte recently sent an
invoice to the WICB claiming rent for the office during
the period of his tenure.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the WICB, Dr Donald Peters
confirmed that the WICB was paying for an office in St Lucia
but could not verify if the building was owned by Dr Hunte.
“I
am aware that the WICB has an office in St Lucia for which
we are paying but I cannot say where it is located and who
owns the building,” said Peters.
Another interesting development is the hiring of Ernest
Hillaire to work in the president’s office in St Lucia.
Hillaire is a countryman of Dr Hunte and was among the failed
candidates for the job as chief executive officer.
Peters confirmed that Hillaire was now employed by the WICB
to work in Hunte’s office.
“He
is looking after the affairs of the 2010 Champions League
tournament which will be hosted in the Caribbean. However,
he would be moving soon to the Antigua office. This is expected
to be done by December.”
Efforts to contact Hunte proved futile as he is currently
in Dubai where the International Cricket Council (ICC) held
their annual general meeting.
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