Perry explains change of heart on JCA presidency
Published:Monday | January 25, 2021 | 12:14 AMLivingston Scott/Gleaner Writer
Former West Indies cricketer Nehemiah Perry says he did not change his mind about challenging for the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) presidency out of apprehension.
Perry said late last year that he was considering contesting the top post against incumbent Wilford Heaven and that he would make his decision to run this month.
However, he changed his mind, citing his responsibilities to other commitments as his main reason.
“I know some will say I got scared and that I am doubting my ability,” Perry said. “I don’t worry about what people say. I would have put myself in the race for the betterment of cricket.
“But I have to look at what benefits me and how to fit myself in that phase. So I took my time to take a long hard look and calculate everything in terms of the time that is going to be needed for the JCA, for family, for work, and other duties, but when I put all the numbers together, it is not a wise thing to do now.
“So I have decided not to go forward, and it is not that I don’t think I could have put up a decent challenge for the position.
“Based on the feedback I got, a lot of persons think I should have continued because my ideas would improve Jamaica’s cricket right across the board.”
Perry said that he would still make himself available to serve the JCA and cricket in other ways.
“I did not want to have to back out or end up failing because it was going to be very difficult to do.
“When I put myself in, I put myself in to give 100 per cent, and if I can’t give 100 per cent to the association, I will not take it any further.”
STEP FORWARD
Perry says that Jamaica’s cricket has declined over the last six years, and he hopes that a worthy challenger will step forward. This, he also thinks will make for a more credible democratic process.
“Mark [Neita] is not challenging again, and Wavell [Hinds] is certainly not doing it,” he said. “I don’t see anyone now, but maybe I am talking a bit prematurely.
“Somebody might, but it would be sad if he (Heaven) didn’t get a challenge. That is not good for the democratic process of the Jamaica Cricket Association.”
JCA elections are constitutionally due this year. Heaven will be seeking his fourth two-year term in office.