Women administrators happy with CWI diversity push

LOCAL WOMEN sports administrators said the inclusion of three women in the Cricket West Indies (CWI) Board of Directors recently is welcome and an indication of the times.

Jamaica’s Diann Campbell was one of three women appointed to CWI’s board.

Louise Victor-Frederick of St Lucia joined Campbell as the other new appointee alongside accomplished Trinidadian attorney-at-law Debra Coryat-Patton, who makes a return to the board.

Former Netball Jamaica president Marva Bernard and sports consultant and administrator Carole Beckford said the inclusion of more women at the CWI board level can only be positive for West Indies cricket.

Bernard said it was significant that women were coming forward to serve in boardrooms of sports, which historically, are male-dominated, and that it is a sign that things are changing.

She noted that in netball, men are starting to take their place at the board level, locally and internationally, and said that it was important that women be included in male-dominated sports, especially in cricket, with the increased popularity of the women’s game in recent years.

“World Netball has two men on its board: the treasurer, and there is one in marketing. So the equality, diversity, and inclusion that is being moused around today has to be seen in reality,” she said.

She continued that in netball, which is female-dominated, men want a seat at the table but that unlike netball, women’s cricket has reached a standard where they are international women’s tournaments under the umbrella of the International Cricket Council (ICC), and as a result, women are even more deserving of their inclusion at the board level in cricket.

“I am very happy to see this move in West Indies cricket, and I look for it to happen in other sports that are gender dominated.

“So kudos to Cricket West Indies because women are playing cricket just as much as the men.”

“This will bring a perspective from a female side of things as there are things in playing sports that affect women that do not affect men.”

Bernard said Jamaican women have a proud history in sports and sports administration and that the country was deserving of having one on the CWI board.

“I am happy that Jamaica is there. We are a proud country. So we need a voice and a vote.

“We became how we are (as a nation) because of the quality of leadership and athletes that we have produced over the years in many sports. So we should be there, and I am happy that we are,” she said.

PRESIDENT COMMENDED

Beckford commended CWI president Dr Kishore Shallow for staying true to his manifesto and believes the female appointees will have a positive impact on regional cricket administration.

“The appointment of these women is a step in the right direction. Dr Kishore Shallow, as per his manifesto, indicated he was going to diversify from the policy level what cricket has to offer.

“Three women in three significant areas of the cricket has shown he is putting in place what he had promised,” she commented.

“We hope this will add to the substantial reach cricket has across the region, in particular the influence of young women in the game.

“We want to see more women on and off the field, so we welcome these additions to the board, and we look forward to bigger and better things,” said Beckford.

Bernard added that having a woman at the head of the CWI in the future is not far-fetched either.

“I see no reason why it is not possible. Eyes would pop, heads would turn, and some people would say you lost your mind. But why not?

“Women’s cricket is not as big (as men’s), but it is big. So I see no reason why a woman cannot head CWI.

“The time may not be at hand now, but I expect that one day, and maybe not in my lifetime, we will see that.

“It is a male-dominated sport, and I know there will be flack. But if a woman is capable and does the work, I am sure there are men around the table and in the field who will accept that she is worthy of and capable of leading once that has been identified.”

livingston.scott@gleanerjm.com