Source: Trinidad Express
Should Cricket West Indies (CWI) president Dr Kishore Shallow continue at the helm of the regional governing body following his victory in last Thursday’s general elections in St Vincent and the Grenadines?
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) general secretary Henry Chase, who is also an attorney by profession, is of the view that Shallow’s new political post does not automatically disqualify him from continuing as CWI president.
Shallow was elected Member of Parliament for the North Leewards constituency on a New Democratic Party (NDP) ticket and is expected to serve in the new administration under Prime Minister Dr Godwin Friday.
Shallow defeated Unity Labour Party’s former tourism minister Carlos James for the seat, and the NDP defeated the Unity Labour Party 14-1 to end Dr Ralph Gonsalves’ stint as Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
On Monday, Chase, responding to a query about Shallow’s new dispensation, stated: “I have perused the Memorandum and Articles of Association of Cricket West Indies (CWI). It does not appear to contain any specific clause that prohibits an office holder, such as the president of CWI or Director, from simultaneously holding national political office, such as being a minister or MP.”
“My research shows there is no explicit conflict of interest clause that addresses political affiliation or governmental roles. In my respectful view, without a clear constitutional prohibition, there is no legal barrier for Dr Shallow holding both roles as CWI president and minister or part of the new Government in St Vincent and the Grenadines.”
Chase stressed that unless CWI’s territorial boards adopt new rules specifically preventing top executives from entering political office, Shallow remains duly eligible to lead the regional organisation.
He added that the CWI constitution focuses largely on governance structure rather than imposing restrictions based on personal status. “It does not anticipate a situation where a top leader also becomes an elected politician, hence no explicit prohibition. It may treat conflict of interest primarily in terms of financial or commercial conflicts, not governance versus politics,” Chase explained.
Meanwhile, the International Cricket Council (ICC), of which CWI is a member, have long held the position that member nations must manage their affairs autonomously, free from government interference in areas like team selection and administration.
The ICC have even suspended member nations in the past for breaching this code. According to ICC the regulation Article 2.4 (D), each member must “manage its affairs autonomously and ensure that there is no government (or other public or quasi-public body) interference in its governance, regulation and/or administration of Cricket in its Cricket Playing Country (including in operational matters, in the selection and management of teams, and in the appointment of coaches or support personnel)”.
For now, the ball remains in the court of CWI’s directors—who may soon have to decide whether politics and cricket can share the same crease in the Caribbean.