ESPNcricinfo
Former president of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dave Cameron has threatened legal action against the regional governing body unless it hands over a copy of an audit report critical of his period in office.
The audit, requested by Cameron’s successor and conducted by external and independent auditors Pannell Kerr Foster (PKF) raised concerns about an inadequate accounting system that enabled abuses to go unreported and posed a threat to “the board’s long-term sustainability.”
The audit report singled out Cameron for criticism several times. The Jamaican was president of CWI (previously WICB) from March 2013 until March 2019. At that time he was defeated in his re-election attempt by Skerritt who called for this report.
Cameron said he first became aware of the report when contacted for comment by ESPNcricinfo in April.
The businessman is demanding that he is provided with a copy of the audit report from CWI within 48 hours in order that he can “respond fully” to the “allegations made by PKF.”
A letter from Cameron’s attorneys stated that “our client maintains that he has serious concerns about the credibility of this report, which involved the Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee selected and/ or appointed by the President or Board.
“In the circumstances, and having regard to the basic principles of fairness and the right of our client to protect his reputation, our client demands, without prejudice to any rights he may now have, a full copy of this report within 48 hours, and the right to respond fully to all of the questions, comments or allegations made by PKF, and statements made by Mr Holding and the President within 21 days.
“Should CWI whether by way of the Board or management or otherwise seek in the meantime to publish the report, or refuse to meet our client’s demands for a copy of the report and time to respond, our client will have no alternative but to seek the appropriate orders and remedies from the High Court.”
It has been reported that the letter from Cameron’s attorneys was received on Monday.
Extracts from the audit report appeared in publications across the region.
West Indies fast bowling legend and cricket commentator Michael Holding alluded to a couple of sections in various interviews – though he has not mentioned Cameron. Ricky Skerritt, the current CWI president, acknowledged in a media statement that the report “uncovered some illustrations of questionable executive standards and practices.”
Cameron’s attorneys further stated that “the President’s statement and especially the use of the word “uncovered” carries the imputation that PKF uncovered previously hidden and unknown material, which justified or warranted the making of serious questions, comments or allegations directed at or against our client as the President of CWI.
“There is no question that Mr Holding believed that the contents of one part of this PKF report raised the real prospect that the offence of money-laundering either occurred, or may have occurred, and/ or exposed CWI to the risk of involvement in money-laundering. At all material times, our client was the President of CWI. These allegations have now gone viral throughout the region and elsewhere.
“As indicated above, our client has not seen the report, nor has he been given any opportunity to respond to it, either by PKF or CWI. In fact, at no time did PKF seek to ascertain any fact or comment from him. However, the report or parts thereof were made known to ESPNcricinfo and Mr Holding.”