Colleagues, 

It's a sad and difficult day for the West Indies Cricket Umpires' Association when there is a major problem arising from the removal of two of our colleague umpires from their Carib Beer appointments and we do not have 100% support from the executive to support the decision that the overwhelming majority has
decided to take. Eight of the nine executive committee members are in full support of the action to withdraw the service of our umpires for the remainder of the series but the one that is not in support is the President. This is why I said it is a sad day for us.
In the attachment, please find the letter that was sent to the WICB today outlining our position regarding the revoking of the appointment of Kasso Dowlath and Hayden Bruce from the Carib Beer matches. We have not come to this position lightly. It was taken as a result of series of developments that finally led to the WICB decision and subsequently ours.
I know that for the last couple of years, the membership has been very incensed at the situation that has unfolded in Trinidad and Tobago. We spent the better part of a day in 2006 in Antigua trying to resolve the matter, various delegations went to Trinidad to try and solve the matter, but to no avail. What we are seeing now is a type of vengeance and vindictiveness that we have not seen for a long time. What we should be seeing is the long arm of reconciliation and forgiveness among the umpiring fraternity in Trinidad that should be the envy of all. In fact it is the opposite that is happening and it has manifested itself in members of the Trinidad Board making
representation to the WICB to remove the two umpires based on frivolous information.
Colleagues, we have given an ultimatum to the Cricket Board. The time has come when you must stand up and be counted. We are asking for your total solidarity on this issue. There should be no umpire who should feel any different that this could not happen to them. There is a saying “today for me tomorrow for you”. We cannot afford a dangerous precedent to be set as it will have serious implications for tomorrow. In 1977, the WICBC as it was then, dropped Desmond Haynes Richard Austin and another from the test team because they had just signed up with Kerry Packer. Clive Lloyd the Captain of the team resigned immediately and all the members of the team except one resigned in solidarity with him. We have not seen a repeat of that piece of mismanagement since.
It is in this regard, that we cannot afford for this action on the part of the Board to stand. We are making this stand as a matter of principle and we want you all to understand that. I have included all the membership of our association in this memo including Trinidad and Tobago because I expect the support of the umpires from T&T on this critical issue.
Please let us have your response on the intended action so that we can know for sure that you are supporting your executive in this action and there is no doubt that that there is total solidarity.
Regards,
Vivian Johnson
Hon. Secretary
WICUA.

The first playoff Match will take place 

Time: on 5/23/08 at 3:30pm 
Place: @ Baisley Pond South
Teams: Richmond Hill vs Prospect Heights. 

The playoffs will continue

Time: on 5/24/08 at 12:00pm
Place: @ Seaview (108th St)
Teams: Lehman vs John Adams 

followed by
Teams: FDR vs Clinton and
Teams: Newcomers vs Stuyvesant at 3:00PM

There will be 20 teams and 10 games in 5 boroughs on Saturday

• Manhattan ( Commonwealth League) & Bronx ( New York League ) at Van Cortlandt Park
• Staten Island ( Metropolitan League ) - Walker Park Staten Island
• Brooklyn ( Brooklyn & American ) at Seaview / 108 Street in Brooklyn
• Queens ( Eastern American & Nassau NY) at Baisley Park in Queens

Contact for Mayor's Cup:

• John Aaron @ johnlaaron2000@aol.com
• Rudy Persaud @ rudyenmore@yahoo.com
• Wes King @ kingsevens@aol.com

Umpires for the Mayor's Cup 2008 to be proudly provided by USACUA, Inc

Here is the document with the detailed rules & regulations of the sophomore version 2008 Mayor's Cup competition to be held all across the 5 burroughs in New York City

Click here for The 2008 Mayor's Cup schedule

The PSAL's Spring 2008 schedule for boys and girls Cricket has been posted on the PSAL website. . Coaches please check your respective schedules and email or call Lorna Austin, Cricket Coordinator at laustin@schools.nyc.gov or (718) 707 4204 for any further information.

The USACUA has committed its full support to this much-needed grass-roots initiative to inject fresh interest and talent into the New York cricket scene.