Director of Sports Mervyn “MR” Richards. (File photo)
ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Director of Sports, Mervyn “MR” Richards, has sought to address concerns over the issuing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to Antigua & Barbuda Softball Cricket Association (ABSCA) for the field immediately west of Princess Margaret Secondary School following calls from at least one former national athlete for the agreement to be made null and void.
Richards, during an interview with OBSERVER Sports on Sunday, said although the ministry had in fact signed an MOU with the softball cricket association, it is only for them to manage the facility in terms of its usage and that all decisions with regards to upgrades and usage must first be discussed to the school as stated in the MOU.
“The MOU has not given ownership to the softball association but has only given them authority to manage the field,” he said.
“The fact of the matter is that when the school was fenced without including the field, we realised that everyone would just go and utilise it as they saw fit and that it could cause some contention. So what we did is just to ensure that there is a body one would have to go through in order to utilise it; but as I said before, they (ABSCA) must first consult with the school,” Richards added.
The director added that government has the right to revoke any MOU should they think the terms and conditions are not being adhered to and that any school and/or government function that requires the use of the field should be given first preference.”
Former national and West Indies cricketer Kenneth “Flipper” Benjamin last week expressed concerns over the fact that the ground was placed under an MOU with the softball association and not with the school.
The former pacer suggested that the MOU should be made null and void and management of the field be given to the school.
The newly elected head of the association, Veronique Benta, said last week that plans are in the pipeline to have the facility upgraded. She, however, could not say when these plans would go into effect.
