Local News
Royal Knights Cricket Club Accuses BVICA Of Disregarding T20 Rules
Royal Knights Cricket Club has accused the British Virgin Islands Cricket Board (BVICA) of bullyism and disregarding the established rules of the T20 Tournament with the cancellation of the final.
In a statement issued today, Royal Knights Cricket Club said they were prepared to play in the final match against Vikings Cricket Club as agreed following the cancellation of the semi-finals due to rain, but it was cancelled by the BVICA due to a disagreement over replaying semi-final matches that were cancelled due to rain on April 23.
“We take a firm stand for what is right and fight against self-serving interests, bullyism and illegality in BVI cricket. Many of you have contacted us about our participation in a semi-finals game today, 14th May 2023 based on a flyer circulated by the BVI Cricket Association.
Please be advised that our club is prepared to play in the finals of the ongoing T20 tournament as the semi-final was rained out on the 23. April, 2023. Our position was clearly communicated to the BVICA and therefore, the flyer is false advertising,” the statement pointed out.
The BVI Cricket Board had advertised semi-finals between Royal Knights, Vikings, Cavaliers and Under The Tree to be played yesterday, May 14.
According to Royal Knights Cricket Club, the “BVICA rules make no provision for the semi-finals to be replayed should the game be affected by weather. Instead, in the event of rain, the rules clearly state that the top teams in each group will advance to the finals. Once the BVICA became aware of the rules, they met with the four semi-final teams — Royal Knights, Cavaliers Cricket Club, Under The Tree and Vikings. At that meeting, the rules were upheld and the decision was made to play the finals Royal Knights vs Vikings — the two top teams in each group.”
The statement added that BVICA’s cancellation of the final game “is a travesty and will go down in BVI cricket history as one of the darkest moments for the sport as the integrity of the board was compromised by external forces loyal not to the sport, but to special interests. The BVICA canceled the finals to entertain a feeble excuse as to why the semi-finals should be replayed. This is where cricket took a back seat. High-level collusion by BVICA board members with an obvious conflict of interest, because of the teams involved, continued to make decisions instead of recusing themselves.”
The matter was sent to the regional cricket body Leeward Islands Cricket Association (LICA) which acknowledged that the tournament rules for rained-out games are flawed but still recommended that the two semi-finals be played.
“Like the BVICA, LICA appears eager to give Cavaliers and to a lesser extent Under The Tree, another opportunity to play in the finals. Both the BVICA and LICA acknowledged that the rules for the tournament are flawed. Strangely, the BVICA expects Royal Knights to play the semi-final under the very rules that LICA and BVICA both agree are flawed,” the statement stressed.
Royal Knights Cricket Club thanked their fans and noted that “history will show that at one of the weakest points of cricket in the BVI is when the Royal Knights Cricket Club stood for what is right.”
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British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission Welcomes New Leadership
The British Virgin Islands Financial Services Commission (BVIFSC) has announced new appointments to its governing board, with Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC stepping in as Chairman and Ms. Patlian Johnson as Commissioner. The appointments, confirmed by the Ministry of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, mark a new chapter for the commission as it seeks to strengthen the territory’s financial services sector.
Mr. Gerard St Clair Farara KC has been appointed to a three-year term as Chairman, effective August 1, 2024. A seasoned legal expert with a distinguished career, Farara currently serves as a Commercial Court Judge for the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court and leads the litigation team at the BVI office of COLLAS CRILL, formerly Farara Kerins. Farara’s prominence in the legal community is further highlighted by his appointment as Queen’s Counsel in 1996, cementing his standing as a leading figure in the Virgin Islands Bar and the broader Eastern Caribbean.
Ms. Patlian Johnson will serve a one-year term as Commissioner, also beginning on August 1, 2024. Johnson, a Strategy and Policy Advisor with extensive experience, currently holds the position of National Coordinator for the UNDP Project Office. She brings an impressive academic background, including a Master of Science in Economics and Finance from the University of Bristol and a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Accounting with First Class Honours from the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus.
The pair will replace outgoing Chairman Mr. Robin F. Gaul and Commissioner Mr. Melvin A. Turnbull, whose terms have concluded. Minister of Financial Services, Labour, and Trade, Honourable Lorna G. Smith, OBE (AL), praised the new appointments, stating, “I am delighted to welcome Mr. Farara and Ms. Johnson to the BVIFSC Board of Commissioners. Their combined expertise will be invaluable as we continue to navigate the challenges and opportunities facing the financial services sector.”
Smith also expressed gratitude to the departing board members for their significant contributions to the growth and stability of the territory’s financial services industry. According to the Government Information Service (GIS), these appointments underscore the Virgin Islands’ commitment to maintaining a well-regulated and competitive financial services sector.
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