March 26th, 2012 – Port of Spain:- Today the Board of Directors of the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA), announced the resignation of Dinanath Ramnarine as President and CEO of the organisation effective March 31, 2012. Indicating that the announcement was no surprise, since the long-serving and deeply committed Ramnarine has always advocated and sought to refresh and reinvigorate the organisation with new leadership, Board Secretary Andrew Richardson said, ‘Mr. Ramnarine shared last year that 2012 would be his last year with the organisation. He has now completed a perfect decade’. ‘We wish to recognise that he has served meritoriously over those ten years’, he added.

Dinanath Ramnarine assumed the position of President of WIPA in 2002 at the same time that Wavell Hinds was appointed as Treasurer. At the time WIPA was still seen as a reticent organization representing mainly the interests of the senior players on the West Indies team. The appointments sparked a series of responses including a comment by veteran cricket journalist Tony Cozier, who saw it as ‘a virtual coup by the younger members of the team’. He described the infusion of Ramnarine in very colourful terms. ‘A previously moribund organization run for the benefit of the elite few has become more representative of all players and more militant in its dealings with the WICB’.

From the start, “Dinas” as he is affectionately known, worked assiduously throughout the region to reframe players worth and the value of individual’s to the game. He successfully negotiated increased sponsorship payments for the 2003 World Cup and secured compensation for players who were injured during the period of 1999-2003. This led to his being offered the position of Chief Executive Officer in 2004 – a clear expression of confidence in his ability to manage the affairs of players.

Indeed Ramnarine’s vision and leadership at WIPA has progressively advanced the cause of players and the rules of the off-field game by leaps and bounds. His tenure has been defined by ground-breaking negotiations aimed at bringing West Indies cricket into the 21st century. He was the rst to push the WICB to enter into a formal collective bargaining agreement players, and negotiated the single largest West Indian cricketer pay increase in history.

As Ramnarine’s effort brought increased recognition to players and boosted the game, the Players’ Awards Function was launched and a series of regional events organised by WIPA now form part of the regional sporting calendar. In the face of some barriers, Ramnarine has fought with determination to elevate the game and to increase transparency in the management of players and resources.

Having commenced the process of strategic and succession planning to shape a new way forward for WIPA in October 2007, the organisation has now adopted a new constitution which aims to bring the organization more in line with modern practices and the rules and guidelines of similar associations in the international cricketing world while maintaining good governance .

Ramnarine’s resignation takes effect March 31, 2012, and as is fitting, Wavell Hinds who has served faithfully on the WIPA executive for the same period, will assume the Presidency of WIPA until the Annual General Meeting later this year. Mr. Hinds, elected the same day as Ramnarine, having served WIPA for 10 years stated: ‘It is truly a depressing day for West Indian cricket to see Mr. Ramnarine depart. We were well advised that this day will come but hoped it would never materialize. We are all saddened by his decision, given his outstanding contribution and great personal sacrifice to WIPA. In the face of all adversity, his credibility and integrity, combined with his strong leadership qualities remain some of his strongest and greatest attributes, taking WIPA to great heights.’

Mr. Michael Hall will act as the interim CEO. The Board is grateful that Mr. Ramnarine has agreed to act in an advisory capacity to assist with the transition as is required.

The other members of the Board remain as follows: Ronnie Sarwan, Andrew Richardson, Samuel Badree, Dave Kissoon and Derik Lattibeaudiere.