Haiti and cricket, main topics at CARICOM Heads meeting

The situation in Haiti and the upcoming Cricket World Cup in 2024, captured the
focus of the CARICOM Heads at the start of the final day of their 45 th Conference
at the Hyatt Hotel in Trinidad and Tobago, on Wednesday morning.
Utilizing a system of caucus and plenary meetings, the Heads were also joined by
the President of Rwanda in trying to formulate concrete initiatives that will
hopefully lead to the resolution of the ongoing Haitian crisis.
Favoring an approach of frank dialogue, Prime Minister Gaston Browne told his
colleagues that the time is now to advance beyond "talk," while viewing Rwanda
as a bridge between Africa and the Caribbean.
He stressed the importance of greater collaboration between Rwanda and the
Caribbean and urged Rwanda to play a more pivotal role in mobilizing other
African leaders to attend the next Africa – Caribbean summit.
On the matter of cricket, Prime Minister Browne and the other leaders were
strident in their desire for a transformation of the fortunes of the West Indies male
cricket team.
To that end, Prime Minister Browne advised his colleagues that Antigua and
Barbuda’s recommendation is for a regional cricketing development plan to be
formulated by Member States, and for CWI to develop cricket from the grassroots
up.
The plan should include appropriate facilities, a more scientific approach to the
game, and the development of psychological resilience and a culture of pride and
competitiveness. “The governance talk and blame game are stale and bring no real
value,” he noted.
He further stated that “despite our disappointment, we must continue to rally
around CWI as we rebuild.”