(CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana)  On behalf of the Caribbean Community I welcome the Agreement that has been reached between the West Indies Cricket Board and the West Indies Players Association in the process of returning West Indies cricket to a more stable condition.

I congratulate both the Board and WIPA on this important step in the direction which CARICOM had pointed at the level of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket. That contribution by CARICOM leaders, and the Mediation effort by Sir Shridath Ramphal which preceded it, have helped to make this Agreement possible.

The spirit of partnership that forged this Agreement must now continue into implementation and future relations between the Board and WIPA.

As already agreed, CARICOM will be convening a Stakeholders Meeting at the earliest practicable date to discuss the future of West Indies cricket, taking account of the WICB’s Development Plan, as well as the report of the Patterson Committee established by the Board.

This Agreement must be the start of another glorious and inspiring era of West Indian cricket.