2015 USACA Elections
Newyorkcricket.com has reached out to the six presidential candidates contesting the March 21, 2015 United States of America Cricket Association (USACA) elections, and submitted a list of written questions to them, thereby allowing each candidate an opportunity to craft his written responses. Here is former USACA Executive Secretary Kenwyn Williams’ response, on the eve of his presidential bid.
Kenwyn Williams is running against five other individuals vying for the presidency of United States of America Cricket Association.
1. Tell us a bit about yourself?
I am the former Executive Secretary of USACA, a post that I held until the board decided to illegally remove me. That action by the board caused two litigations where I was the plaintiff in both. USACA vigorously defended both and eventually exhausted their legal resources. For the record, both of those lawsuits were paid by USACA’s insurance company. I resigned as Executive Secretary in 2014 and dismissed the claims against USACA.
2. Are you running as an independent candidate or part of a slate of candidates? If so, please tell us who are your running mates in this election?
I am running as an independent but I am endorsing Owen Grey as First Vice-President, Mahammad A. Qureshi as 2nd Vice-President and Shelton Glasgow as Executive Secretary. My reasoning behind these endorsements is complicated but I believe there will be a chemistry that will get the work done that is necessary to move the sport forward. Owen is great at operations and getting cricket matches played. MAQ is great at marketing the sport and would be the person that could mend our relationship with ESPN. Glasgow has knowledge of the inner workings of USACA that is a valuable asset now that the legacy of John Thickett (current USACA Treasurer) and Michael Gale (current USACA 1st VP) has finally ended.
3. Why are you running for president of the United States of America Cricket Association (USACA)?
It’s a long-shot but I am hoping to actually win the Presidency to bring the USACA into an organization that can represent the approximately 200K players and some 30 million cricket fans in the USA. The current administration had aspirations of big commercial deals to exploit the idea that the cricket in the USA is an untapped billion dollar business. This is probably true but the commercial infrastructure needs to be in place first. Television – specifically ESPN has to be on board to grow interest in the sport. Revenue has to be gained from the leagues and players and finally our youth has to be exposed to the sport. Right now cricket is a niche sport that ex-pats from the 106 members of the ICC play as a past time. I can change that.
4. We are sure you have seen the recent letter from the ICC to USACA, with numerous requests for documented information; do you see USACA being suspended or its Associate Membership revoked by the ICC?
I don’t want to get too involved with this right now but I will say that the temperament of the letter suggest that the ICC will not only suspend but remove USACA from its membership. I have not seen USACA’s response but that would help me answer this question further. I can tell you that I have no fear of the ICC and its tactics and that I will vigorously object to any plan they have to relegating the USA to an unchartered territory.
5. Many would ask, why are you running for the presidency of an organization with close to USD$4Million in debt, its men’s team in ICC Division 4, very little progress within the past 10 years, and accused of poor governance by so many, including the ICC?
Those credits belong to the current USACA board. The debt is an ongoing concern and was created by deals with CHALLC, NACL and the enormous monies spent on litigation defending actions arising out of these deals and their settlement.
6. What are some of your short-term and long-term objectives, if elected president of USACA?
Short term – rebuild a relationship with the ICC to regain our status; perfect USACA’s application with the USOC. Long-term; get team USA (men and women) to a competitive level of excellence.
7. Why should league presidents support you over the other candidates for president of USACA?
I am the only candidate that has a proven track record of managing the challenges that has faced the organization both publicly and privately. The LP’s should themselves understand the issues facing USACA and be willing to take the necessary steps to move the USACA in a new direction.
8. What would your first 100 days look like, if elected president of USACA?
In the first 100 days we would have had a complete audit of the organization; a new constitution; an expanded board with stakeholder committees; a system to register cricket players throughout the USA; re-kindled relationship with ESPN; re-kindled our relationship with the AAU.
9. As president of USACA how would you handle the reported USD$4Million in debt.
I am going to put on my Treasurer’s hat to answer this question. Everyone is talking about USACA’s ability to continue as a “going concern”. USACA will continue to operate as it uses the “going concern” basis of accounting. Until the debt becomes imminent only then will liquidation become necessary. The rules don’t force USACA to disclose the debt but when I am Treasurer I will conduct an audit that will reveal the debt. I am going to operate the organization on a cash basis accounting system until the debt is disclosed with the likelihood that I can recover some or all of the funds. I believe that the $million debt belongs to CHALLC and I intend to move it to that entity. Revenue will further be increased by bringing a system of player registration into reality. There is also a matter of bringing the ACF into the folds of USACA. Right now they are infringing on the rights of USACA and that needs to stop – in the very short term.
10. Are there any assurances you can give the cricket stakeholders in the USA in soliciting their support?
The reality is I am playing against history here. This is a longshot with a hope that the LPs see this opportunity as a final step to develop the sport of cricket in the USA. It’s a lot of work and USACA will need a multi-talented person to manage all aspects of the recovery. I am that person.