Benjamin challenges ABCA explanation for election delay
By Neto Baptiste President of the Liberta Sports Club and former West Indies fast bowler Kenneth Benjamin is challenging claims by the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) that low membership registration is partly responsible for delays in holding the association’s biennial elections. “The thing about it, you call the election, and if people turn […]
Black News 
By Neto Baptiste
President of the Liberta Sports Club and former West Indies fast bowler Kenneth Benjamin is challenging claims by the Antigua and Barbuda Cricket Association (ABCA) that low membership registration is partly responsible for delays in holding the association’s biennial elections.
“The thing about it, you call the election, and if people turn up and they’re not members, they can’t participate. I never heard that before, that because clubs don’t pay, you’re not calling an election. Now, that’s not what we heard. We heard they are waiting on the financials, and you heard that before too, which is that the financials are not ready, so they can’t call the elections,” he said.
“But guess what? At the last election, there were no financials, and they deferred it and said they were going to have a subsequent meeting for that after the election, so why can’t they do it again? So you see, people keep finding reasons, and because a lot of people are not au fait, they believe what they hear from the officials. But they know why they’re not calling the elections, and it has nothing to do with clubs not registering,” he added.
The ABCA’s electoral congress was slated for late last year, but president Leon Rodney has identified stagnant membership registration and unfinished financial reports as the two main issues affecting the body’s ability to hold the elections.
Benjamin also clarified that the outstanding matter regarding the team’s disqualification in the semi-final round of the 2025 Super 40 has been settled. He said the cricket association has been mandated to issue a statement on the matter.
“The Cricket Association, I think, was supposed to make a statement. We’re satisfied with the outcome, and I think they were satisfied with the outcome as well. So I’m not going to say anything about the details because they have to make an announcement,” the administrator said.
Rodney, in July last year, said he would seek a sixth term in office when the elections are held.
