CWI medical panel in turmoil as chairman Bennett quits

KINGSTON, Jamaica (CMC) – Cricket West Indies’ medical panel has been struck by two further resignations, including that of chairman Dr. Donovan Bennett.
The Observer newspaper in Jamaica reported Wednesday that Bennett and Dr. Renee Best had both stepped down, following in the footsteps of Dr. Akshai Mansingh who resigned as chief medical officer last month, citing an untenable relationship with the CWI board.
Bennett, who had previously warned that more resignations were likely to follow Mansingh’s, said he had also found difficulties in properly discharging his duties.
“It [the resignation] has to do with some difficulties in carrying out our responsibilities. I don’t think we got the type of support or respect that was due to voluntary professional people,” Bennett told the Observer, without going into specifics.
“It’s the appropriate move to make to give the president (Dave Cameron) room for him to have the type of panel that he is comfortable with.”
A frayed relationship has existed between CWI and the medical panel for some while, stemming from differences with the board.
At the time of his resignation, Mansingh said obstructions had increasingly been put in the panel’s way, preventing it from functioning properly. He had also indicated that enough input was being garnered from medical personnel in arriving at decisions.
Bennett, a Jamaican Cricket Association vice-president and CWI director, said his relationship with Cameron remained “cordial.”
“I wouldn’t say the relationship with the president is great, but I would say that it is quite good and cordial,” Bennett explained.
“Having said that, when you have professional people working for you, you should basically respect their professional ability and allow them to do the job you ask them to do.
“I don’t have any bitter feelings. I’m still hoping one day to be able to serve West Indies cricket. There’s a vacuum now, I hope they can fill it. I’m even prepared to help in whatever way I can until they reconstitute a panel.”
Dr Anyyl Goopesingh is the last remaining medical doctor on the panel which also comprises West Indies team physio, CJ Clark; strength and fitness coordinator, Ronald Rogers; CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave; COO, Verlyn Faustin; and Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams.