Injunction Halts LICB Elections, Kieron Powell Barred From Contesting Vote

By Neto Baptiste

An attempt by the Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) to disqualify former West Indies opener Kieron Powell and President of the Anguilla Cricket Association (ACA), Dr Timothy Hodge, from contesting the body’s election originally due on July 11th, has been halted by the High Court of Justice in Antigua and Barbuda.

The court, on July 10th, issued an interim injunction stopping the LICB from moving forward with the planned AGM and elections pending the hearing of a legal challenge brought by the ACA and Nevis Cricket Association (NCA) President, Carlisle Powell.

Kieron, who scored 2113 runs in 44 Tests and another 1005 in 46 One Day International (ODI) matches for the senior West Indies men’s team, is due to challenge longstanding president and Antiguan, Enoch Lewis for the top spot while Hodge will run for a vice president position.

Efforts to reach Lewis for comment proved futile with calls and messages to his mobile device going unanswered.

According to the application filed by the Anguilla Cricket Association, the LICB wrongly excluded both Kieron and Hodge from the final list of nominees, despite both having been duly nominated in accordance with the LICB constitution.

The applicants also argue that Hodge’s nomination was rejected on the grounds he did not submit a letter of acceptance but Carlisle argued that no prior indication had been given that such a document is required.

Carlisle further explained that he only became aware of the exclusion of both Kieron and Hodge on July 9th when an email circulated by LICB informing members of the final list of nominees, excluded their names. This meant that the incumbent, Lewis, would have gone unchallenged had the vote being allowed to take place.

The injunction prevents the Leeward Islands Cricket Board (LICB) from hosting its annual general meeting and or elections until the court rules on the matter. The respondents have been given until July 15th to submit their affidavit in opposition, after which the applicants will have until July 16th to file any reply. Written submissions are to be exchanged by July 20th, ahead of an inter-partes hearing set for 11 a.m. on July 22nd.