Mark Neita

Born in Jamaica, Ambassador Perry, an alum of Kingston College, helped promote the growth of the sport in the United States during his tenure as a New York State Assemblyman and earned him the right to be inducted. 

“I did everything I could to make sure that New York’s government recognized the importance of cricket to the Caribbean-American Diaspora and that we are given rights and privileges to use the public parks and public sites to play the game we love,” he said in his acceptance speech during the induction ceremony at the Melbourne Cricket Club on Friday.

Neita is hopeful that as the US Ambassador to Jamaica, he will do the same in the country of his birth.

“I think it’s very significant. The fact is the United States of America is going to be the next big cricket market and when you have somebody like the ambassador, who is passionate about the game of cricket and is prepared to help, I think it bodes well for the future of a lot of our youngsters,” Neita told Sportsmax. TV.

“I certainly hope that now that he is an inductee in the Cricket Hall of Fame it will open up the channels for us to have a very robust discussion about cricket, how we can develop the game, how the connection between the United States and Jamaica can be strengthened, how we can get gears here at discounted prices because we all know that the duty on cricket gear is prohibitive sometimes for our youngsters to get fully clothed for a game.”

His last point about the cost of cricket gear was an issue brought up at the induction ceremony by Executive Chairman of the Hall of Fame Mike Chambers.

Chambers mentioned that gear costing US$400 (approximately JMD$61,000) that was donated in Jamaica attracted duties amounting to more than JMD$100,000.

Neita expounded, explaining that the exorbitant duty has put a damper on the sport in Jamaica.

“The fact of the matter is that the high cost of the gear has a very negative impact on our young cricketers,” he said.

“It is almost up to the club for us to help to support the cricketers with all their gear because the reality is this; for a young player, say 12 or 13 years old, to be fully suited with a cricket bat, pair of pads, helmet, thigh pads, boots you’re talking about 60 to 70 thousand Jamaican dollars, and most of that is duty.

I just had an experience recently where I brought in a pair of cricket boots for one of my young cricketers because it was unavailable here, it cost me 35,000 Jamaican dollars just for duty alone and the shoes cost 120 Pounds; I mean that to me is just ridiculous.

 “Look around, you have fewer people playing cricket, fewer schools playing cricket and so we need to start about how to do something for the sport.”

He hopes that Ambassador Perry will be able to help with matters such as this.

“And this is why this is so important. I am sorry there weren’t members of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) here but this is a significant moment for us and I think this ambassador is passionate about the sport and I am almost certain that he is going to be a big asset to turn back some of that negativity when it comes to pricing the gear and the connection between Jamaica and the United States, so this is very positive,” Neita said.

“We are excited about this. I think it’s a significant event and I think the future is very bright for this collaboration between the US and Jamaica in terms of cricket.”

Robert Wright was elevated to the role of first vice-president while Carlton Facey was voted in as second vice-president.

Diann Campbell, who was appointed to the CWI Board of Directors in April, will serve as secretary while Richard Gayle was returned unopposed as treasurer.

Former Jamaica and West Indies batsman Robert Samuels was also returned unopposed as club captain.

Special thanks to our outgoing 1st Vice President - Mr. Zachary Harding, 2nd Vice President - Mr. James Stewart, Honorary Secretary - Mr. Neil Reese for their invaluable contribution, Also Mr. Dimario McDowell.

Evon Reid, Christopher Spencer and Paul Stewart will all return as members of the club’s committee alongside new members Tareque White and former Jamaica batsman Jon-Ross Campbell.

“I want to take this opportunity to thank those who served with me in the past,” Neita said on Thursday.

“To my new team, I want to say how proud I am of this group of individuals. I feel really encouraged that we have people who will go forward and do well for us,” he added.

According to Mark Neita, the athlete’s representative, Thomas was driving back into Kingston on Sunday from Clarendon where he had gone to visit his parents. While on the PJ Patterson Highway, a tyre blew and he lost control of the vehicle, which then flipped over. When the vehicle came to rest, Thomas managed to climb free and taken to the Spanish Town Hospital where he remained under observation for six hours before he was released.

Neita praised the staff at the Emergency Ward of the hospital whom he said ensured that the bowler had no broken bones or suffered from internal bleeding. He expects Thomas to be back in training by Wednesday as the player prepares to represent the Rajasthan Royals, who get their 2020 IPL campaign underway in April.

He is also hopeful for a call to the West Indies cricket team currently in Sri Lanka for an ODI series.

However, the police offered a conflicting report. The Constabulary Communications Unit (CCU) of the JCF said an Audi motorcar Thomas was driving collided with a Suzuki Swift motorcar shortly before 7 p.m.

A member of the JCF, who suffered serious injuries and was taken to hospital, was driving the Suzuki, the police said.

Meanwhile, the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) has issued a statement extending its sympathies to the burly fast bowler.

“WIPA extends best wishes to West Indies and Jamaica fast-bowler Oshane Thomas who was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Sunday, February 16 in Jamaica,” the statement said.

“Thomas was reportedly involved in a two-vehicle collision on Highway 2000 near Old Harbour in St. Catherine and was taken to hospital.

WIPA’s executive and staff would like to extend our sympathies to Oshane. We wish for him a speedy and full recovery.”