castries, st lucia, (cmc)

West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) president Dr Julian Hunte said on Thursday that reports in the regional media raising questions about the propriety of his St Lucia office was part of a malicious campaign intended to malign him.

Dr Hunte dismissed reports of impropriety and said he faced opposition to a programme of reform, which he set in motion since being elected.

"This does not make sense to me except to say that this is a malicious attempt to malign and get rid of a couple of people, including myself as president of the board," said Dr Hunte.

Media reports this week raised questions about costs incurred at the board's expense at Dr Hunte's St Lucia office, but the president said that a full report and airing of the matter was planned for a meeting of the WICB on July 24 and 25, and he would refrain from providing too much detail at this time.

very disappointed

Dr Hunte told the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) that he was very disappointed that the regional media and others, who have circulated the report, had not made any real effort to substantiate the facts, but hastened to publish the report which clearly damages his reputation.

Dr Hunte also said he would be producing copies of documents at the next board meeting to show that expenses related to the refurbishing of the building were not met by the board as was alleged but by West Indies General, which borrowed US$67,050 from the bank.

West Indies General is a company of which Dr Hunte is a shareholder and owns the property where the office is located.

He said once completed, the office was offered to the WIBC as the president's office, adding that all documentation relating to the rental of the property has been with the board for some time.

The president also countered media reports that questioned the appointment of Dr Ernest Hilaire to oversee the 2010 ICC Champions Trophy in the Caribbean.

With regard to Dr Hilaire, Dr Hunte said all arrangements for his employment were made by, and had the blessing of the board.

Dr Hilaire was appointed tournament director for the ICC's Championship Trophy 2010 and his salary was being paid by the International Cricket Council.