JCA president, departing CEO deny claims of security bar

Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) President Dr Donovan Bennett and departing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Courtney Francis have dismissed claims that the latter was barred by security from accessing his office at Sabina Park.

Bennett charged, however, that the CEO, whose position he said was made redundant effective the end of July 2026, was showing up for work in contravention of a directive to stay away from the office.

When the Jamaica Observer contacted the JCA president on Thursday he said security personnel were advised not to allow anyone to park vehicles inside the premises where the association’s headquarters are located. But Bennett said all staff members were allowed foot access.

Bennett, though not giving the precise reason, said the order was given after Francis had allegedly verbally attacked JCA first Vice-President Fritz Harris earlier this week.

Bennett said, “He [Francis] has not been following directives [to stay away from the office] and that has caused a lot of excitement… but I have done what the board directed me to do [to make the position redundant] and that’s the end of the story as far as I am concerned.

“I thought this was for his benefit because… I know it would be difficult for him to be acting in a sort of lame duck capacity because [staff] would know he will be losing his authority.”

Francis, while reluctant to speak freely on the matter, confirmed that he was not denied entry to his office. He said he parked his car outside the premises and entered on foot without any hindrance on Thursday.

The JCA CEO did not comment on the accusation of him verbally attacking the association’s vice-president nor his reason for not adhering to Bennett’s directive. But he told the Observer that the terms of his departure from the JCA remains a “work in progress as details of the separation package are yet to be finalised”.

When asked to outline what aspect of the arrangement is outstanding, Francis declined to comment further.

Bennett suggested that Francis’ severance arrangement had already been agreed upon.

“We offered him his package that he was entitled to — and I was not at that meeting — but I gathered he accepted it,” he said.

“I offered him the option of spending out his notice period at home… He’d still get his pay and whatever he is entitled to — he’d still get it — and then he turns up for work and there’s been a lot of disruption since,” Bennett added

Last week, Francis, who has served two decades at the JCA, including as head of cricket operations before he was appointed CEO, had written to staff and stakeholders informing them of the redundancy exercise.

“The JCA board of directors has made the decision to make the position of chief executive officer redundant,” Francis said in a farewell message. “This decision was reached after the board considered organisational changes necessary to address the current financial state of the company.”