ST. JOHN’S, Antigua – He by no means wielded a bat nor bowled a ball in maroon, but Don Wehby’s title is etched among the many architects of contemporary West Indies cricket.
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Cricket West Indies (CWI), in an outpouring of respect and sorrow, has paid tribute to Wehby’s unwavering dedication to the area’s most cherished sport, following his passing.
A visionary chief, company titan, and devoted fan, Wehby dropped at West Indies cricket not the roar of the gang, however the quiet conviction of a person who believed deeply within the sport’s promise—and within the buildings wanted to maintain it.
A steward of objective and precept
In a heartfelt assertion, CWI acknowledged Wehby’s indelible contributions, describing him as somebody who “by no means walked onto a cricket area in maroon, however carried West Indies cricket in his coronary heart.”
“He was the definition of a real fan; loyal in spirit, unwavering in perception, and dedicated not simply to the glory of the previous, however to the chances of the longer term,” the assertion learn.
Chairing the CWI Governance Reform Job Pressure, Wehby authored the 2020 Wehby Report—a pivotal doc that laid out a daring, consultative roadmap for modernizing cricket governance throughout the area. His management was rooted within the perception that “governance was not about management, however about stewardship,” serving the goals of each younger boy or woman who watched the maroon with marvel.
A voice of conscience, a drive for reform
President of CWI, Dr. Kishore Shallow, captured the quiet dignity of Wehby’s service:
“At this time, we mourn the passing of a person who by no means sought recognition, solely progress… By way of his authorship of the Wehby Report, and his unwavering dedication to good governance, Don challenged us to be higher, to steer with integrity, and to serve with objective.”
Shallow emphasised that although strides have been made to implement Wehby’s reform blueprint, “we are actually certain by responsibility and gratitude to finish the journey he started.”
A life anchored in excellence
Don Wehby’s affect prolonged past the cricketing sphere. As Group CEO of GraceKennedy and Chairman of CG Insurance coverage, he was a pillar of company management within the Caribbean. His dedication to West Indies cricket endured even by turbulent occasions, together with his corporations offering important assist that helped maintain the sport alive.
Chief Govt Officer of CWI, Chris Dehring, mirrored on their four-decade friendship, saying:
“He liked West Indies cricket with the identical ardour he introduced to each facet of his life—purposeful, principled, and deeply rooted in regional pleasure… His work on the Governance Job Pressure was greater than reform; it was imaginative and prescient grounded in braveness.”
Dehring described Wehby’s contributions as “seismic,” including that “Jamaica has misplaced a son of distinction, and the Caribbean, a champion of progress.”
From boardroom to boundary: A legacy that endures
Wehby served as an Impartial Director on the WICB from 2013 to 2017, chairing the Audit, Threat & Compliance Committee. In 2016, he was appointed to move a brand new process drive targeted on governance reform, revisiting key historic stories together with the Patterson Report (2007) and Wilkin Report.
His management culminated within the 2020 Wehby Report—widely known as a complete information for sustainable cricket governance. In 2019, he was reappointed Chairman of the Governance Reform Job Pressure, a task that underscored the area’s deep belief in his imaginative and prescient and integrity.
A closing farewell
Cricket West Indies prolonged its deepest sympathies to Don Wehby’s household, buddies, and colleagues, honoring him not solely as a reformer however as a guardian of the game’s soul.
“West Indies cricket is stronger as a result of Don Wehby cared,” the tribute concluded. “And we honor his reminiscence finest by persevering with the work with the identical readability, humility, and resolve he so graciously embodied.”
Could his soul relaxation in everlasting peace, and should his instance proceed to mild the way in which for generations to come back.
