Last Friday Elva, better known as a joker than as a cricket analyst, asked, who is Paul Campbell? She was a back-room supporter of Courtney Walsh for the presidency of the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA). Paul Campbell has served as first vice-president to President Jackie Hendricks for four years, and on October 23 he defeated the beloved Ambassador Courtney Walsh for the presidency of the JCA.

Some 15 years ago I officiated at the wedding, when Paul took Jackie Knight, tourism and public relations expert, as his wife. I have shared in many of their family celebrations at their home. After watching a programme on CVM TV hosted by Rohan Daley in which Wayne Lewis, Courtney Walsh supporter and former Jamaican cricketer, made innuendoes about financial irregularities at the JCA, I felt compelled to telephone Paul. Lewis, in his utterances, did not provide any specifics, and that, to me, seemed to have been a smear campaign tactic against Paul Campbell. So, I decided to attend the launch of his manifesto.

There I learnt more about Paul Campbell. Paul, since 1999, served on the marketing committee, where he had to use his marketing skill. Paul said, "Within four years, we were able to secure a $45 million sponsorship deal with Supreme Ventures Limited - the largest sponsorship in the history of the JCA." As chairman of the committee, Paul led a team that convinced sponsors to invest in cricket. Other achievements of Paul included the 2008 start-up of the semi-professional cricket league, the envy of other territories.

Now that Paul has been successful in becoming president of the JCA, it is important to ensure that he keeps his promises. He promised the provision of a hostel; essential equipment and modern coaching methods; improvement in cricket administration and organisation, having been integral in hosting Cricket World Cup and learning from that tournament; acquisition of a chief executive officer and a technical director of the JCA by 2009; resumption of the Cricket Festival of Stars; forging of links with Scotland and Canada; introduction of a Twenty20 cricket tournament; closer relationship with the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association and full professional cricket in Jamaica by 2012.

Paul's vision is to RE-ESTABLISH CRICKET AS THE #1 SPORT and RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY and to MAINTAIN JAMAICA AS THE DOMINANT FORCE IN WEST INDIES CRICKET. The latter part is easy because Jamaica has been at the pinnacle of West Indies cricket for the last two years. To make cricket the leading sport will be hard to achieve in two years. But, the most difficult task will be to change the thinking and operations of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The leadership of the WICB has changed but the West Indies board has systemic problems. The West Indies board has lost every legal battle in the last couple years, including the recent Digicel/Stanford fiasco. And no one has resigned and nobody is talking about the millions of United States dollars lost by the West Indies board. How could the board allow the West Indies team to be rebranded as some Superstar XI? Paul has his work cut out for him.

I hope Paul will bring other innovations, including allowing the current and a former Jamaican cricket captain a seat on the board. In addition, it would be good to have a lawyer on board.

Who is Paul Campbell? He is known for his expertise in cricket administration, experience at the leadership level of the JCA, hard worker, good rapport with rural associations, and a performer. He is the president of the JCA for 2008-2010. Paul Campbell is destined to accomplish much for Jamaican cricket.

Rev Devon Dick is pastor of Boulevard Baptist Church and author of 'Rebellion to Riot: the Church in Nation Building.' Feedback may be sent to columns@gleanerjm.com.