The President, Board of Directors and staff of Cricket West Indies (CWI) wishes to express its sincerest condolences to the family of deceased umpire Carlton Best of T&T.
CWI also extends condolences to the T&T Cricket Board and the T&T Cricket Umpires and Scorers Union.
Best was officially certified to officiate regional First-Class matches last July, with his last regional duties being the West Indies Future Stars Under-17 Championship which took place in T&T less than one month ago.
CWI’s Director of Cricket, Jimmy Adams commented on Best’s passing, saying, “To have lost one of our aspiring umpires at so young an age and under such regrettable circumstances is very sad. The entire Caribbean cricket community grieves his loss and extend our sympathy and condolences to Mr Best’s family.”
The local cricketing fraternity was thrown into shock with the news that cricket umpire Best was killed by robbers at the age of 38.
It is understood that Best a resident of Sangre Grande went missing two days ago and his relatives reported this to the police who went in search of him. A body was found just after midnight on Wednesday in the Aranguez area and his relatives were called in to identify.
An autopsy conducted on Friday said that he died from massive internal and external haemorrhage consistent with gunshot wounds.
He was shot multiple times about the body. It is believed that he was hijacked and robbed of his Nissan Sylphy motor car.
President of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB), Azim Bassarath in an immediate response said it was a sad day for the cricketing family. "We are deeply saddened by the news of Carlton's passing." Bassarath who was a former umpire said that Best had a bright future ahead of him. "We all knew of his worth as an umpire. He was dedicated to the craft and was making great strides and this will leave all of us poorer. We want to take this time to wish his family God's blessings and comfort at this time."
Paras Singh, head of the T&T Cricket Umpires and Scorers Union said yesterday that only last month Best was officially certified to officiate in regional First-Class matches.
His last big assignment was the recently concluded Cricket West Indies Regional Under-17 Tournament which was staged in Trinidad mere weeks ago.
Singh said that Best was listed to be officially welcomed as a full-fledged West Indies umpire at the biennial convention of the regional body in Barbados, but could not as it coincided with his duties at the Under-17 tournament.
“He lived for cricket and put everything into becoming a top-class umpire and was liked and admired by all who came in contact with him,” said Singh.
The umpires boss revealed that Best was expected to attend a meeting of zone umpires in Sangre Grande on the night he was murdered.
Singh said his absence was unusual and that one of his colleagues tried to contact him on his cell phone when he did not show up.
He is now calling on the authorities to do their best and bring the perpetrators of the heinous crime to face justice.
“This was a man who was an asset to the community and a role model for Toco and environs.
“Carlton was a decent human being. Nothing could have prepared us for this outcome.
He would have reached far in the cricket world as an umpire. Our condolences and prayers go out to his bereaved family, his friends and the entire cricket community,” said Singh.
President of the T&T Cricket Board Azim Bassarath said he was shocked to hear the tragic news.
Currently, chairman of the CWI Sub-Committee of Umpires and Match Officials, Bassarath said Best's passing has left a void which will not be easily filled.
“Carlton represented years of personal investment in the game he loved so much and he received the support of the umpires' fraternity and the TTCB. We have been left stunned and deeply saddened by his passing,” Bassarath said.
Best was an employee of the National Union of General and Federated Workers and his loss will also seriously impact his comrades in the labour movement.
The Sangre Grande Sports community extends sincere condolences to the family, friends and the cricketing fraternity, on the passing our region’s Umpire Carlton Best. Your defining moment was when you made us all proud by placing 3rd in the Caribbean with a score of 97% in the 2017 West Indian Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) Practical and Oral Examinations. Your legacy will live on.
His friends on Facebook is also paying tribute to him.