Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association (BCUA) secretary Randy Butler departed for the Caribbean today where he will officiate in the West Indies TCL Under 19 Three Day Championships currently underway in Jamaica.

Butler, once ADC to former Governors Sir Richard Possnet and Viscount Dunrossil, will officiate in the three day contest involving Leeward Islands and Trinidad at Up Park Camp, located near the military base the former BCUA president visited as a major in the Bermuda Regiment in the 1980?s, beginning on Saturday.

?We have been waiting for the opportunity from the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) to extend an invitation through the Bermuda Cricket Board to the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association for a very long time,? stated Butler.

?We are members of the WICUA who are affiliated with the West Indies Cricket Board and we have been waiting for exposure for some time. . . whether it was at Carib Cup level or whatever.?

The senior official will reside at the residence of local umpire George Francis ? who officiated in last week?s limited overs championship ? in Kingston.

The West Indies Three Day championships is currently being competed for by teams heralding from the Americas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica, Leeward and Windward Islands and Bermuda who went winless in the recent limited overs championship.

?It should be very interesting and I expect the standard of play to be very high and the players very disciplined. And they (WICUA) are looking for top umpires to assist them,? added Butler.

So far, the year 2004 has proved to be a busy one for local umpires as BCUA member Wali Manders officiated in the Americas Associate Tournament in Panama in March of this year while Steven Douglas, Roger Dill, Wilbur Pitcher and Francis all saw action in the recently concluded Americas Regional Championship held on local soil early last month.

Butler, a former Western Stars and Social Club off-spinner, acted in the capacity of official coordinator during the five-day tournament which saw the Island qualify for next year?s ICC Trophy Tournament in Ireland.