Shadow Minister for the Environment and Sport, Jon Brunson, yesterday expressed remorse over Bermuda's recent Stanford 20/20 capitulation in Antigua and has now called for those responsible for the debacle to be held accountable.

He said: "Like most people I was disappointed with the way Bermuda was represented at the Stanford 20/20 Tournament and I think we need to do some self-evaluation and ask ourselves did we honestly give it one hundred percent.

"I think these are just some of the questions that need to be asked all the way up from the athletes, coaches, the people who are responsible (Bermuda Cricket Board) to the Government.

'"At the end of the day we have to answer to the wider public and I think Bermudians have every right to feel disappointed because at the moment everything is all over the place.

"Things are changing rapidly in the world of sport and I don't think the infrastructure we have from an athletic perspective has changed to really improve our development. I think the time for reform is now."

Over the past several days members of the public have vented their outrage over Bermuda's "pathetic" performance against Guyana in the Stanford 20/20 Tournament, with some going as far as to call for heads to roll at the BCB.

After qualifying for a first World Cup in 2005 Bermuda cricket appeared to be on the up with Government pumping a then unprecedented $11 million into the BCB's coffers in the hope of raising standards and ensuring the continued development of the sport.

But a disappointing string of results, a lack of leadership, foresight, accountability and transparency at the BCB have contrived to undermine the sport- that plummeted to new depths last weekend at the Stanford Cricket Ground.

Brunson has now called for the Board to get their house in order and Government to hold national bodies to higher standards and accountability moving forward.

"I think what occurred at the Stanford 20/20 Tournament happened because Government don't have the strategic thought of where the sport is going or level of accountability that you need to ensure standards of performance are being met from the athletes' perspective, coach's perspective and the perspective of the national bodies," he argued. "Just throwing money at a problem is not the answer.

"Government said 'trust us, we are going to invest $11 million in cricket because they deserved it', and the people bought into that. But the responsibility doesn't stop there but extends way beyond that because the message that was sent was that the Government was going to make an investment in the development of cricket.

"However, the further development is not just creating a cricket pitch, having coaches or equipment, but also in the attitude and commitment those athletes we have invested in will convey to the younger athletes as they move through the ranks."

To date the BCB have yet to declare its long-term vision for the sport or show how they are spending the public's hard-earned cash.

Brunson says the Board have a "legal obligation" to keep Government, its members and the public well-informed on their investment.

"I think the national governing bodies have to be of a high standard in terms of accountability and transparency," he added. "When Government commits to investing in a sport there is a responsibility and a legal obligation as a charity to report their financial information."

Sports Minister El James did not return calls to The Royal Gazette yesterday.