who owe the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association more than $5,000 in outstanding umpires' fees.

The majority of the money is for services rendered during Premier Division fixtues last season, and since the league was designed to finish earlier than in previous seasons the association is surprised by the delinquency.

Treasurer Janet (Pinky) Todd yesterday named the guilty clubs -- Bailey's Bay, Flatts, Southampton Rangers, Somerset CC and St., George's.

She said that St. George's and Flatts were the worst offenders because they were the only two clubs who had not made one single payment to the association all season. The specific amounts owed individually by the clubs are not being revealed at this time.

St. George's were the real surprise because their president Mansfield Smith is also a member of the BCUA and is consequently amongst those umpires who are currently waiting to be paid for handling matches.

"It's a real dilemma for us, and it's frustrating when our members give an important service and are forced to have to wait so long for their money,'' said Todd.

"We thought situations like this would have been avoided with the league season ending early in August like it did. This gave clubs more time than usual to arrange their payments but it appears to have made no difference.'' As a result of the delay in payment by the clubs, Todd said that the BCUA have had to go ahead and compensate the members who were in urgent need of their cash while being forced to persuade others to be a little more patient.

What Todd reckoned was even more disturbing was that most of the clubs would make commitments to pay when they are contacted, but rarely do they follow through with their pledge to do so.

"The time has come for them to be more up front and honest concerning this matter, that would be the way to approach it instead using these stalling tactics by making all sorts of promises and doing nothing,'' said Todd.

"We've had so many assurances that payment would be made by September, now here it is near the end of November and money is still owed.'' She suggested that the BCUA is now forced to seriously look into developing a plan for next season to avoid this to ensure that payment of services is made as soon as possible.

"The clubs must realise that the umpires must be paid for a service that's being provided, they need to address this matter and decide how best to deal with it in the future,'' she intimated.

She named Somerset Bridge as a perfect example for clubs to follow, reminding how they owed $1,000 going into last season and eventually had it paid after long arguments with the BCUA.

However, since settling their account Somerset Bridge have been one of the best payers, adopting a plan to pay the umpires in full at the completion of each game.

"They've done exceptionally well, perhaps other clubs should follow their approach,'' said Todd.