Public relations officer Luther Wilkin said yesterday that the BCUA were approaching the season as they normally do by holding their regular series of lectures in order to fully prepare their members for the start of the domestic season next weekend.

"We are continuing to hold our meetings and lectures and gearing up to meeting the new season with a full complement of umpires,'' said an enthusiastic Wilkin last night.

He would not comment on the board's announcement this week that they had given sanction to a new group of umpires headed by board member McDonald Swan and known as the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Union.

The fact that the Sports Minister Pam Gordon this week disclosed that the BCUA cannot be considered "disbanded'' unless they disband themselves was not sufficient to induce Wilkin and his association into commenting on the dispute -- a development they are believed to privately feel has been created solely by the governing body.

One umpire and current BCUA members, who do not wish to be named, said that they (BCUA) considered themselves to be working for the clubs and noted that they were fully prepared to be involved with the local domestic programme when the season starts.

"The BCBC may think there is a dispute, but not us. We are simply going about our business and preparing for an interesting season of cricket just like we have always done. There is no dispute, there is no crisis as far as we can see,'' said the official, who indicated that he plans to be very active for his association this season.