the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association bi-ennial conference in St.

Vincent next week.

Headed by Dennis Raynor, president of the Bermuda Cricket Umpires Association, the departing group also includes secretary Randy Butler and treasurer Janet Todd. Raynor and Butler are the two allotted representatives while Todd will travel as an observer.

With an executive of the West Indies Cricket Board of Control intending to be present for the first time, one question Raynor insists will be asked by Bermuda is why local umpires continue to be overlooked for duty in the West Indies.

The late George Garrod was the only local umpire bestowed with the honour of umpiring a Red Stripe game, and this occurred in the mid-'70s in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

"Since then nobody has done a major multiple-day game in the West Indies, nobody at all and this is what concerns us,'' said Raynor.

"We intend to get the message across. We would like to see our members get the opportunity to do games of this nature. George Francis and Randy Butler were invited to do a few domestic games in Jamaica in recent years and received high marks for their role, but there has been no follow-up on the part of those responsible in the West Indies.'' The fact that many more local umpires have passed the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association examination and become fully qualified to officiate multiple-day matches in the Cairbbean has given the BCUA more ammunition to put their point across.

And the BCUA continues to work hard towards upgrading others by conducting courses and seminars on a bi-weekly basis in a bid to have as many members as possible become fully qualified.

It is also anticipated that questions pertaining to the clarification of minor regulations in the sport will be asked by the local delegation.

The group head to the conference with confidence owing to the fact that as hosts of the event two years ago Bermuda received high praise.

Many of the delegates on the Island at the time regarded the conference at Somerset CC as one of the best ever. It was previously held here in 1975.

While Raynor and Butler are rated among the best umpires in Bermuda, Todd is the only active female involved in local cricket although she has not officiated since 1987.

She passed her WICA examination in 1984 and attended her first conference in Jamaica the following year.

1985 was her busiest year as an umpire but after playing a diminishing role as an official she has become more involved at an administration level and has been on the management since 1989. For the past few years she has regularly assisted radio commentator Randy Horton as a scorekeeper.

JANET TODD -- one of the few women umpires at next week's cricket convention.