Jamaica Cricket Umpires Association (JCUA) president, Norman Malcolm, has called on the new Jamaica Cricket Association administration to put more into the development of umpires.

Speaking at the recent JCUA awards ceremony at University of the West Indies recently, Malcolm pointed out the disparity between player's and umpire's development programmes, and said for the sport to progress, that has to change.

"The level of funding and assistance given to players for development of their career has far outweighed that offered to umpires, yet both parties are expected to produce the same outcome," said Malcolm, who is also an ICC panel umpire.

"I urge the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA) to include in its strategic planning, contingencies for the development of our local umpires. Be cognisant, however, of the fact that consultations and collaborations are critical."

Malcolm, who during his presentation listed a number of achievements by his association in recent years, including the graduation of umpires to the regional panel, also expressed hope that relations between JCUA and JCA will improve going forward.

The umpire admitted that there had been a rocky relationship in recent times between his administration and the previous JCA administration.

"The level of dialogue between ourselves and the previous administration were at times strained," said Malcolm.

"We sincerely hope there will be a more proactive approach to doing things as well as continuous dialogue between our two organisations.

"While we understand the constraints that face the JCA, we believe that there should be no cutting back in its programme of developing cricket, since this will inevitably impact negatively on the quality of umpiring," he added.

Among the young and upcoming national umpires who have been added to the regional panel in recent years are, Patrick Gustard, Chris Taylor, Athol Hamilton and Verdayne Smith.