June 4, 2014 | By KNews | Filed Under Sports
By Sean Devers
The West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) cannot contravene Guyana’s Laws as a Sovereign Nation and I don’t think the Regional Board would want to meddle in Guyana’s internal affairs as a Nation.
A statement issued by the Guyana Government said “It is hoped, that the arrogance and contempt assumed by the WICB, as it purports to give directions to a sovereign Government of a CARICOM member state, is notedâ€
However, the Guyana Government must understand that it is the WICB and by extension the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) who controls cricket in Guyana and not the Government.
If His Excellency President Donald Ramotar signs the bill into Law, thus dissolving the GCB, the WICB will have no other alternative than to remove Regional and International tournaments from Guyana and worse yet, ban Guyana as a team from participating in Regional tournaments at all levels.
The WICB has serious reservations that the Cricket Administration Bill which was passed in the Guyana National Assembly thrusts the administration of cricket in Guyana from an independent body to the Government of Guyana. This the WICB views as undesirable and inconsistent with International Cricket Council tenets.
There would be no Guyana team because there would be no GCB, which is the only officially recognized authority for controlling cricket in Guyana and no Guyanese in any West Indies team, since it is mandated that players participate in Regional competitions to be eligible for West Indies selection.
According to the WICB, that entity sought an undertaking from President Ramotar that the bill would not be signed into law until these matters are resolved. The Board gave its commitment that once President Ramotar provided such an undertaking all arrangements in Guyana will be kept in place.
The WICB however failed to receive such an undertaking from His Excellency President Ramotar and the third Test between New Zealand and West Indies scheduled for from June 26-30, to be moved to Barbados.
The President of the WICB Dave Cameron was in Guyana for three days last week and Cameron’s meeting with President Ramotar was reportedly cancelled when he was already at the Office of the President.
It was reported that Cameron’s meeting with President Ramotar was confirmed by Dr. Anthony days before and reconfirmed an hour before the meeting.
On Saturday, the Honourable Minister of Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony responded. In a covering e-mail, the Minister explained that the President was out of Georgetown and that he was duly instructed to respond on the President’s behalf.
The Sports Minister received an e-mail from Mr. Cameron, indicating that the response was “unacceptable†and that the response which he requires “must be done under the Seal of the Presidentâ€. Dr Anthony’s letter reportedly provided the guarantees requested but it has not been made public.
The WICB, which has a vested interest in the assets of the GCB which they helped to put there without any funding from the Government, is sure to challenge ‘‘Transfer of Rights’ in the Bill which states which states that all assets and rights of an existing entity be seized and placed it in the hands of another without compensation.
The Bill further states that ‘every office established under the constitution, rules, regulations and by laws of a former county Board shall continue to exist on and after the commencement of this act, subject to the right of a County Board to make amendments thereto as may be necessary’.
However, the new constitution gives Demerara an extra vote from Linden which begs the question ‘If Essequibo and Berbice are allowed to keep their present constitution, why is the Demerara Constitution different from the one passed by its membership.
I am not disputing that all is not well within the GCB since their 2012 Elections but getting the Government involved to pass the Bill in Parliament to remove the GCB from power is not the way to go since the consequences far outweigh the benefits, if the Bill becomes Law.
Not only will the Hotel sector suffer by the loss of at least over 100 rooms from the players, officials, Television crew and Media workers for the third Test. But so will the fans, the caterers and Taxi Operators who look forward to such events.
The bill, if passed into Law could also rob all Guyanese cricketers with the aspirations of representing Guyana and the West Indies of their dreams and more importantly in these highly commercial times, the opportunity to earn from their skill. This could lead to an increase in crime if youths are not earning an income and can’t ply their trade, especially if they are not fortunate enough to play overseas.
The Regional Under-19 series has reportedly been shifted to Jamaica in August and this could also rob the budding local Umpires from getting Regional experience. The Radio Broadcasters who are not yet at a level where they will be hired for overseas assignments will also suffer.
For the sake of especially the players a better way could have been arrived at to get new GCB Elections without getting the Government involved.
kaiteurnews.com
