– Unveils manifesto “Vision for the future” if elected president of GCB
Insurance Executive Bishwa Panday threw out his biggest sales pitch on Thursday with a 14-page manifesto which promises to overhaul Guyana’s cricket should the electorate vote for him.
“I have a clear idea about the role cricket has played and must continue to play in our society,” he declared.
“Historically, this beautiful game has fostered harmony, made Guyana known to the rest of the world and brought happiness and pleasure to thousands of our citizens,” Panday, the man who wants to become president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) added.
The GCB will hold its annual general meeting tomorrow and with the race for the presidency too close to call between Panday and incumbent Chetram Singh, Panday, on Thursday, presented the media with a “menu of actions,” he proposes to introduce if elected.
Panday’s dossier starts off with the area of competitions and he said he plans to consult with the stakeholders to determine what competitions are needed and to have those competitions regularized.
He also said school and other types of cricket needed to be played as a supplement to the main competitions.
“We need to play competitions from the Under-15 level right up to the Over-40 level. Included here are 1st Division, 2nd Division and maybe 3rd Division. I however wish to pay particular attention to school cricket.
“I do not feel we can progress as a national team and can produce quality cricketers unless we start them young. I therefore feel very strongly that we need to continue and possibly expand cricket in the schools,” he said.
Panday plans to stage cricket competitions for players over 40 years of age and said his administration will entrust the development of women’s cricket…“to a dedicated organizer with the requisite skill and talent for this position.”
He also plans to “look at cricket in a more holistic way and develop it in every corner of this country.”
Panday made special mention of Essequibo stating that he will “examine what are the weaknesses of Essequibo’s cricket and try and work with the stakeholders in Essequibo to bring their cricket up to an acceptable level.”
He also said he would look to developing cricket in non-traditionally areas such as the Rupununi.
“If cricket in Guyana is to progress and prosper the axis must shift from its current urban base and take in other areas of the country,” was his take.
Panday plans to liaise with the Ministries of Local Government, Education and Sports and try to introduce and/or popularize the game in the non-traditional areas.
He slammed the present system of coaching declaring that although the GCB spends a substantial amount of money on coaching they were not getting their money’s worth.
“The GCB invests quite a substantial amount of money in coaching. Although there has been a lot of talk that we don’t get value for money and we are not sure that we are achieving the desired objectives, we have been very ambivalent about dealing with this issue of quality coaching. I suspect it is not in the interest of some of us to rock the boat and maybe lose the votes. This attitude must not be sustained. It will not lead to the improvement of cricket in Guyana.
“I wish to assure the members and the general public that should I become President of the GCB, the coaching staff will be accountable to the various area boards and also to the GCB.”
Panday earmarked talent spotting as a means of promoting and developing cricket in Guyana and said his executive would seek to establish and develop a fund to support talent spotting and encourage talented school children to join cricket clubs.
The proper marketing of the game, the establishment of a professional league and getting government involved are also among Panday’s plans.
“We continue to lose our cricketers to overseas countries and of recent in particular Trinidad & Tobago. We will not be able to develop our cricket unless we can come up with a plan to compete successfully with the overseas attractions.”
He was critical of the present pitches.
“Our wickets are not up to standard. They are generally slow. Pitches in Guyana need to have more pace and bounce in them. Such pitches help in the development of the game for both batsmen and bowlers and also provide much entertainment for the spectators.
A few years ago I had approached the University of Guyana for some assistance with our pitches and even though it was promised, nothing materialized. Another approach will have to be made. This might be easier if we can get the University to be involved in our competitions.
And Panday seemed unmindful of the fact that both the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport had thrown their weight behind Singh.
“A Cricket Board under my presidency will liaise very closely with the government and in particular with the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sports and the Director of Sports.
I therefore pledge to work very closely with both the Minister and the Director of Sports in relation to realizing my vision.
Panday said in order to improve cricket in Guyana the following committees will be needed:
1. Cricket Development
2. Marketing and Fund Raising
3. Competitions and Records
4. Selectors
5. Grounds and Structures
6. Umpires & Match Referees
7. Special Projects
And, a GCB under Panday will see younger umpires coming to the fore.
“Many of our umpires are on the older side and we need to attract younger persons. We need to do the same with match referees. In relation to curators, we need to give them the recognition that they deserve. We need to recognize that they have a skill and we need to recognize and nurture that skill. I will therefore accord due respect to these persons.
“Scorers also are in short supply and we need to encourage more persons to start scoring so that we will have a reservoir of resources as we go forward.
He also pledged greater accountability of the GCB’s finances.
“Every effort will be made to continue to encourage and promote a culture of accountability in this board and all financial transactions will be transparent,” the present GCB secretary said.
Panday said the GCB will have a rigorous attitude towards expenditure management and all expenses incurred, will be closely monitored.
On the ticklish issue of selections Panday declared:”We will endeavour to appoint persons of the highest integrity to be selectors and we will hold them to high standards. They will be required to watch matches and be consistent and fair in their selections. We will also put in place a selectoral policy to better guide the selectors all in an effort to ensure that there is no favouritism and selections are done on merit.”
Panday also disclosed plans for the creation of a Cricket Academy “which will be funded by Sagicor,” and pledged to work closely with the media and to implement the use of technology to improve the sport and also to be used as a tool for development of our human resources.
He also says he will implement term limits for office bearers.
“I have paid my dues. I have served the Board and its current President faithfully for the past fifteen (15) years. I applaud the achievements of the incumbent President but as he himself had asserted when seeking the position way back then in 1992,there comes a time to recognize that fresh ideas, greater energy is needed – that it is possible to fade into complacency and in so doing hamper the growth of this game we love.
Cricket must not suffer the fate of other organizations in Guyana, where one person, one group becomes enshrined in power.
The proof of the greatness of a good leader is the ability to recognize that it’s time to move on, so that the game can move on, taking new directions, overcoming new challenges and bringing to fruition plans that have been derailed,” Panday ended.
