Dear Editor,

I refer to a letter in Sunday Stabroek dated January 31, captioned ‘Declined nomination for presidency of GCA.’

Ordinarily I would not pay more than passing notice and maybe smile at something like this, but in this instance I decided to offer my comments, since the letter attempts to desecrate the impeccable reputation of Mr Roger Harper, an icon, a local hero and a son of a distinguished son of the soil. Why should a matter of this nature be made a public issue?

Mr Mentore would have been better advised to extend congratulations to Mr Harper and support a movement for enhancing our cricket, since Mr Harper has entered the cricket administration at a time when our cricket on and off the field is at an all-time low. His presence could make a big difference to the cricketing landscape and should be acknowledged and supported.

By his own admission Mr Mentore recognizes the value and virtues of Mr Harper, but sullies the issue with his verbal acrobatics. He should carefully evaluate why Mr Harper decided to run for the presidency of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) at this time; and why the electorate (all the clubs in Georgetown) decided to vote for Mr Harper as President along with the rest of the previous executives except for the Secretary, PRO and himself.

Maybe the clubs have recognized who has been really functioning at the GCA level and who has not; also who is interested in politicking for positions and power instead of promoting unity and cohesiveness at a time when our cricket needs committed persons; and who promotes lawlessness and disorder as was evident at the recent Demerara Cricket Board AGM held on Saturday, January 30, 2010.

Yours faithfully,
Claude Raphael