Some members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) are bemoaning the fact that almost three months after Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport Dr Frank Anthony met with them, none of the decisions taken have produced results.
The spotlight has been on the GCB following an acid attack on its assistant treasurer Pretipaul Jaigobin on May 25. Jaigobin and some others close to the board are of the view that the attack was related to queries that he had made at the level of the board. Following a public fallout among members of the divided board, the minister had summoned them to a meeting at his office and three major decisions were taken in an effort to address some of the burning issues. One of the most important issues was the decision to have an independent audit of the board’s accounts.
“There is a climate of fear among members and others in the cricketing arena because of what has happened to Jaigobin and the fact that nothing has been done since meeting with the minister,” a member told Stabroek News recently.
“Nothing has been done since the minister’s intervention, nothing… the only thing that has happened is that Mr Jaigobin is out of the hospital. Members are now afraid to speak out,” a source told this newspaper.
After 67 days in the Burn Care Unit of the Georgetown Public Hospital (GPHC) Jaigobin was discharged and this newspaper understands that the healing process is continuing and he is still in tremendous pain. During an interview with this newspaper the man had said the emotional pain of what the incident has done to his family was more than the physical pain.
One source indicated that if there had been action following the meeting with the minister, persons would not have been afraid to take up issues. At last month’s executive meeting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport Alfred King had reported that the Office of the Auditor General had indicated that it would have to name a private accounting firm to audit the financial records of the board, one of the decisions taken at a meeting the board’s executive had with the minister. There has been no further word on the issue.
Another issue of contention was the spending by the board to build the two hostels at La Bonne Intention (LBI) and Anna Regina. Stabroek News was told that the two hostels reportedly went past the budgeted sum.
Design and Construction Services Limited (DCSL) is yet to start its work on reviewing the two hostels, another of the decisions taken at the meeting with the minister. There were reports that both of the hostels, only recently completed, had cracks in the walls while doors and toilet and other fittings were coming loose. The construction firm is expected to conduct a value-for-money review but it was again pointed out recently that there was no defects liability clause in either of the two contracts and as such the board has no way of holding the construction companies liable.
Recently the already cash-strapped board was forced to purchase ten fans for the LBI hostel as the ceiling fans were not working. Sources said that there is no security at the hostel and this was an issue when the female cricketing team was encamped there recently.
King had also reported at last month’s meeting that the Attorney General had advised that the most recent constitution of the board should be the one used to govern its activities since that is the only one registered. Some board members had expressed concerns over the use of two constitutions, an old one and a new one, with some pointing out that the new one was not presented to the executive to be ratified.
This newspaper was told that the GCB only became registered under the Friendly Societies Act last year and the new constitution as a result was also registered. The old constitution, which governed the board for some 20 years, was never registered.
Confidence
On another issue board members at a meeting had indicated that they had lost confidence in their treasurer Sheik Ahmad and had recommended that he be relieved of his post. Ahmad had told Stabroek News that he knew nothing of such a decision but sources had said Board President Chetram Singh indicated that he would have communicated the loss of confidence to Ahmad.
However, a source said that the president has not spoken to Ahmad and it is hoped that this issue and the issues that were discussed in the meeting with Minister Anthony will be addressed at the next executive meeting.
At last month’s meeting Ahmad had indicated that the board was on the verge of a financial collapse and that it only had money to tide it over to the end of last month. It is not clear what the present position of the board’s finances is but this issue will also be addressed at the next meeting.
