Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Presidential hopeful Bissondial Singh believes that he has the wherewithal to restore a positive image to the embattled institution.
The GCB has been plagued with allegations of financial impropriety, corruption and executive lawlessness and Singh is one of three persons who will contest the top post at the Board’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) on January 30.
Singh, who is the current vice president of the GCB and the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) president, told Stabroek Sport that he has been a cricket administrator at all levels and has the knowledge from the ground up.
According to Singh, he is aware of all the problems that have enveloped the board and knows what is needed to remedy the issues. Singh stated that sometimes it pains to see the levels to which the GCB has sunk.
He is seeking election to the top post after long standing president Chetram Singh announced last December that he would not be contesting the post he has held since 1991.
Marketing Manager of the GCB Ramsay Ali and former General Secretary of the Board Bishwa Panday are the other two delegates that will be contesting the position.
Bissoondial Singh in an email to Stabroek Sports wrote that several reputable individuals have encouraged him to run for the presidency and he now feels that he has a national obligation. He pointed out that if he is elected he will be looking to restore the image at the executive level with an emphasis on having prudent management, accountability and transparency.
Singh also wrote that there will be an effort at “restoring our efficiency and effectiveness in the promotion, organization and development of cricket to ensure the highest level of participation/competitiveness on the field of play.”
The above will include male and female cricket programmes at the school level and will also extend to the club association and county boards with the emphasis being placed on “the utilisation of the highly qualified personnel and appropriate techniques” that may be available.
Added to that, Singh believes that the Cricket Development Committee (CDC) of the GCB should be in charge of an Afternoon Cricket College, which will be established if he is elected. Further, Singh proposed that there will be the establishment of elite training squads at all levels for both male and female cricketers. He also assured that the board will be engaging the Government of Guyana (GOG), the Private Sector Commission (PSC), the Chambers of Commerce and all relevant stake holders for the implementation of the long touted Professional League. On the other hand, Singh stressed that only qualified persons will be appointed to positions on the board. According to Singh, his executive members must possess qualities that include “efficiency, honesty, integrity, creditability and commitment”. “Cricket Development Chairman, PRO, Treasurer, Secretary, West Indies Director, Chairman of Selectors are amongst some of the more important positions which requires careful consideration and for which I have already identified possible candidates”, Singh wrote.
He noted that the candidate for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) directorship must be a person of “impeccable character” and who is knowledgeable on cricket matters and would be respected by all.He believes a former national or Test player would be the most eligible candidate.
