Dear Editor,
The Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) consists of four associations, namely the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA), the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB), the East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) and the West Demerara Cricket Association (WDCA). Each association has a mandate to promote and develop the sport in their respective area and to ensure transparency and fair play.
There are currently two factions in Demerara which are claiming legitimacy in terms of the DCB, with one election held at Lusignan and the other at Wales. Subsequently an injunction was filed and the Bissoondyal Singh-led DCB was completely restrained. It is clear that the Bissoondyal Singh faction is mainly in the GCCA and the ECCB, while the Raj Singh faction is in the WDCA and EBDCA. What is amazing is that the latter two minor associations achieved almost nothing for the past ten years and were granted an injunction to block the two associations that actually kept the wheels of cricket turning in Demerara.
Over the past ten years the WDCA headed by Anand Sanasie and EBDCA headed by Rohan Sarjoo did not produce a single player to represent Demerara or Guyana. A visit to the cricket grounds in that area will shock you. Almost all on the East Bank are unplayable and the West Demerara is in a state of disrepair. As a matter of fact, persons who love the sport and reside in those areas are required to journey to Georgetown to ply their trade. Had it not been for businessman Mr Barakat who resides on the West Coast (not a member of any association), cricket would have been a thing of the past there.
What surprises me is that this group headed by overseas-based Guyanese Raj Singh (who resides in Cape Coral, Florida USA) was granted an injunction to halt the people who actually aggressively promote the sport in Demerara. By the way, how can someone living outside of the country be allowed to serve on the DCB?
The successes in Georgetown and on the East Coast are no secret. Georgetown headed by former West Indies Vice-Captain Roger Harper is the largest in terms of first division clubs, and the East Coast headed by businessman and former first division cricketer Bissoondyal Singh is the largest in terms of second division teams, in addition to three first division teams. Anyone who is familiar with cricket in Demerara will confirm this. The Demerarians who represented Guyana in the past ten years either came from clubs on the East Coast or in Georgetown.
This is extremely hurtful, especially with all the commitment, dedication, the training programmes held by Georgetown Cricket Association, the coaching programmes and cricket academies (9) held by the ECCB. The likes of Zaheer Mohamed, Brian Sattaur, Kumar Nandalall, Emran Khan, Kevin Bazil, Clive Andries, Krishna Deosarran, Kamesh Yadram, Abeena Parker, Devanie Sewnarine, Indomattie Goordial, Triolla Marshall, Faye Franklyn, Reneeka Isaacs and Darlene Gayle have all attended the East Coast Cricket Board Academy and went on to represent Guyana. Sarwan, Chanderpaul, Dowlin, Christian, Johnson, Griffith, Barnwell, Barrington, Vishal Singh, June Ogle, Joan Vansertima, Prudence Williams, June Thomas, etc, are from the Georgetown Cricket Association and went on to represent Guyana.
I conclude by saying that there is a need for radical change for the betterment of the sport and many prominent individuals, cricket fans, etc, must be keen to see Guyana again placed at the pinnacle. What gives me optimism is that when you look at the quality of individuals pulled together by Bissoondyal Singh and the information received from credible sources, if his group is allowed to prevail, not only will there be a complete overhaul of the organization, but Mr Roger Harper will be the Vice-President of the GCB responsible for cricket development and the newest West Indies Cricket Board Director. This gives me hope at all levels.
Yours faithfully,
Fidel A Walton
