President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Ramsey Ali said yesterday that the decision by the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to replace the GCB with an Interim Management Committee could have a disastrous effect on Guyana’s cricket.
Ali said that with this latest development it was doubtful whether the two warm up games against the Jamaica national Twenty20 team will still take place early next year.
He also indicated that Guyana’s participation in the West Indies Cricket Board’s Regional T20 series hung in the balance.
“It will have an immediate disastrous effect on the cricket. I don’t know who is going to take over the cricket…. we have so much things in place, Jamaica team coming next week, I don’t think so,” said Ali in an invited comment.
The Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, had written the GCB requesting that the body no longer perform the duties of the GCB.
“…. I kindly request that you forthwith cease to act as, or on behalf, or hold yourself out to be representative or an agent or an officer of the Guyana Cricket Board,” read part of the Minister’s letter to secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie.
Ali told this newspaper yesterday that he had been invited to sit along with one other official from his board, on the IMC but had declined.
“The minister asked me and one other person to serve. I told him no! We will not be part of that process.”
Asked whether they will abide by the request of the minister Ali told this newspaper that they were awaiting legal advice on how to proceed.
“Immediately what we have done is forward the document to our lawyers and we will wait on their advice,” he said.
Asked if he had informed the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) of the latest development and what was the board’s response Ali answered in the affirmative.
“I have sent all the correspondence to the WICB. I also spoke to the WICB president, Mr. Julian Hunte. His initial reaction was that he was surprised that the Guyana Government should move in this direction,” Ali stated.
Ali also informed this newspaper that, in his discussions with Minister Anthony, he had suggested that the minister leave the GCB as it was but still attach the various sub committees so that the same work could be carried out.
“In my conversation with the minister I suggested that perhaps he could leave the GCB as it is and include the sub committees.
“I understand what is going on. Leave the GCB to function then put in the sub committees to deal with the Demerara Board, bring in the auditors tomorrow morning, let them go through the books but leave the GCB to function,” Ali said he had told Dr. Anthony.
In response, Ali said he was told by the minister that it was a government decision.
Asked whether the (Ramnaresh) Sarwan issue might have fuelled this latest move Ali said he did not think so.
“I don’t know if that caused it. It was brewing for a while and general elections might have forced it on the backburner.”
Ali also said that he had met with Sarwan and that particular issue had been resolved.”
“I met with Sarwan and we amicably resolved our issue. The last thing we are waiting on is a draft letter from Dave Kissoon, Sarwan’s lawyer, a draft statement from him that we were going to release together then we move on.
“There is a place for Sarwan,” said Ali, adding “Ronnie recognized the issues that he had but that conspiracy theory messed up everything.
