Lawyers representing the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) yesterday filed a motion in the High Court seeking to squash the decision by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports, Dr. Frank Anthony to set up an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to run the affairs of the GCB for the next six months.
The motion was filed by Fenton Ramsahoye and Sanjeev Datadin on an application by Lionel Jaikarran and Chetram Singh in their capacities as trustees of the GCB.
This latest development comes following the decision by Dr. Anthony to replace the GCB with an IMC to be headed by former Guyana and West Indies cricket captain Clive Lloyd, MBE.
Last week, a press release from Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Alfred King indicated the decision by the ministry to set up the IMC which will have as its members, Lloyd, King, Edward Luckhoo, Anthony Xavier, Norman Mc Lean and Harry Parmesar.
According to the ministry’s press release, the decision to set up the IMC was in keeping with the ruling of Chief Justice Ian Chang, following a challenge to the legality of the Ramsey Ali-led GCB executive.
“It is a matter of common knowledge that there exists a ministry responsible for sport in general. This indicates that the State has assumed responsibility for the welfare, promotion and proper administration of sports in Guyana and that, since in the present state of affairs, while a legislative structure for the administration of cricket is desirable, there may be the immediate need for the minister responsible for sports, to impose his executive will in the national interest until such time as parliament can provide a more permanent welfare structure,” Chang ruled.
The ministry’s release stated that meetings were subsequently held between Dr. Anthony and various representatives of the previously recognized boards while former president Bharrat Jagdeo and Lloyd had met with president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr. Julian Hunte.
Speaking to Stabroek Sport yesterday Datadin explained the basis behind this affidavit.
“This is the height of government interference in private enterprise,” he argued.
“The GCB is a private association and we believe the ministry has no basis to set up the IMC, thus we have filed this order to Courtto have this decision squashed,” he added.
