The drafting of legislation aimed at making the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) a legal entity will be among four main objectives of the Interim Management Committee.(IMC).
This was disclosed by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony at a press briefing at the ministry’s boardroom, Main and Quamina Streets yesterday.
According to Dr Anthony, the four unresolved issues that the IMC will be paying keen attention to are; fixing the GCB constitution; dealing with the allegations of financial impropriety; the implementation of a broad-based Cricket Development Programme and the drafting of a piece of legislation to submit to parliament, which will make the GCB a “Legal Entity.”The GCB was deemed a legal non entity by Chief Justice Ian Chang in a court action brought by Angela Haniff of the Berbice Cricket Board in August.
In throwing out the injunction Chang stated that because the GCB was not a legal entity it could not sue or be sued.
Also present at yesterday’s briefing were chairman of the IMC former West Indies cricket captain Clive Lloyd and Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport Alfred King. Both Lloyd and Dr. Anthony gave the reassurance that the decision by the government to form the IMC was not to take control of cricket as is being peddled in some quarters, but rather to implement the mandate given to them by the Chief Justice, Chang.
“There is nothing sinister going on here, all we have done by implementing this IMC, is to implement the Chief Justice’s position that the Government must use its executive will to sort out the problems with cricket in Guyana,” explained Minister Anthony.
With regards to the legislation, the Minister noted that legislation could become a possible “Umbrella” legislation for any of the other 36 sporting bodies throughout Guyana that may have or may encounter similar problems in the future.
He continued:”As many in the public are aware we have from time to time been working with the boards to try and resolve the issues and unfortunately this has not been successful. We feel that we have allowed them enough space to heal, but that also has not been possible, so now we think it’s best some other person be brought in to assist in the process,” Dr. Anthony added.
When questioned by the media to address rumors on the possibility of Guyana be banned from upcoming regional tournaments, Minister Anthony stated that he had written president of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) Dr Julian Hunte giving him all the necessary documentations with regard to the IMC and was awaiting a response from the WICB. “As the situation stands I have no official word from the WICB that Guyana will be banned from any tournament and what is been circulated around is just hear say and rumors,” Minister Anthony said.
Lloyd MBE is the most successful West Indies captain ever. He played 110 test and 87 one-day internationals during his glittering 19-year career from 1966-1985.
Yesterday, in officially announcing his acceptance of the position of chairman of the IMC for the next six months, made clear in a humble manner that a takeover was not the objective of the IMC.
“I hope people don’t think this is a takeover, since the IMC is not a takeover of any sort. Guyana has been struggling for quite a while on and off the playing field and the government has simply saw it fit to assist in rectifying the situation.
“This most certainly will take some time, but I’m confident the other prominent individuals that have been selected to this committee will have the interest of cricket at heart, as we seek to change the face of cricket in Guyana and possibly that of sport in the country also,” Lloyd, also known as the `Super Cat’ stated. In closing the minister forcefully reiterated the fact that the IMC will last the projected six-month period and nothing more and said that Guyanese cricket public have been affected by this impasse for too long. “Our administrators have been spending too much time in court than on matters on the cricket field. It’s unfair to the cricket loving public, since Guyana’s cricket has been suffering due to this”.
The Interim Management Committee will comprise 15 members. Eight of these persons will come from the previously recognized boards. Of the eight persons, two will represent Berbice, two will represent Essequibo, and two will represent the previously recognized Guyana Cricket Board with one representative each coming from the two factions of the Demerara board.
According to Minister Anthony, the previously recognized members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and one faction of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) led by Raj Singh have indicated that they will not be part of the IMC. Dr. Anthony said that Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) has its representatives but are yet to submit the names, while the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has selected Keith Foster and Anil Beharry as their representatives with Bissoondyal Singh representing his faction of the DCB.
