Representatives of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the Guyana government, yesterday reached a consensus concerning the roles to be played by the Interim Management Committee (IMC) and the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in the administration of cricket locally.
The agreement came following a high-powered meeting between officials of the two sides at the Caricom Secretariat, Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara yesterday.
Yesterday’s meeting, which was mediated by Caricom Secretary-General Irwin La Rocque, was held to hammer out an agreement on the way forward after the Guyana government acting on a receommendation from Chief Justice Ian Chang, dissolved the GCB and replaced with the IMC.
It was a move that did not find favour with the WICB who wrote the Guyana government indicating that they had reognised the present GCB led by Ramsey Ali and indicating that Government intervention in the affairs of member territories of the WICB was frowned upon by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
At yesterday’s meeting, while it was recognised by both sides that there was need for reforms in the administration of cricket in Guyana, the two sides ultimately agreed on a menu of measures to achive their objectives.
It was disclosed that the government has accepted the WICB’s request for the GCB to “continue representing the interests of the WICB”, along with discharging existing responsibilities. These responsibilities, according to a missive sent by Caricom to the relevant stakeholders and seen by this publication, include: (a) Sanctioning of cricket pursuant to ICC rules; (b) Selection, preparation and management of all cricket teams; (c) Organisation of international and regional cricket matches.
Sources revealed that the meeting was attended by La Rocque, who will serve as facilitator/mediator in subsequent talks
between the GoG and WICB, Safiya Ali, General Counsel (ag) of Caricom, Sandra Bart and Neville December, also of Caricom’s legal department. Representing the government were Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Elisabeth Harper while the WICB was represented by its president Dr. Julian Hunte, Dr. Ernest Hilaire, CEO, and Attorney-at-Law Sanjeev Datadin.
Citing the Caricom document, before the sides agreed on the menu of measures to reform Guyana’s cricket, the government maintained its position on the ruling of the Chief Justice (ag.) Ian Chang, S.C., C.C.H., in the matter that was brought by Angela Haniff in August last year against Ramsey Ali and others, that the GCB is a legal non-entity.
The source indicated the GoG maintained that the ruling meant that the GCB could not function, a position which was refuted by the Caricom legal team.
The WICB on the other hand stuck to its guns, saying that it did not support the government’s move to dissolve the cricket board.
The WICB reiterated that “there must be respect for the independence of cricket administrations and therefore requires that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) continue to carry out certain activities in respect of its membership of the WICB and the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding cricket in Guyana.”
Both sides acknowledged the principle, which was articulated during the 18th meeting of the Prime Ministerial Sub-Committee on Cricket, that “all judgments of the courts must be respected and followed.”
“These proposals are without prejudice to the right of the parties to resort to the Courts of Guyana for a resolution of the issues arising from Angela Haniff v. Ramsey Ali et al,” the document read.
Citing the Caricom document, which indicated that both sides recognised the need for interim arrangements to salvage cricket, it was noted that the IMC would be responsible for “reviewing and reforming the administrative and governance apparatus of cricket in Guyana.” This would be done with the aim of presenting proposals for the implementation of the aforementioned administrative and governance apparatus.
It is expected that that a new constitution will be drafted for adoption by the GCB and its constituent boards. This was outlined in the term of reference, along with: (a) To recommend and implement steps to formalise the status of the GCB including consideration of the need for legislation, incorporation or such other process as required to provide appropriate legal status; and; (b) To prepare a proposal for the comprehensive cricket development programme for Guyana.
However, these steps by the IMC, headed by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, cannot be taken and implemented without the requisite consultation with stakeholders from the GCB and WICB.
“The IMC shall ensure that the process of developing recommendations shall include consultations with all stakeholders, and that in particular, the WICB and the GCB shall be given sufficient opportunity to participate and approve recommendations.”
According to the document the IMC will produce final recommendations for action within six months.
Also, it was agreed that when the new constitution is finalised it will be adopted within a month by the membership of the three county boards, paving the way for fresh elections to be held thereafter. A GCB official noted yesterday that this is a viable solution and he can live with an arrangement like that.
The official also indicated that the GCB was always against the dissolution of the board and always in support of the IMC to carry out whatever investigations they wanted to. Also on the card for the next six months is an undertaking by both sides for: (a) an independent and external diagnostic audit be conducted into the affairs of the GCB; (b) the audit will be facilitated by WICB and the Government of Guyana, and both parties shall agree on the auditor to be appointed; (c) all parties agree that there should be no impediment placed into the conduct of the diagnostic audit of the GCB; (d) and all parties agree to accept the findings of the audit.