“Cricket in Guyana is experiencing desperately troubling times. The WICB has attempted to work with the Government of Guyana and the Guyana Cricket Board to take the necessary steps to bring cricket back to a level of stability in Guyana but regrettably the situation still requires greater effort, Hunte stated in a recent memorandum to the Territorial Boards (TB).
According to Hunte, the WICB has maintained “a clear and consistent position from the inception to this date – that is that the WICB cannot endorse or approve government interference in the administration of cricket in Guyana or any other territory,” adding that his organization has also offered to work with the Guyana government implemented Interim Management Committee in an advisory capacity to help review and formulate a new constitution.
He also stated that the WICB had even offered the Government of Guyana and the IMC financial resources to fund any forensic audit which it deemed necessary to ascertain allegations of financial irregularities or improprieties, an offer which he said had never been taken up by the Guyana government.
“The WICB remains committed to lawful investigation into the Guyana Cricket Board or any other entity which is legitimately suspected by the proper authorities of engaging in untoward practices,” Hunte wrote adding that the WICB could not be a party to or endorse any attempt to take over and/or manage cricket in Guyana by government.
Hunte in his memo stated that the WICB had done its utmost to ensure that Guyana teams participates in all regional tournaments and that the players from Guyana are considered for selection to the West Indies Team.
“Officials from Guyana have also not been prejudiced with regard to fulfilling their West Indies or regional duties,” Hunte pointed out.
“The Board remains severely disappointed that the CARICOM brokered Understanding dated January 11, 2012 could not be finalized by the parties even though the WICB was fully prepared to sign.”
Meanwhile the Guyana government on Thursday went ahead with its plans to make the GCB a legal entity and tabled in parliament the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill despite the objections of the WICB which had indicated to the Guyana Government that it was not altogether pleased with the fact that the government was going ahead and dissolving the GCB, which the WICB had maintained that it was not in support of in the GoG/WICB Caricom understanding brokered in early January of this year.
The bill tabled on Thursday, contains a new constitution for the GCB which was arrived at by the IMC headed by former West Indies skipper and WICB director Clive Lloyd which seeks to replace the constitution being used by the present GCB.
While the government seeks to have the bill passed in parliament the GCB, or whoever is functioning as the GCB since its president Ramsay Ali has resigned, is attempting to finally resolve the situation which exists in Demerara where there are two Demerara Cricket Boards each claiming to be the legitimate body to deal with cricket administration in Demerara.
