The absence of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony from the Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB) annual Award Ceremony recently is s unknown according to the secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie.
In a recent interview with Stabroek Sport, Sanasie said the GCB sent an invitation to Minister Anthony but the reason for his absence from the December 18 event was unknown.
“An invitation was sent to the minister, in addition with a special request for him to address the gathering. However, he did not reply to either so the reason/s for his absence was unknown,” said Sanasie.
The GCB secretary added that official invitations were sent to several members of the government but he did not notice any of their representatives present.
Director of Sport Neil Kumar was the only government official to respond to the invitation before the event, stating he would not be in the country at the time of the ceremony.
According to a source close to the GCB, it is the second successive year the minister has missed the event.
He was represented by Kumar on the previous occasion.
The event commemorates the annual performances of Guyana’s top cricketers at all levels. It was attended by members of the parliamentary opposition. The minister’s absence has raised questions within the cricket fraternity and there are concerns whether his absence is associated with the continuous rift between the GCB and the government over the Cricket Administration Bill.
