Dear Editor,
The successful passage of the Cricket Administration Bill in 2013 through Parliament has had no legal effect to date regarding the democratic and transparent function of the Guyana Cricket Board. In fact the GCB is still being micro-managed by a select few who remain defiant in relation to the will of the majority of cricket stakeholders within the three counties. Dr Rupert Roopnaraine, who is the current Minister of Education with responsibility for sport, supported the Bill when in opposition. However, there has been no public pronouncement from him regarding the implementation of the Bill which should pave the way for free and fair elections. The government must signal its intentions early and firmly, thus ensuring that the national sport is not tainted with illegality, given the many audits that have been done at several state institutions.
West Indies cricket is at a crossroads, and while there is optimism for the future, it will require strong leadership at the level of every territorial board for any significant advancement to be made in an effort to reverse the flagging status of the team. The GCB is without such leadership as the board is being managed like a private club. Notwithstanding the plausible success of the various national teams, I am of the firm view that the organizational structure of the GCB is lacking the quality and experience it needs for the long term success. As a result the continued isolation of the Berbice Cricket Board along with other key stakeholders including the East Coast Cricket Board, the Georgetown Cricket Association and even Linden from institutional participation including consultation, have rendered the GCB a toothless tiger. It seems as though decisions are being made by an exclusive few, some of whom have never held a bat, yet they affix their signatures as a matter of policy for the future of the players.
Is there a functioning Cricket Development Committee of the GCB? I doubt it, since the manner in which tournaments have been conceptualized and implemented leaves much to be desired. The just concluded franchise league had three matches planned for Essequibo. Instead only one materialized which the Essequibo team won. Why were the other two matches not held which would have given the team home advantage just like the other teams? The Essequibo Cricket Board is the only legitimate body within the structure of the GCB (BCB continues to boycott the GCB, while there is no constitutional DCB), yet the ECB has no voice to prevent the manipulation of tournaments, even when they are to the disadvantage of its own players. I am therefore imploring the government to act swiftly to resolve the various issues as these relate to governance, so that the credibility of the GCB can be restored.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
