Dear Editor,
Please allow me to respond to a letter published in the Stabroek News of Sunday, January 17, captioned ‘How could our legal system embrace such an obvious illegality for five years’, and in the Guyana Chronicle of Tuesday, January 19.
Both letters were signed by Mr Claude Raphael describing himself in SN as “Former President, Malteenoes Sports Club; First President, Georgetown Cricket Association; Former President, Demerara Cricket Board; Former Chairman – Cricket Development Committee, Guyana Cricket Board; Former Chairman of Selectors – Guyana Cricket Board; Former Director, West Indies Cricket Board.”
I would venture to state that Mr Raphael as indicated in his sign-off holds no substantive position on any legal cricket entity. I would assume that this is also the person who jointly filed numerous court actions against the GCB and countless individuals serving or who once served these entities.
As former chairman of the GCB Cricket Development Committee, Mr Raphael should have stated his achievements, as it seems that a lot has happened since his departure six years ago. He should not have even ventured to speak about being Chairman of the GCB Selection Panel, because after he took over from Mr Hunte, the Guyana senior team slid to the bottom of the regional table.
Thanks to renewed vibrant leadership at the GCB, our teams at all levels have risen to the top regionally. No longer are selectors sleeping at matches or picking teams because of cricket politics and friendship. Guyana’s cricket is alive. Since Mr Raphael’s removal as a WICB Director by a democratic process, he seems to be on a crusade against a once vibrant structure. Neither he nor the PPP administration succeeded and his many court matters ably assisted by the former Attorney General, Anil Nandlall have failed to disband the GCB.
The unconstitutional PPP Cricket Administration Bill will face challenges in the court all the way to the CCJ, so Mr Raphael should be prepared for a long haul.
Yours faithfully,
Anand Dyal
