The organisers of the ‘Big Man Cricket Tournament’ – an event which will feature 10 teams – have received the green light from the Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr., and the Ministry of Health to stage the event.
The scope for holding sport events was created by the government through the new COVID-19 preventative measures, once approval was sought and granted.
One of the organisers of the event, Director, Raj Singh of ‘Big Man Cricket- Guyana (BMC-G)’, in a release said: “The BMC-G is extremely pleased now that the minister with direct responsibility for all sports in Guyana has decided to grant our organisation the necessary permission for the tournament. The minister, who is also an attorney by profession, has also taken the liberty to explain the legal concept under which the [Guyana Cricket Board] cannot withhold permission from the BMC-G or any other such organization.”
The organisation also disclosed that it has already obtained permission from the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Task Force, but the GCB decided to block the tournament, which has already attracted the participation of 10 teams from across.
“…The reasons put forward by the GCB left much to be desired. The GCB stated, firstly, that it was because they had a sanctioned Over-40 tournament planned. It is public knowledge that the GCB has never held an Over-40 competition countrywide in its 77 years of existence. The BMC-G did not have an issue with such a tournament as the BMC is an Over-45 tournament and the GCB tournament could have served well as a feeder competition for our Over-45 BMC domestic cricket and our Over-50 regional cricket,” the release stated.
“The other reason put forward by the GCB was that they did not get an early application even though it was sent about two-and-a-half weeks before the commencement of the competition. Further, the BMC-G thought it wise to obtain the COVID-19 Task Force’s approval first prior to approaching the GCB for its blessings. It was obvious that if that permission wasn’t obtained, it did not make any sense whatsoever to approach the GCB.”
