“Caribbean cricket has been hijacked by a small clique of people who are hell bent on destroying Caribbean cricket and my position [is], unless the question is answered as to who owns that asset, we’re spinning top in mud,” stated Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in mid-April 2017, during an interview on the Trinidad and Tobago television station CNC3’s Morning Brew show.
At the time Dr Rowley was expressing his frustration at the unwillingness of the then Dave Cameron-led administration of Cricket West Indies (CWI) to effect fundamental changes to the governance of the game and the resolution of the issue of ownership of West Indies cricket.
On Sunday last, a couple of weeks short of four years, Dr Rowley’s words reverberated around the region once again. As West Indies cricket fans focused their attention on the outcome of the elections scheduled for the CWI AGM, shortly before midday, they were greeted with the incredible news that the meeting had been adjourned due to the lack of a quorum. The breaking story was that efforts to contact the Guyanese and Barbadian representatives, who had apparently boycotted the meeting, had proven futile.
In a media release CWI stated, “The meeting therefore could not proceed to business as the CWI Articles of Association stipulate that nine representatives of the full members need to be present in person to constitute a quorum. All eight representatives duly authorised to represent the Jamaica Cricket Association, Leeward Islands Cricket Board, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board and the Windward Islands Cricket Board were present.” The meeting was adjourned at 10.50 am, and in an Emergency Board Meeting it was decided that the AGM would resume on 11th April.
What happened was unprecedented, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board President Azim Bassarath told the Trinidad and Tobago Newsday. “There was no indication from Barbados or Guyana that they would have not attended the meeting… I think all the directors were very surprised by what took place and also very disappointed,” the newspaper quoted him as saying.
The million-dollar question being bandied around the Caribbean was why did Guyana and Barbados opt to boycott and hold the AGM hostage? Two of their representatives, Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Mr Anand Sanasie, and Barbados Cricket Association Vice-President Mr Calvin Hope were challenging the incumbents for the post of president and vice-president, respectively. And having publicly expressed confidence of victory, it seemed most likely that they would have been the first directors in attendance.
While the rest of the Caribbean were recuperating from this shocking and classless act of selfishness, Guyanese cricket fans ruefully bowed their heads in total embarrassment. They were not shocked because over the last 12 years, during which the GCB have failed to hold elections, they have become accustomed to Mr Sanasie’s machinations including artful use of the law courts and various methods of securing the necessary votes when it counted. While the rest of the Caribbean might have heard rumours of Mr Sanasie’s modus operandi, on Sunday they received a full serving of it.
It was last week, that Mr Sanasie fired his first salvo, signalling that the AGM was not going to be smooth sailing. The media broke a story that Mr Sanasie had reported CWI President Ricky Skerritt to the Ethics Committee. In response, Mr Skerrit said in a statement that though Mr Sanasie had publicly claimed that he had filed a report against him with the CWI Ethics Committee because he attended a meeting with Guyana’s Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr, he had not been thus notified by the said committee.
“I also note for the record that, just in the last year, there have been two previous mischievous attempts by Mr Sanasie’s running mate, Calvin Hope, to accuse me of unethical conduct during my tenure as CWI President. On both occasions the Ethics Committee found that there was no basis to the Calvin Hope’s complaints,” the statement said.
Mr Skerritt called the alleged Ethics Committee report a “baseless tactic” and accused Mr Sanasie of “showing a contemptuous disregard for the established system of the election of a President of CWI, just as he has done over many years in Guyana. It is Mr. Sanasie’s own disregard for good governance and his disrespect for the judicial system which seven years ago brought about related government legislation, designed to prevent his continued abuse of the Guyana Cricket Board…”
He further noted that even if Mr Sanasie had actually filed a complaint, it could not disqualify his nomination for the presidency of CWI. He expressed concern that Mr Sanasie’s only plan for West Indies cricket was to gain control by any means necessary.
Later on Sunday, the GCB stated that the decision not to attend the CWI Annual General Meeting stemmed from the body’s failure to conform with the statutory requirements of its Articles of Association and present its audited financial statement.
In fact, in the AGM timeline, CWI stated that a board of directors meeting to consider and approve accounts was held on March 11 and two days later, draft CWI financial statements were sent to all members, having been approved by audit risk and compliance and finance committees and the board. Furthermore, on March 26, a “complete set of documents, including final audited, consolidated financial statements including Coolidge Cricket Ground Inc were sent to all members”. The next day, all representatives had confirmed receipt of the AGM documents and their attendance.
Ironically, GCB Vice President, Chartered Accountant, Drubahadur, in questioning the CWI handling of financial matters, stated, “I am aware of all the required standards for financial accountability and would endeavour to adhere to them.” If that is indeed the case, then perhaps Mr Drubahadur would produce the audited accounts of the GCB for the last 12 years, especially with regard to monies received from CWI.
Meanwhile, as West Indies cricket fans anxiously look forward to April 11th, they will be pondering Mr Sanasie’s next Houdini performance. Will Mr Sanasie be filing an injunction in the British Virgin Islands where CWI is registered, seeking to disrupt the AGM from proceeding as the hijacking of West Indies cricket by four spoilsports continues?
