Former West Indies and Guyana off-spinner Roger Harper was elected the new president of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) on Wednesday evening at the GCA’s annual general meeting at the Georgetown Cricket Club main pavilion.

Harper, who defeated Alfred Mentore for the post, will have former national player Neil Barry and Surendra Hiralall as his vice presidents. In his acceptance speech Harper indicated that hard work lies ahead but said his executive and members of the GCA can achieve their goals once they worked as a team, Public Relations Officer Colin Alfred told this newspaper. Harper who played 25 Test matches and 105 ODIs for the West Indies told Stabroek Sport in a brief comment that his administration will be looking to elevate the standard of cricket in Georgetown and by extension Guyana. Chairman of the national cricket selectors of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Claude Raphael said earlier yesterday that Harper’s election to office was the best thing for cricket at the moment in Guyana.

He said it was commendable that the lanky spinner was willing to start at such a level and could probably work his way to the top.

Affiliated clubs of the GCA also elected Ken Alphonso as secretary, Theresa Pemberton as assistant secretary,  Harry Parmesar as treasurer, Dennis Wilson as assistant treasurer and Alfred as the PRO.

Shawn Massiah is the chairman of the Competitions Committee while Lance Hinds will serve as Marketing Manager.