Dear Editor,
I wish to respond to Mr Claude Raphael’s letter in the Stabroek News of July 20 in relation to some of his unwarranted and inaccurate statements on the Essequibo Cricket Board.
The Essequibo Cricket Board unequivocally supports the IMC. Its members have attended all relevant meetings convened by the body. The same cannot be said of the Berbice Cricket Board since their presence has been non-existent for most of the time when I have been present. Why has the BCB not seen the importance of having its President, Secretary or Treasurer sit at such meetings as the ECB has been doing?
The President of the ECB Mr Prince Holder does not support any group that seeks to destroy Guyana’s cricket as implied by Mr Raphael. In fact Mr Holder, like Mr Roger Harper who is the President of the Georgetown Cricket Association, supports the fact that young cricketers must not suffer to the point of being denied the opportunity of representing their country. Incidentally the Berbice Cricket Board which Mr Raphael seeks to justify his arguments against the ECB has recently participated in the under – 19 inter-county tournament whose captain will also lead the national team. I hope that the BCB’s position and decision to participate is indeed principled and responsible.
Mr Raphael’s emotional outburst about the ECB being responsible for the current disorder relating to cricket in Guyana is not without merit, but the root of the problem was pervasive during Mr Raphael’s tenure at the GCB. The ECB remains a constitutional body that respects the views of its members; it is a democracy that has seen Alvin Johnson, Veren Chintamani and Fizul Bacchus continuing to support the GCB without being rebuked. Incidentally Mr Bacchus was wrongfully suspended and quite appropriately he was reinstated as the Vice-President of the ECB.
History as it relates to the GCB has never given the ECB the recognition it deserves, and ironically Mr Raphael is the chief architect as the former chairman of selectors. The likes of Dinesh Joseph, Fidel Cameron, Beesham Seepersaud and a host of others should have played for Guyana had the system been fair. Instead an Essequibian has to make a double century before he is even considered for trials, yet the batsmen from the two other counties prosper whenever they play against Essequibo.
I have no doubt that the ECB will remain steadfast and productive in fulfilling its objectives to its constituents, and share fruitful relationships with the other county boards. The unfortunate sentiments expressed by Mr Raphael regarding the conduct of the ECB will not build such bridges of mutual harmony. I am hopeful that the current volatile situation will be a lesson well learned so that the future leaders will make serious decisions that will ensure that no one within the organization is ungovernable or vilified for their views. The IMC would have sought the opinions of a wide cross-section of stakeholders in crafting the GCB’s new constitution, and it is my considered view that a new chapter in the administration of cricket in Guyana must be the way forward.
I am not however implying that old heads should not be there; in fact Mr Raphael’s expertise can be utilized as an advisor on good governance.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
