Items were contributions to the Bayrock Community Centre

Dear Editor,

Attention is drawn to cricket umpire, Mr Henry Farnum’s letter, ‘Sharma Solomon must support the genuine cricket officials in Upper Demerara’ (Kaieteur News, September 24) and ‘Sharma Solomon should not have accepted money, bats on behalf of unheard of Upper Demerara Cricket Committee’ (Stabroek News, September 26).

I wish to categorically state, that at no time in my personal capacity, constitutional capacity or political capacity, have I ever engaged in transacting business on behalf of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association (UDCA). I also wish to categorically state that the items given represent contributions to the Bayrock Community Centre and Mr Lance Easton President of the centre.

I do not subscribe to imposing my will on others. As a person involved in cricket and the Bayrock Community Centre Mr Lance Easton was the person identified for matters in relation to the cricket development of the centre.

This stance is informed by my guiding principle that the people who are administering sport or any non-governmental activity must be engaged, and the decision-making must be theirs.

I bear no ill will against Mr Farnum for expressing his concern about the Bayrock Community Centre receiving assistance, and he is assured that my political principle for people’s involvement/consultation also extends to sports and every spectrum of my public life. This letter seeks to clarify issues that have been misrepresented or otherwise perceived.

Cricket is important to Guyanese and I am confident cricketing fans, players and administrators in Region 10 will do what is best for the sport, the community and the country.

Yours faithfully,
Sharma Solomon
Regional Chairman
Region 10.