Dear Editor,
The Berbice Cricket Board has publicly announced that its executives will not be participating in the upcoming Biennial General Meeting (BGM) of the Guyana Cricket Board scheduled for Sunday, January 25th, 2015. Their resolute stance is a consequence of the fact that the elections are not in keeping with the Cricket Administration Act which is now the law governing the Guyana Cricket Board. The Demerara Cricket Board is yet to be constituted, hence the executives from the Essequibo Cricket Board from all the indications would be the lone board to be represented at the BGM. It is therefore quite difficult to comprehend the tenacity of the GCB to still proceed with what can only be an exercise in futility. Therefore I would suggest that the ECB should not participate in such a meeting so their credibility will not be diminished. Further they should not attempt to give credence to the GCB which has virtually been operating without two-thirds of its constituent members (BCB and legally constituted DCB) for the last few years. Essequibo has not benefited from the ECB offerings to the GCB (votes) except being rewarded with ceremonial posts. Their positions on the executive committee of the GCB were featherless and voiceless. Not a single infrastructural plan was implemented within Essequibo for the last four years despite the dire need for the rehabilitation of the ECB hostel. The practice facility was never completed and never used, hence the bowling machine never functioned. Instead it remained at the house of one of the executive members for over four years and one may now not be able to distinguish whether it is a bowling machine or a washing machine. What has happened with the cricket development committee? No coaching sessions as well as the upgrading of coaches; no executive meetings because there is very little to discuss; no vision because of a weak leader and virtually no plan to develop Essequibo’s cricket.
I feel compelled to express my disappointment that Ricardo Adams continues to be overlooked for selection, despite being one of the more consistent all-rounders in the country for the past two years in domestic and inter-county cricket. The same can be said about the isolation of the persevering Anthony Adams and Kevin Boodie, who recently was the first batsman to hit a double century in an inter-county one day match. Kevin Boodie is an opening batsman. Isn’t there a serious need for competent opening batsmen in the national team given the current and repeated failure at the top? Where is the representation? Also, Ricardo Adam’s strength has been manifested in the one day and 20/20 version, yet players with fewer credentials and who were in the wilderness for the past two years continue to be elevated.
What can the ECB say that they have achieved as the main pillar upholding the GCB administration to date? The Berbice Cricket Board has all along maintained its principled position and the Essequibo Cricket Board should do likewise by not participating in the GCB elections until such time that a credible, transparent and legal process is adhered to by the GCB.
Yours faithfully,
Elroy Stephney
