Dear Editor,
The Berbice Cricket Board must be complimented for its principled and responsible stand against the recent efforts of a few individuals who seem hell-bent on violating the laws and ethical values of our society.
It is common knowledge that the GCB has been injuncted by the Guyana courts and its executives have all resigned. The Demerara Cricket Board has also been injuncted by some individuals who have been holding themselves out as the GCB, including selecting teams to represent the country in the most clandestine manner.
Recent newspaper reports had the former GCB administrator Savitri Singh and former Essequibo President and Vice President of the GCB Alvin Johnson publicly contradicting each other on who is responsible.
In any case, the WICB must share the blame, for although they have indicated that they will recognize the GCB only (not even the IMC) they are still accepting teams which the GCB could not have selected. Evidently the WICB is supportive of this most illegal and unethical activity which can only be seen as insulting to our sovereignty.
At present, these phantom organizers are in the process of selecting U15, U19 and ladies teams to participate in the upcoming WICB tournaments, totally ignoring the usual requirements and procedures for the requisite protection of our cricket and cricketers.
Any national team leaving these shores must be selected by an authorized, responsible body, and not by any fly-by-night group until a legally elected GCB is put in place or an acceptable substitute is instituted. All Guyanese must support the Berbice Cricket Board in this regard.
Meanwhile the Essequibo Cricket Board on the other hand continues to exist in a world of pretence by saying one thing and doing something else.
Mr Ahmad, the controversial former President of Essequibo Cricket Board and former Treasurer of the GCB during the turbulent period of alleged illegal elections and financial improprieties, suddenly resigned after publicly supporting the IMC, and along with his executives fired his Vice-President Fizul Bacchus for transferring the GCB assets to a new DEB entity.
Mr Ahmad was replaced by Mr Prince Holder as President of ECB, who also promised to support the IMC, but immediately reinstated Vice-President Bacchus, and supported the clandestine arrangement for the U17 disgrace where former President of the ECB and former VP of GCB Alvin Johnson (who should know better) carried out the manager‘s duties. Holder also seems to be supporting the administrative moves afoot for the selection of a national Under 15 team, by participating in the secretly arranged inter-county games. How could the Essequibo Cricket Board justify an inter-county fixture against a Demerara team when the Demerara Board and the Guyana Board are both injuncted? Who is selecting the team? Who is providing the funds? Why is this all kept a secret?
Further the previously unheard of Virendra Chintamani has been chosen as the manager of the maverick Guyana U15 Team comprising an eight-member Essequibo squad plus friends and family.
It is rumoured that the U19 and ladies teams have already been selected along the same lines, totally oblivious to the more deserving young cricketers.
The Essequibo Cricket Board provided 9 of the 10 persons who attended the GCB fraudulent election of July 2011. They installed an illegal regime that has created mayhem with the cricket administration in Guyana and the West Indies.
It seems that this body feels obliged to continue its deceitful ways, whilst attempting to fool the public with baseless promises, and where the lawlessness and disorder that pervade the current cricket environment have been promulgated wholly and solely by the Essequibo Cricket Board.
It is a shame and indeed a manifestation of the total disregard for the game we all love.
Indeed when the history of our cricket is recorded, it will reflect total disgrace for the current members of the Essequibo Cricket Board.
So it is not too late for Mr Holder’s confessions and correcting the mayhem already committed, for the facts will certainly come out some time, somewhere; they always do.
Once again, I salute the Berbice Cricket Board for its principled stand in the interest of ‘cricket.‘
Yours faithfully,
Claude Raphael
