Passage of cricket bill in parliament could lead to fresh GCB elections

The passing of the long awaited Cricket Bill in Parliament could see new elections of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) being called and a new executive elected to manage the affairs of cricket in Guyana.

That disclosure was made by a source close to the Select Committee which is at the moment deliberating the Cricket bill which was tabled in Parliament by Sport Minister Dr. Frank Anthony last December.

The bill, according to the source, which could be re-tabled in Parliament sometime next month, is being dealt with in its entirety.

The Guyana Cricket Board met recently and elected a new executive headed by Drubahadur with Anand Sanasie as the general secretary.

However a nine member Select Committee which comprises four members of A partnership for National Unity (APNU) one member from the Alliance for Change and four  members of the ruling People’s Progressive Party inclusive of Minister of Sports Dr. Frank Anthony is working to get the cricket bill passed in parliament.

 Dr Frank Anthony
Dr Frank Anthony

The members of the Select Committee are Christopher Jones, Joseph Harmon, Basil Williams and Dr. Rupert Roopnarine of APNU, Kemraj Ramjattan of the while Odinga Lumumba, Attorney General Anil Nandlall, Dr Anthony, who is Chairman of the select Committee and Neil Kumar represent the government. The Select Committee began deliberations on the bill some four weeks ago.

During those four weeks, several amendments were made to the bill one of which relates to elections of a new executive.

The source said it was recommended that the executive of the Guyana Cricket Board call elections and not the Minister as was stated in the bill.
Part three, clause 8 of the bill states:“Elections to the Executive Committee of the Guyana Cricket Board shall he held on such a date as the Minister may appoint by statutory instrument and shall such necessary modifications be held in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution of the Guyana Cricket Board.”

The source, however, said that persons have until February 15 to indicate their interest in appearing before the committee to make submissions.
According to the source, the committee last month received submissions from APNU Member of Parliament and former cricket administrator Keith Scott.

  Keith Scott
Keith Scott
  Khemraj Ramjattan
Khemraj Ramjattan

In the document presented to the committee, Scott recommended that clauses 6, 8 and 10 under part three be deleted. The said clause deals with the election of office bearers.

Under Clause 6 of part three addresses the Transfer of rights of the Guyana Cricket Board while clause 10 looks at the annual report.

Clause 6 states: (a) Every person employed by the former Guyana Cricket Board shall be deemed to be employed by the Guyana Cricket Board, (b) All assets, funds, resources and other movable immovable property held by or on behalf of the former Guyana Cricket Board on the 22nd day of August, 2011, shall by virtue of the Act and without further assurance, be held by the Guyana Cricket Board, (c) all movable and immovable property now held by or vested in any person for the use and benefit of the former Guyana Cricket Board or the Guyana Cricket Board shall by virtue of this Act without further assurance, be held by the Guyana Cricket Board, (d) the rights, interests, obligations and liabilities of the former Guyana Cricket Board existing on the 22nd day of August, 2011, under any contract or instrument or at law or in equity shall by virtue of this Act and without further assurance, be continued in the Guyana Cricket Board, (E) any contact or insurgent as is mentioned in paragraph (d) of this section shall be of the same force and effect against or in favour of the Guyana Cricket Board, and shall be enforceable as fully and effectively, as if instead of the former Guyana Cricket Board, the Guyana Cricket Board had been named therein or had been a party thereto and (f) any proceeding or cause of action pending or existing or taken by or against the former Guyana Cricket Board, immediately prior to the 22nd August, 2011, in respect of any right, interest, obligation or liability of the former Guyana Cricket Board, shall be continued against the Guyana Cricket Board as if the Guyana Cricket Board had been a party thereto.

 Basil Williams
Basil Williams

While clause 10 reads: The Guyana Cricket Board and the County Boards shall each, not later than the thirty-first day of March every year, present to the National Sports Commission an annual report on the work and activities of the respective Board for the period of twelve months preceding the date of the report, and the plan of action and of activities of the Board for the ensuing twelve months.

Scott, the source disclosed, is scheduled to meet with the committee on Monday to discuss his submission. A meeting also has been scheduled with the group calling itself the Cricket Stakeholders of Guyana. That group includes members of the Upper Demerara Cricket Association, a faction of the Demerara Cricket Board, the East Bank Cricket Board and the East Coast Cricket Board.

Other changes the source said will be made to the bill presented by Dr. Anthony after other submissions are made.

Sport Minister Dr. Anthony in an attempt to legalize the Guyana Cricket Board had a constitution and legislation drafted and submitted to Parliament since Chiief Justice Ian Chang had ruled that as presently constituted the GCB is a legal non entity and cannot sue or be sued.