Dear Editor,
The Management of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would like to express its profound disgust and shock at an article appearing in the Guyana Chronicle of Friday January 16, 2015 under the caption, ‘Confusion or Dictatorship in our Cricket.’ The article quotes me in my capacity as Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports club as saying that I would not release Mr Rajiv Ivan as he had requested from the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club. The article is full of falsehoods, personal opinions and libellous statements, and the management of the club and myself, in my personal capacity, would be taking legal action against Mr Calvin Roberts, the author of the article.
The simple facts of the matter are:
1) Mr Rajiv Ivan requested a transfer to an unknown club. The letter would be discussed at the club management level very shortly and he would be duly informed of the decision.
2) I never told Mr Ivan that I would not be releasing him. The only time that I had spoken to him since his request for transfer was on Monday 12th January, 2015, when he called my private residence at 10:31 hours. In a thirty-second conversation, I informed Mr Ivan that I had no update on his request and would inform him of the decision when it was made. I then put down the phone ending the conversation.
3) On Tuesday, January 13th, 2015, at about 10 pm (22:00 hours), I received a phone call from Mr Calvin Roberts, a person who I considered a friend. The conversation was private as he never told me that he was calling in his capacity as a journalist. In the presence of my wife and daughter, I told Mr Roberts that I would not be discussing anything about Mr Rajiv Ivan’s request for release. Mr Roberts seemed to be quite interested in the cricketing career of Mr Ivan, because every time that he considers an injustice been done to his favourite cricketer, there is something in the Guyana Chronicle.
4) Mr Ivan has never expressed his displeasure about playing for this club. In fact on numerous occasions in my office, Mr Ivan was full of praise for me and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club for our role in his career. In my official capacity as Secretary/CEO I have done everything possible to make the players comfortable in the club. I have never used my position to affect any player’s career and every person who deals with me would know that. It is therefore unbelievable that Calvin Roberts can accuse me of refusing to release his close friend for unknown reasons.
5) It is simply shocking that Mr Roberts can put into his article, a private conversation that occurred between the two of us in late October 2014. One is left to wonder if there are any morals left in this world. Mr Roberts has called my office and my home on countless occasions seeking my assistance in numerous matters and I wonder if he would like to see these private requests in the media. What is the relevance of a private conversation between two friends in a newspaper article?
I have been involved in the Management of cricket for over twenty-five years and my record of achievements is well known. I would not allow the likes of Calvin Roberts to affect my desire to achieve even more.
The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club Constitution clearly states that all members must solve problems internally and not bring the club into disrepute. Mr Ivan has never made an attempt to have the matter resolved internally but instead headed to the press. The club’s Disciplinary Committee comprises of three distinguished members who would take the necessary action they deem fit.
The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and I will sever all relationships with him in the future as we would only be dealing with professionals and people who do not have personal axes to grind. We cherish our relationship with the Guyana Chronicle a lot and we enjoy our working relationship with its General Manager Mr Michael Gordon, Editor in Chief Mr Mark Ramoutar and Sports Editor Mr Leon Horatio.
Yours faithfully,
Hilbert Foster,
Secretary/CEO
Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club
