Dear Editor,
It seems that more and more persons are becoming mentally unstable or are being driven to suicide in Guyana. Sport has the ability to liberate us from this growing epidemic. Let us utilize it.
I am a consummate insurance professional serving as the Chairman/CEO of Raj Singh Insurance Brokers, which is the only insurance brokerage company that has displayed confidence in our economy by continuing to expand its operations through local franchises in other parts of the country, namely, Rosignol (November 2015) and Corriverton (January 2016). Berbice. RSIB has invested in and has been making a tangible contribution towards the development of Guyana whilst creating more employment.
I have served as an ardent and committed cricket administrator, amongst other administrative positions, ever since the 80s in various capacities. I have never been a politician, an attorney or a judge, and will never make wild and reckless statements and vile threats against the judiciary and valued sponsors, or sow the seeds of discord amongst our politicians and people with trumped up charges and demands. There is no place in our society for such dangerous venom being perpetrated by casual tongues and pens to stir up chapters in our history which we all desire to erase from our collective memory. Such letters should never be published in any media.
The world at large knows the facts surrounding the genesis of the manufactured cricket administration crisis in Guyana. Cricket in Guyana is on the rise ever since the exodus of those few diehard detractors who continue to recycle propaganda and spread disharmony, having unlimited access to certain reporters and media houses. A careful examination of the records would suffice. Please review our 2013, 2014 and 2015 (being launched in a few weeks) The Guyana Cricketer magazines for extensive details of same.
My firm was approached to renew its sponsorship for an important aspect of cricket, namely, Over 40 cricket in Demerara, to which we readily agreed after carefully considering the general benefits and purpose that such a competition would engender. We have been advised and thoroughly understand that this competition is intended to bring out our former star players firstly, to have fun and make them active again, and also to serve as an inspiration, role model and motivation for our youths and the game of cricket in the Demerara County. We were happy with the way this competition was administered by the DCB and had absolutely no hesitation in sponsoring this competition. In fact, our firm is now thinking of expanding this competition to all counties and then to have a national play-off with the top teams. We are presently in discussion with the board on this proposal.
I am totally unaware that Mr Boston holds a seat on the directorship of Raj Singh Insurance Brokers to be making such demands from me as Chairman and CEO of RSIB. I can assure him that I have consulted with the true directors of the RSIB and they are all in agreement with the board’s decision. RSIB strongly condemns threats from non-entities on the road to true progress and remains steadfast in its commitment to support what is just and right.
We are also of the firm belief that sports can play a major role in the development of our people to protect them from most of the social ills that plague our society. In this regard, we call on our government to empower the people at the grassroots level and invest in the development of our grounds, facilities and community centres across the country so as to develop our youths and have them more beneficially occupied, which will obviously help to eradicate these social ills that plague us. We need to develop strong clubs and recreational facilities for all sporting disciplines and have all major sports entrenched within our schools’ curricula whilst partnering with the respective sporting bodies to develop coaches and properly structured programmes which can be implemented. The RSIB/DCB Over 40 competition can serve as a catalyst to capture our seniors to play a more meaningful role in the strong and sustained development of our beloved country and its youths though the medium of sports.
Yours faithfully,
Raj Singh
