A No Confidence Motion (NCM) was on Monday tabled against five members of the current Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA).
In documents seen by this publication, the NCM was tabled by Public Relations Officer of GCA and acting president of Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO), Divesh Ramjattan and seconded by the Everest Cricket Club.
The NCM has been brought against GCA President Neil Barry, Vice-President Roger Harper, Marketing Manager, Emily Dodson, Senior Selector, Mark Harper and Junior Selector, Roderick Lovell.
Ramjattan outlined to Stabroek Sport several reasons why he presented the NCM and they include the legality of the Competitions Committee and alleged dictatorial behavior and decisions made by the executives.
“The Competitions Committee is illegal and unconstitutional as it was appointed by majority of the executives at the second meeting which was held on February 8, 2021 which goes against the constitution Article 9 (3) which states the Competitions Committee shall be comprised of a Chairperson and four other members who shall be elected at each Annual General Meeting,” Ramjattan stated.
He added, “With regards to the Selection Committee, Article 10 1. States “The Selection Committee of the Association shall comprise of a Chairperson and two other members elected at the first meeting of the Executive after the Annual General Meeting.”
The PRO contended, “This speaks of one Selection Committee comprising of three persons, one of which is the Chairperson and two regular members and not two Selection Committees one of which is Senior Selection Committee and the other being Junior Selection Committee. That would then mean two Chairpersons of the Selector Committees which is again unconstitutional and goes against Article 5 3. e) Which states the Executive Committee shall be comprised of the Chairperson of the Selectors Committee. It is clear that it is referring to a singular Chairperson and not plural Chairpersons.
Therefore, it is clear that the 10 elected members of the Executive Committee at the Annual General Meeting shall elect at the first meeting of the Executive after the AGM a Chairperson of the Selectors Committee which will complete the Executive Committee comprising of 11 members and not 12.”
Ramjattan also declared that he was concerned with the “dictatorial behavior and decisions with regards to the selection of the seven delegates for the recent Demerara Cricket Board elections,” noting “The darkness shrouded by deafening silence for days on the issue raised since the morning of February 16, 2021 could only be answered on March 1, 2021 when it matters naught. Transparency is lacking.”
The GYO head reckoned that he would not be sidelined or railroaded from taking part in executive affairs, reiterating that he was duly elected to serve in his capacity and will not bow to those who show “dictator-like behavior” who called for him to be thrown out of the committee meeting and WhatsApp group.
When contacted, Barry told Stabroek Sport, “At this time I really and truly have no comment…I am disappointed that cricket has come to this point when we should be focused on development.”
The GCA President acknowledged that it is his prerogative to take such actions if he feels it necessary.
Barry said the GCA will decide on the way forward and is expected to meet but could not say when except for their monthly statutory meeting which is set for the first Monday in every month.
Meanwhile, Dodson, an Attorney-at-Law, raised several questions including “what could the executives do so wrong in about six weeks?”
She also questioned the GYO letter head attached to the document while opting not to go into the legal ramifications of the issue.
Among the issues raised was the printed name of Godfrey Bess as Club Captain who clarified to this publication that he had resigned from the club “four or five years ago” and is surprised to see his name on the document while making it clear that he is not in association with the document.
The GCA executives were elected on January 28 at the Muslim Youth Organisation where Barry was elected President along with Azad Ibrahim (Vice-President), Roger Harper (Vice-President), Deborah McNichol (Secretary), Captain Andre McFarlene (Assistant Secretary), Brother Imran Ally (Treasurer), DSP Amrit Das (Assistant Treasurer), Dodson (Marketing Manager), Ramjattan (PRO), Shaun Massiah (Competitions Committee Chairman), Parmesar (Auditor)
