– says cricket must be the ultimate winner

By Rajiv Bisnauth

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) presidential election is shaping up to be a two-man contest between former president Dhierandranauth Somwaru and Director of Regional Health Services in Region Six, Jevaughn Stephens, but with the current state of affairs of the game in the Ancient County, the result could go either way.

However, many observers in that County are of the opinion that Somwaru faces an uphill task in garnering a comfortable majority. In fact, the observers are maintaining that Berbice cricket needs a fresh mind with new philosophies.
To this end, Chronicle Sport spoke with Somwaru, who pledges to respect the final election results, adding that cricket must be the ultimate winner.

“I will definitely accept the result and move on. If I win so be it, if I lose so be it, but at the end of the day, as I said before, cricket must be the ultimate winner,” the 65-year-old said.
Somwaru, who was elected president on October 8 last, had his term shortened after a majority of the clubs and sub-association members had filed legal proceedings, claiming widespread irregularities during the election process.
They had also claimed that the elections were not held in keeping with the Cricket Administration Act. This led High Court Judge Navindra Singh to order new elections on December 18 last after the result of the October 8, 2017 elections was annulled by the Court.
“I respect the Judge’s ruling, so come Sunday I just hope that a smooth and fair election will be held according to the Judge’s order. Whoever wins I just hope cricket is looked at in a holistic approach,” Somwaru revealed.

The former president of the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) made it quite clear that should there be any differences this time, he would not be seeking any position at the board in the future neither would he be part of any legal proceedings.

Sunday’s elections could be seen as the most vital elections in the history of the BCB since election for the top post is creating widespread interest in the cricketing fraternity.
This has come against the background that the administration of the game in the Ancient County has been thrown into turmoil, ever since the board’s 2014 elections.