Dear Editor,
ABOUT eight years ago, my son Mikoowanyah Yisrael, a.k.a “Monty Chester”, heeded the call of the local umpiring fraternity which had placed an ad in the newspapers calling for interested members of the public to come and learn the laws of cricket.Being a player and a lover of the sport, my son joined the classes, not with the intention of being an umpire, but to improve his knowledge of the game. He went on to top his class, and was encouraged to join the Georgetown Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association. Thus began the journey of a cricket umpire.

Mikoowanyah became a fully qualified West Indies Cricket Board Umpire in 2011, and he has been making continuous strides. He has earned the respect of many of our local cricketers, and is even requested by the Georgetown Cricket Association to do their tournament finals.

Recently, the West Indies Cricket Board requested the Guyana Cricket Board to nominate a local umpire to join the emerging panel of WICB umpires. The criteria stated that the umpire should be under 35, active (in umpiring), and fully qualified. The GCB mischievously asked the Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) to submit not one, but three eligible candidates. Mikoowanyah’s and 2 other candidates’ names were submitted.

A few weeks ago, it was revealed that the executives at the GCB selected Mr. Ryan Banwarie.

Editor, my first question is why are the GCB executives making such a final decision on umpires, and not the umpires themselves? Are the GCB’s executives at many games to assess who is the best umpire? No, they are not. Secondly, Mikoowanyah has been fully qualified for over 5 years, while the selected umpire has been qualified for less than 2 years. Thirdly, over the past two years, my son has been working as a stand-by umpire for the WICB in their junior tournaments held in Guyana. The selected umpire has never done same. Such stand-by work is usually given to emerging umpires for them to learn from senior umpires and have the experience of being on the Player Control Team for a regional tournament.

How can Mikoowanyah have done all this work -– more than the other candidates –- and still be overlooked?

Mikoowanyah told me he heard a rumour that he was snubbed because he was not physically fit. However, if this rumour is true, consider these facts: 1: The GCB still selects him for senior inter-county matches. 2: The GCB has never conducted any physical examination on my son. 3: My son was given a form from the WICB which has a list of fitness goals for all umpires. It includes 12-minute Cooper test, plank test, push-up and sit-up test, skinfold test, and hip-to-waist ratio measurement, among others. He has been working hard to exceed these goals. I am unable to recall all the tests, and my son told me he discarded the form after he was not selected.

I am confident that my son can pass any fitness test. While doing his morning jogs in the park, he often sees and acknowledges the GCB president doing his morning walk; so at least some official at the GCB would know of my son’s exercise habits. The ‘lack of fitness’ excuse has just been rubbished.

Editor, the snub has really disappointed my son; and, as a mother, I know he is really disappointed and angry. This is so because he loves both his cricket and his umpiring. Even though he is reading for an MBA from the University of the West Indies, he is still making time in his busy schedule for his umpiring. Being a professional and progressive person, he always aims to develop in his endeavours.

Editor, looking at the facts of the candidates, any fair person can see that my son has been unfairly treated. I am only left to my mind’s assumption that the ethnic difference between the candidates was taken into consideration. If I am wrong, maybe the GCB can contact me and show me my error.

WENDY CHESTER