THE Guyana Cricket Umpires Council (GCUC) is in crisis following its Biennial General Meeting that was held last month.
According to a release from the Demerara Cricket Umpires and Scorers Association (DCUSA), the GCUC does not have a fully constituted management committee in place, since there are only five persons in a committee that constitutionally needs six persons to have a proper meeting and to do business.
According to the release, the DCUSA is of the view that certain persons in the ranks of the GCUC are on a mission to disrupt the progress and further development of the council and its members, for selfish reasons.
The DCUSA said this is evident from what took place in the election of office-bearers in recent years and does not speak well for an umpiring body when certain instigators set out to change leaders just for changing sake.
The release cited a case in 2006 when Colin Alfred who headed the Council did not seek re-election even though he had done a good job, when it became evident to him that he would be voted out.
His successor (Davteerth Anandjit), the release stated, suffered a similar fate in 2008 after doing an excellent job to ensure Guyana’s successful hosting of the West Indies Cricket Umpires Association Convention in 2007.
Alfred again took up the mantle of president, and, true to form, did a very good job of holding things together even though there were persons from the outlying areas absenting themselves regularly from meetings.
However, in the last elections (last month) Alfred was pushed aside in favour of D. Somwaru of Berbice.
The release stated that following the election of Somwaru, the outgoing Public Relations Officer, Grantley Culbard, was returned unopposed as vice-president. He was nominated by Demerara, while the other nominee (Anandjit) was nominated by Berbice and Essequibo, but he decided not to participate in the meeting.
The outgoing secretary, Clyde Duncan, who held the post for some years, and who was nominated by Demerara and Essequibo, apparently infuriated by the removal of Alfred for no good reason, withdrew his nomination.
Zabeer Zakir of Essequibo, the other nominee (by Berbice) was returned to the post unopposed.
Following that, all the other nominees for office, from Demerara, declined to seek election save Eddie Nicholls as treasurer.
Two other persons from Berbice were therefore returned unopposed as Committee Members.
Culbard then indicated at the meeting that under such circumstances he was not going to serve and proceeded to put his position in writing by letter dated February 22, 2010 to the Secretary-elect.
Culbard in his letter confirmed what he indicated at the meeting and said he is of the firm belief “that the newly elected leadership, particularly in the office of President and Honorary Secretary, as presently located, and based on the present structure and location of Guyana’s Cricket Council headquarters, will not be able to effectively take the GCUC forward.”
It was pointed out also that the overwhelming majority of Demerara’s umpires are of the same view, as demonstrated by their refusal to seek office.
The five persons on the current Management Committee are: D. Somwaru – president, Zakier – secretary, Nicholls – treasurer, C. Brusch and R. Latiff – committee members
The DCUSA, the release said, is of the view that steps would have to be taken for a Special General Meeting of the GCUC to be summoned at which fresh elections would take place to elect a fully constituted Management Committee. Further, it should be the responsibility of the outgoing Management Committee to summon such a meeting.