CHAIRMAN of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) Clive Hubert Lloyd CBE yesterday expressed his disbelief that Guyana, a founder member of the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB), would not be participating in the upcoming WICB Caribbean Cup T20 tournament.
The 67-year-old Lloyd, a former Guyana and West Indies captain, was expressing his disappointment, having read in one of the dailies of Guyana’s inability to field a team to the tournament which bowls off in Antigua on Monday.
“Let me say this, I am 100% Guyanese and I find it very difficult to believe, that a team which was chosen to represent Guyana in a CT20 tournament, cannot do so because of some infighting, I presume, and people not thinking of the youths in this country.
“We have a very good team which to my mind would have not only given a good account of themselves in the tournament, but also go on to win same and having said that, I cannot see why people cannot put aside their differences and let these young men play the cricket and I am disappointed in that respect.”
The IMC was appointed by the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport (MCYS), to bring some normalcy back into Guyana’s cricket, with the Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony taking into consideration, Lloyd’s input to both Guyana and West Indies cricket, before appointing him to head the IMC.
Apart from Lloyd who played 110 Test matches for the West Indies, other members of the IMC are Anthony Xavier, Permanent Secretary in the MCYS Alfred King, Norman McLean, Senior Counsel  Edward Luckhoo  and Harry Parmesar.
In recounting Guyana’s glory days of old with regard to sport, Lloyd highlighted athletes of the calibre of Moses Dwarka, George Cumberbatch and the late Clive ‘Bruiser’ Thomas, who excelled in their respective sports even though they were not privileged to certain facilities in comparison to the athletes of today.
Lloyd commenced his media briefing by informing those present of his reasons for accepting the position of Chairman of the IMC, saying “I am a Guyanese and I am proud to be one too and if you are asked to a do a job for your country, I think that it is important you do so and I have no reservations when I accepted the position to chair the IMC.”
He touched on his vision for sports in Guyana, saying the country is lagging behind, in comparison to several other countries and islands across the Caribbean, recounting his days when he attended the August Olympiad at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground.
“Guyana has always been at the forefront where sports is concerned and I think that now is the time to bring back the glory days of yore. Get the youths of this country to first know of the history of the sport they wish to play, so that they can have a local icon to emulate.
“It is essential that we understand the importance of sports in the development of our society and to apply the maximum resources to such an institution accordingly.
“When properly organised and professionally structured and developed, sports in general, specifically cricket, soccer, basketball, volleyball and even athletics, are a flagship for social and economic growth and undoubtedly, sports is a conduit for the positive energy for our youths.”
He added, “I believe that sports should be an integral and not peripheral part of the curriculum in our schools from the Pakaraimas to the Corentyne and if you are aware of our history in sports, you would know that we have had some very great cricketers representing this country and the West Indies.”
Lloyd said he thought the withdrawal of the team was wrong and he hoped the officials who made such a decision (not the MCYS or the IMC), realised they have made a great mistake, since they are the ones who have stopped our young players, a team that was chosen by the GCB, from going out there and performing.
“Even the Government stated clearly and boldly that they have no problem with the cricketers and were willing to offer financial support to the team who have been accepted by the WICB, to compete in the CT20 tournament and now they are not taking part,” said Lloyd.
He alluded to the meeting held with some of the players from the Christopher Barnwell-led team, Cricket Operations Officer of the GCB Robin Singh, Dr Anthony and himself, in which Dr Anthony got the uniforms from the airport for the team.
“I would like to see the GCB, having chosen that team, put aside the differences and let the team compete in the tournament, at the same time put aside the differences and let’s meet around the table and talk instead of punishing our young cricketers in such a drastic way.”
The man who was known as the Super Cat in his heyday on the cricket field, said he has been in constant contact with WICB president Julian Hunte, keeping him up to date with what was taking place in Guyana, with regard to the IMC and the GCB.
“I said it before and I will say it again, we are not here to take over the cricket, but rather iron out the discrepancy that is taking place inside the GCB.
Sports is a business and the Government of Guyana is looking to put things in place when it comes to cricket. We have to get programmes in place from Under-15 right up to first division and I feel that somebody from the WICB should have been here to sit down and discuss the matters of interest first hand,” said Lloyd.
He added, “Even now, I think somebody should have been here to sit down and iron out things. If you are a parent body, it is your duty to step in and hold a dialogue with the parties involved. I have been talking with members of the WICB with regard to the team’s participation in the tournament and I hope good sense prevails and the guys get to play.”
In conclusion, Lloyd called on the Government of Guyana to set up an academy for sports, wherein they can give young athletes a bigger scope towards broadening their horizon for the respective sport of their choice, while he hoped he would be given a chance to help heal the wounds when it comes to sports in Guyana.
“We have the ability and the young people out there who wish to improve when it comes to sports and academics and I think we can work along with the University of the West Indies in setting up the academy in the not-too-distant future and I have aired such concerns to the Minister of Sport.”