PUBLIC Relations Officer (PRO) of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Hilbert Foster last Sunday asked the Clive Lloyd-led Interim Management Committee (IMC) to include in their reformed Constitution of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) a term limit for the president of that entity.
The PRO made his plea, when the IMC met with the BCB and stakeholders of Berbice cricket at the Berbice High School in what was their final public consultation, before preparing a draft of the new Constitution for cricket’s governing body in Guyana.
While outlining the achievements of the BCB over the past four years, where they have held over 250 activities under their Special Events Committee, of which he is the head, Foster whose older brother Keith heads the BCB said they have in  place a term limit for their president.
“First of all, I think we need to place special emphasis on female cricket, because they are the only set of people in the Caribbean making us proud and I think some set of money should be set aside towards the development of female cricket in Guyana.
There should also be a national cricket academy on a permanent basis, while for my recommendation – and I view this as the most important part – there should be a term limit on leaders of Guyana cricket, which would see no leader serving for 20 to 40 years if so long,” stated Hilbert Foster.
He added, “The BCB has changed its Constitution, giving its president three two-year terms, which means he can serve for a maximum of six years, which I think is enough time for any individual to stamp their mark on the game as an administrator, with term limits being applicable to the Secretary and Treasurer as well.
This would also enable an individual to come in at the back and review the record of the person they took over from, wherein irregularities and other misdemeanours can be identified.”
Looking at the number of persons needed to form a quorum for any meeting within the GCB, the PRO asked the IMC to place special emphasis on the number of persons who must be present, saying that at least two-thirds of the Executive members must be present.
“What would make it more official is having the County boards name their delegates at their respective AGMs, while the nominations of the respective personnel for certain executive positions on the GCB should be done one month before and made public in the press before that meeting occurs.”
He quizzed Lloyd on his thoughts of equal financial division amongst the three County Boards, calling on the IMC to install within the new Constitution, a legislation to have the GCB distribute at least one-third of the money that they receive, to help develop cricket in the respective counties.
“If Berbice falls out with the GCB, the funds they are supposed to receive is taken away from them, therefore if the new Constitution says the GCB must pay the respective boards a certain amount of money, then so let it be,” said Foster.
The burly Foster asked who would be organising the regular Inter-county tournaments in Guyana this year and when would same be played, commencing with the Under-15 tournament, while he took the opportunity to ask of Lloyd his opinion on contesting the presidential race for the GCB.
Without hesitation, Lloyd, who along with Roger Harper, Bissoondyal Singh, Norman McLean and Ronald Williams sat at the head table for Sunday’s meeting, said: “I have no inclination towards running for the presidency of the GCB” adding that the voting system needs to change.
Lloyd had earlier informed the stakeholders of cricket in the Ancient County of the IMC’s Mission Statement, which reads “To facilitate development, good governance and proper administration of Guyana’s cricket and thereby raising its standard in the country.”
He expressed his gratitude on behalf of the IMC, for the successful response shown which made the final public consultation a successful one, and as he had done at the conclusion of all the previous consultations, he told the Berbicians that when the draft copy of the new GCB constitution is completed, they will have a copy for perusal and debate with the IMC before it is made final.