GUYANA is still in the valley of decision as regards the future of cricket. I make this remark after examining the present imbroglio that exists between the Guyana Cricket Board and the Government of Guyana in the representation of an Interim Management Committee. The two are at loggerheads how the game is to be administered in this country. For its own part, the GCB firmly believes they are the “legitimate owners and controllers” of the game in Guyana and in this regard the government should have no say whatsoever. I deliberately used the term ‘owners and controllers’ for the simple fact that this is the way the game has been administered for some years now. There is a group of individuals who believe that it is their “God given right” to rule the game. Thus, the Sanasies and Budrams’ dynasties are in a crazy rush of succession as they maintain a stranglehold on cricket.
No wonder someone wrote that from his point of view, the GCB is an Indian Arrival Committee family inheritance grouping. But for one coloured Uncle Tom, this board is a family committee meeting, constituted to discuss matters pertaining to their family legacy.  When you look at the composition of this dubious board there is nothing left to the imagination as to what is the underlying  motive. That motive is keep this organisation one of friends and confederates, a private company of sorts, yet laying claims to be the representatives of this whole country. Certainly, it defies intelligence. If one, for academic purposes, should be remotely tempted to agree with the grouping that they are well-meaning in their efforts for the game, however, the vehicle or conveyance used to get there reeks of corruption.
The structure and racial composition of the Board – its mere appearance – speaks volumes. In a multi-racial society such as ours this is a crass representation of one race trying their utmost to maintain a status quo, come what may.
 I am not a racist, but there is no way I or anyone for that matter with even half a brain would subscribe to the dominance of one race over another. In no shape or form should such a state of affairs be allowed to blossom in Guyana. We are Guyanese Black, Yellow, Amerindian, Indian and we all have equal rights under the laws of this country. Therefore, with such a sensitive matter as race, one has to be very careful so as to avoid the pitfalls the present set-up affords. We must take into consideration all the parameters and eradicate the very appearance of favouritism.
Let us lay aside the race question for a while. If one should take a look at the way this board operated you would be alarmed. Its books are in a mess, the financial transaction are a tell-tale revelation of what transpired there. Administrators were handsomely rewarded for doing practically nothing. They were a law unto themselves. The real beneficiaries who should be the players were being sidelined for the fat cats in office. The situation was so dire that one of the members was attacked and doused with a corrosive substance and permanently disfigured. It shows clearly how desperate these guys are to hold on to the bankroll that violence became a deciding factor. Is this cricket, lovely cricket? No, this cannot be allowed.

For this very reason the Government of Guyana stepped in to put an end to the madness. Government had no choice but to step in with some legal as well as cricketing heavyweights to bring back respectability to the game. So far it has been a difficult road from within and from without. Internally, the GCB is giving stout resistance with an illegal election and an illegal board. They have violated the Constitution of this country which clearly gave the government an injunction against any such body being formed. Externally, the WICB is on a collision course with the government’s IMC calling it illegal and a non-interference clause that says politics should play no part in the sport. But this is exactly the point: Hunte and his WICB are cognisant of the fact that his board is also run on a similar corrupt scheme, hence his sympathy for the local board. Instead of sitting down with the people who clearly have the interest of cricket at heart, he has become cagey in his actions all to the detriment of the game.

At the end of the day the WICB, the ICC and the Government of Guyana must sit down and together pilot the way forward. If this is not done then we will continue to see a downward spiral of cricket both locally and regionally. I am an optimist, hence I see a silver lining beyond this cover of darkness.