.jpg)
HEAD of the Presidential Secretariat and Cabinet Secretary Dr. Roger Luncheon, yesterday, reported Cabinet’s condemnation of the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB’s) disregard of the ruling of Guyana’s High Court. In his post-Cabinet media briefing at the Office of the President, Dr. Luncheon informed that Cabinet has reiterated its stand on governance in sports and sports administration, particularly cricket. He said that Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting reviewed the status and recent developments in cricket in Guyana.
“International cricket in Guyana, the inclusion of eligible Guyanese cricketers in the West Indies team and participation of Guyanese teams in regional cricket tournaments are all deemed by Cabinet as non- negotiable,” he stated.
Those positions, he noted, were all being threatened by the conflict in the administration of cricket in Guyana. Dr. Luncheon explained that Cabinet has condemned the recent developments with respect to the elections held by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). He said that the dismissive attitude displayed by the organisers of the proceedings, namely the Demerara Cricket Board and the GCB, to the injunctions issued by the Court was also condemned by Cabinet.
“Equally condemned, was the continuing permissive and objectionable role of the West Indies Cricket Board in their defence of the discredited GCB executives and implicitly joining them in defiance of the Court ruling,” Dr. Luncheon said.
He observed that the WICB, while fully aware of the legal issues surrounding the GCB, nevertheless sent its representatives to Guyana to observe its elections, “and proceeded to anoint the new office bearers.” Cabinet deplored these negative developments.
However, Cabinet is reassured by the tabling of the Cricket Bill in Parliament, and equally so by the expectation of the enforcement of the laws of Guyana as they apply in this matter. HPS Luncheon noted that contempt of court proceedings have begun against those who defied the Court injunction.
Dr. Luncheon further explained that the Cricket Bill, which was tabled in the National Assembly last December by Sports Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, is not significantly different from similar pieces of recorded legislation in CARICOM countries.
“Both Government and Parliamentary opposition are aware of governance issues in cricket administration in Guyana, to the extent that the Cricket Bill seeks to address comprehensively this issue of the governance of the sport in Guyana. We in the administration continue to anticipate a favourable outcome of parliamentary consideration of the Cricket Bill,” Dr. Luncheon said.
Cabinet is of the view that the Bill would withstand the scrutiny of Parliamentarians on both sides of the House, and be entered into the law books of Guyana.
“I would like to see the WICB ignore now, not only the court rulings, but enlarge their culture of disrespect to Guyana by ignoring also, or encouraging to be ignored, the laws of Guyana,” Dr. Luncheon challenged.
The government dissolved the GCB board due to disagreements over the 2011 elections which were boycotted by some of the board’s members. The Berbice Cricket Board took the GCB to court, on the grounds that it was improperly established.
In his ruling, the Chief Justice recommended that the minister responsible for sports ‘impose his executive will in the national interest’. Following the ruling, the Sports Minister appointed an Interim Management Committee (IMC) led by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, to oversee cricket locally. (GINA)
“International cricket in Guyana, the inclusion of eligible Guyanese cricketers in the West Indies team and participation of Guyanese teams in regional cricket tournaments are all deemed by Cabinet as non- negotiable,” he stated.
Those positions, he noted, were all being threatened by the conflict in the administration of cricket in Guyana. Dr. Luncheon explained that Cabinet has condemned the recent developments with respect to the elections held by the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). He said that the dismissive attitude displayed by the organisers of the proceedings, namely the Demerara Cricket Board and the GCB, to the injunctions issued by the Court was also condemned by Cabinet.
“Equally condemned, was the continuing permissive and objectionable role of the West Indies Cricket Board in their defence of the discredited GCB executives and implicitly joining them in defiance of the Court ruling,” Dr. Luncheon said.
He observed that the WICB, while fully aware of the legal issues surrounding the GCB, nevertheless sent its representatives to Guyana to observe its elections, “and proceeded to anoint the new office bearers.” Cabinet deplored these negative developments.
However, Cabinet is reassured by the tabling of the Cricket Bill in Parliament, and equally so by the expectation of the enforcement of the laws of Guyana as they apply in this matter. HPS Luncheon noted that contempt of court proceedings have begun against those who defied the Court injunction.
Dr. Luncheon further explained that the Cricket Bill, which was tabled in the National Assembly last December by Sports Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, is not significantly different from similar pieces of recorded legislation in CARICOM countries.
“Both Government and Parliamentary opposition are aware of governance issues in cricket administration in Guyana, to the extent that the Cricket Bill seeks to address comprehensively this issue of the governance of the sport in Guyana. We in the administration continue to anticipate a favourable outcome of parliamentary consideration of the Cricket Bill,” Dr. Luncheon said.
Cabinet is of the view that the Bill would withstand the scrutiny of Parliamentarians on both sides of the House, and be entered into the law books of Guyana.
“I would like to see the WICB ignore now, not only the court rulings, but enlarge their culture of disrespect to Guyana by ignoring also, or encouraging to be ignored, the laws of Guyana,” Dr. Luncheon challenged.
The government dissolved the GCB board due to disagreements over the 2011 elections which were boycotted by some of the board’s members. The Berbice Cricket Board took the GCB to court, on the grounds that it was improperly established.
In his ruling, the Chief Justice recommended that the minister responsible for sports ‘impose his executive will in the national interest’. Following the ruling, the Sports Minister appointed an Interim Management Committee (IMC) led by former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd, to oversee cricket locally. (GINA)
