To Dr Frank Anthony
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on Cricket Administration I was shocked and dismayed by the comments of Dr. Thakur, Lecturer at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus. I am referring to his presentation on Monday, February 18, 2013 to the Special Select Committee on the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill. In his written presentation, he indicated that, and I quote, “It was seen as little more than just irregular that the near 70 percent of the management personnel of the BCB was drawn from the African community when it represented less than 30 percent of the population in a community where the majority of cricketers and clubs would have been from the East Indian community, representing about 65 percent of the population, but less than 30 percent of the management personnel of the BCB. It finally appeared as a process of organised exclusion when we wrote that the three most successful clubs in the post-war history of cricket in Berbice, Skeldon, Albion and Port Mourant, could only muster one of the 20 positions in the various management committees of BCB,” end of quote.
During his presentation, an opposition member asked him if he was implying that the 70 percent of Africans composition of BCB was responsible for the underdevelopment of the cricket in Berbice, and surprisingly his response was in the affirmative.
I believe that this section of his presentation should be brought to the full attention of Parliament for condemnation and withdrawal.
Dr. Thakur should be asked to provide scientific data that outline how the majority control of one race over another in any given entity can lead to this underdevelopment of an entity.
Furthermore, he should be asked to respond as to how Mr. Peter Abdool, a non-African Guyanese, has contributed successfully as the President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC).
Mr Chairman, we must condemn racism when it raises its ugly head.
Odinga Lumumba MP
Presidential Adviser on Community Development
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, and Chairman of Parliamentary Select Committee on Cricket Administration I was shocked and dismayed by the comments of Dr. Thakur, Lecturer at the University of Guyana Berbice Campus. I am referring to his presentation on Monday, February 18, 2013 to the Special Select Committee on the Guyana Cricket Administration Bill. In his written presentation, he indicated that, and I quote, “It was seen as little more than just irregular that the near 70 percent of the management personnel of the BCB was drawn from the African community when it represented less than 30 percent of the population in a community where the majority of cricketers and clubs would have been from the East Indian community, representing about 65 percent of the population, but less than 30 percent of the management personnel of the BCB. It finally appeared as a process of organised exclusion when we wrote that the three most successful clubs in the post-war history of cricket in Berbice, Skeldon, Albion and Port Mourant, could only muster one of the 20 positions in the various management committees of BCB,” end of quote.
During his presentation, an opposition member asked him if he was implying that the 70 percent of Africans composition of BCB was responsible for the underdevelopment of the cricket in Berbice, and surprisingly his response was in the affirmative.
I believe that this section of his presentation should be brought to the full attention of Parliament for condemnation and withdrawal.
Dr. Thakur should be asked to provide scientific data that outline how the majority control of one race over another in any given entity can lead to this underdevelopment of an entity.
Furthermore, he should be asked to respond as to how Mr. Peter Abdool, a non-African Guyanese, has contributed successfully as the President of the Guyana Boxing Board of Control (GBBC).
Mr Chairman, we must condemn racism when it raises its ugly head.
Odinga Lumumba MP
Presidential Adviser on Community Development