PRESIDENT Donald Ramotar contends that the West Indies Cricket Board’s “arrogance” is unbelievable. This follows WICB’s denial of Guyana’s hosting of the test match against New Zealand at the Guyana National Stadium. The game was shifted to the Kensington Oval, Barbados.According to him, yesterday at a news conference at State House, Guyana’s recent move to pass the Cricket Administration Bill was done with the sole intent of introducing accountability into the game.
The President added that in light of this move, which was supported by a Parliamentary majority, the WICB’s actions can only be interpreted as protection of “vested interests” given the large sums of monies involved in the game.
He debunked the assertion being peddled in some quarters that Government, through the Bill, is interfering with cricket and reiterated that the sole intent of the Cricket Administration Bill was to ensure greater levels of accountability, particularly given the allegations of corruption made against the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
“We have bigger politics to deal with than to interfere in cricket politics,” the Head of State said.
Mr. Ramotar stated that the before the Bill was passed, there was extensive consultation and it was also subjected to the review of a Parliamentary Special Select Committee.
He also underscored the fact that the WICB’s actions are “unjustified”, given that the investments by countries to facilitate the hosting of such sporting activities are investments with the State footing the bill.
“We have to invest in the infrastructure to host these events,” the Head of State said, referencing the Guyana National Stadium and more recently, the Marriott Hotel.
Looking at the wider ramifications of the WICB’s actions, the President underscored that it is a “slap” and “attack” in the face of and against the move to greater regional integration, especially since cricket is a common sport that brings the peoples of the Caribbean region together.
“I see it as a slap in the face and an attack on regional integration,” he posited.
The Guyana Cricket Administration Bill seeks to provide legal administrative guidelines for cricket, which over the years, has become a national sport. The Bill firstly makes it legal for the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to be established as a corporate body comprising the Demerara, Essequibo and the Berbice Cricket Boards, all of which will also be made corporate entities. A section of the Bill will address the issue of phantom voting for the election of persons for administrative positions and at the same time will give limited power to the Minister of Sport. The role of the Minister of Sports under this legislation will be only to appoint the ombudsman. The National Assembly was also told that the Bill provides for better financial accountability. As such, the GCB, under this new legislation, will be required to present timely audited financial reports to the National Assembly, as well as the National Sports Commission. This bill also will bring to an end the life of an Interim Management Committee which was established following a court battle and the Chief Justice’s ruling in 2011.
With the passage of the Bill, Guyana joined two other Caribbean nations, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados, which made the governing bodies for cricket legal entities.
Written By Vanessa Narine