AS expected, the legislation of the Cricket Administration Bill, followed by the West Indies Cricket Board’s (WICB) decision to relocate the third cricket Test Match to Barbados, has resulted in a plethora of views, with most condemning the high handed act of the WICB. 

It shows that our Guyanese citizens are not only rational and reasonable in their interpretation and rationalisation of important national issues, but that they are prepared to defend their motherland. But, as is always the case, there are those, whose motives are entirely selfish, and whose criticisms of the Bill underlines their clandestine and anti-national motives.
We most naturally ask these persons of a particular interest, whether they understood what had been taking place at the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) offices, and the desultory impact that it has had on the development of the game throughout Guyana?
These persons would have been privy to the many complaints that had been appearing in the press, expressing alarm over the untoward instances emanating from the GCB’s headquarters in New Garden Street, Georgetown.
Yet, they remained silent, while the mayhem continued. Hypocrites, they are; for although failing to speak out against the gross maladministration, buttressed by the selfish agenda of those supposed to be serving in the interests of the game – they now seek to accuse the government because it did what was right in the best interests of the game’s future.
A certain hotelier, Robert Badal, has been the latest in the line of critics, complaining that his hotel will lose in the vicinity of $60M as a result of the third Test Match being re-scheduled for Barbados.
Of course, he has attacked the Bill, stating that “…but it is my personal view that Government should not be involved in the administration of cricket. It is the practice all over the world that the private sector administrates the sport. WICB has its standards and it must also be in keeping with what prevails with the international body…. the International Cricket Council.”
Now here is a person whose comments are not surprising because he is aligned with the Alliance For Change (AFC), an Opposition political party some of whose executives by their questionable deeds, aired in the media, have been more concerned about their self-advancement rather than what they can contribute to the good of the country that they professed to love.
Obviously, this well-known AFC financier, and often critic of the government, is complaining about his outfit losing earnings. Of course, we must sympathise with him because of his disappointed expectations.
Moreover, he must be reminded that government is always supportive of the private sector in their many endeavours.
However, when it comes to the reasons for government’s formulation of the Cricket Administration Bill, and its subsequent passage through the National Assembly with the support of the parliamentary Opposition party – the A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), there can be no ambiguity nor protestation, since such action was done purely in the best interest of the local game, thus saving it from a cabal of self-seekers.
Any CARICOM member state would have taken similar action, had it faced similar circumstances. As a matter of fact, both Sri Lanka and Pakistan governments do have a certain level of involvement in the cricketing affairs of their respective States; but not the Government of Guyana, because of the Cricket Administration Bill, as is claimed.
It is true, that it is customary for the private sector to administer the sport as Badal claimed; but, also, it is undisputable that that particular collective that had been in charge of the GCB and its management had an entirely different agenda to the one for the development of the local game. We must ask whether this particular gentleman ever sounded his voice publicly against the reported state of affairs at Bourda headquarters? As a businessman, he would know what financial improprieties can mean for the viability of a business. No less for the advancement of any sport.
With such a publicly aired comment, it is even clearer why Badal’s party, the AFC, did not support the Cricket Administration Bill. No surprise, since they would rather join with others to stab their country in the back, rather than uphold its dignity and sovereign right.