EDUCATION Minister Nicolette Henry has called on cricket stakeholders to put aside their differences and channel their energies in bringing a swift end to the administrative crisis that has dogged the sport in recent years.
Henry, who also holds the portfolio for Culture, Youth and Sport, made the appeal yesterday when she, along with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Basil Williams met with executive members of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and members of the cricket stakeholders in the boardroom of the Legal Affairs Ministry.
The meeting was called in order to iron out the cricket crisis, and at the same time bring some semblance of normalcy to the manner in which cricket is administered in Guyana.
However, while the government seems ready and willing to bring a swift end to the cricket dilemma, the way forward lies with the Appeal Court.

It was announced by the Legal Affairs Minister that the Order, which was granted by Justice Nareshwar Harnanan on June 16, 2017, has since been appealed. This decision will definitely stall the enforcement of the Cricket Administration Act.

The Act will pave the way for order, accountability, free and fair elections and full participation of all including Linden.
However, Minister Henry noted that while the matter is a legal one, she called on the GCB and cricket stakeholders to rise above the differences and to forge a way forward.
“We need to rise above the differences and to forge a way forward in the very immediate future that will be the best interest, particularly for the young people out there who you need an opportunity in cricket,” she said.
Minister Henry added, “I will be guided by the Attorney General as to the outcome and deliberation of the Court, having received the guidance from the Attorney General, I will certainly act within the powers granted to me as Minister with responsibility for Sport to ensure that due process takes place, and since there is no current impediment to the holding of those elections, I will certainly provide the necessary permission so that process can take place.

“I also want to point out that cricket is one of those sporting activities where government’s involvement is very minimal in terms of its administration, and therefore that’s where the Cricket Ombudsman (Dr Winston McGowan) comes in, so I will have discussion with the Ombudsman and we will take it from there, but I will certainly meet with the stakeholders in a separate breakout meeting, just to ensure that the necessary guidance is given in keeping with the powers vested in me,” Minister Henry said.
Minister Henry promised to meet with the Cricket Ombudsman sometime next week, providing he is available.

However, it is unclear whether the cricket ombudsman will be able to function in a meaningful way, since the work of Dr McGowan was previously hindered because there was no meaningful consultation with Cricket West Indies (formerly West Indies Cricket Board) on his appointment.
To this end, the Legal Affairs Minister has made it clear that the cricket ombudsman will have to execute his remit under the provisions of the Cricket Administration Act.
Further, Ronald Williams said the cricket stakeholders are ready to support a democratic process.
Meanwhile, GCB secretary Anand Sanasie said after the meeting that the GCB is prepared to move forward.
“We are always prepared to move forward. However, I want to make it clear that we definitely did not agree with aspects of the bill, which we challenged, and to date there has not been a hearing to that, so we will continue to ensure that our objections are being heard through the regular judicial process.

“Having said that, we are not opposed to whatever has to happen. We are prepared to work together once it is done within the Cricket Administration Act,” he said.

Sanasie added, “As the sitting body for the sport here we would have perused the bill so we are ready anytime … we ready tomorrow morning (today), but my perusal of the bill, not being a legal mind clearly indicates time lines which have to be met.”
Sanasie further stated that the GCB is willing to work with stakeholders who are actual stakeholders in the cricket structure.
“I recognised that some people are calling themselves stakeholders, but don’t know their role, so if the stakeholders will be involved we have to know who we are talking to, but once the ombudsman is properly put in place, we will go through him so we will not engage directly with anyone. As the governing body we will follow the rules,” he mentioned.
Finally, Sanasie, who is also a director on Cricket West Indies made it clear that despite the numerous off-field troubles, Guyana’s cricket has done well over the years.