… ECB Annual General Meeting and Elections set for today

PRINCE Holder, president of the North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC) says challenging Fizul Bacchus is just a formality ahead of today’s Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) elections. Holder made the disclosure yesterday during an exclusive interview yesterday.

The former ECB president will be the sole challenger to the incumbent Bacchus when voting members of the board cast their ballots during the elections, scheduled to be held at the board’s hostel and indoor practice facility at Anna Regina on the Essequibo Coast from 10:00hrs.

Holder said that there will be no surprises, nothing at stake, even less a competition. As formal as it may be, the ECB elections will simply be a formality for continuity, he said.
“Nothing will prevent the incumbent president in power, Fizul Bacchus, from winning another term. This is because … and to my understanding none of the eight Area Committees had their internal elections. Our elections were set for this month-end,” he said.

Holder added, “So the same old representatives from those committees who had supported Bacchus the last time will cast their votes this time around.”
The ECB has eight regional cricket committees: Bartica Cricket Committee (BCC), Central Essequibo Cricket Committee (CECC), East Bank Essequibo Cricket Committee (EBECC, Leguan Cricket Committee (LCC), North Essequibo Cricket Committee (NECC), Pomeroon Cricket Committee (PCC), South Essequibo Cricket Committee (SECC) and the Wakenaam Cricket Committee (WCC).

Each of the area committees manages cricket within its geographical area and is entitled to two votes each at the ECB elections.
Further, Bacchus expressed confidence for another term since he believes that he has the support of the majority of the area committees.
Bacchus, who is the acting president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), indicated that as usual the elections will be run in a transparent manner within the constitutional framework of the board.

Meanwhile, observers are contending that today’s elections will not be held in accordance with the provisions of the Cricket Administration Law.

This Law was assented to by the-then President Donald Ramotar in August 2014 after the ‘Cricket Bill’ was enacted in Parliament on June 20 of that year.
The Bill clearly states that the Cricket Ombudsman Dr Winston McGowan is responsible for calling the elections of the three county boards.