THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) said their meeting with Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs Anil Nandalall recently at his Carmichael Street, Georgetown Office, was a success.

According to information shared by the BCB, the Minister brought the delegation up to date on the current status of the Cricket Administration bill and advised them on the steps to be taken to have four passed motions at the last AGM incorporated into the bill.

The BCB said the Attorney General also accepted an invitation from President Hilbert Foster to visit the county for a meeting with Clubs, while also committing to assist the BCB by opening doors to avenues of developments.

Foster and the BCB had been with loggerheads with the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) over the years and has always supported the Cricket Administration Act.

When the Court of Appeal in September had restored the Act which was unanimously support by both sides of the National Assembly in 2014, Foster had stated that this can only mean the forward thrust of cricket, adding that he is most interested in the ancient county’s role.

Tabled back in 2014 by the-then Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr. Frank Anthony, the Act sought to firstly make it legal for 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 Act also addressed 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 under the legislation will be only to appoint the Ombudsman and his/her role ceases.

The Act also provides for better financial accountability with the cricket board being required to present timely audited financial reports to the National Assembly, as well as the National Sports Commission. (Rawle Toney)