… Even as a few former executives contemplate legal proceedings

FORMER president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Dhierandranauth Somwaru is of the view that the recently held BCB’s elections were conducted in a free, fair and transparent environment.
The former umpire is also of the view that the electoral process was held in keeping with a ruling delivered by Justice Navindra Singh last December 18, when he mandated new elections.

Somwaru made the disclosure yesterday during an exclusive interview, saying that there were no signs of manipulation, despite a few former executives of the BCB, openly rejecting the results, claiming verification of delegates/representatives for the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association and the Mt Sinai Cricket Club by the Court is in question.
Information reaching Chronicle Sport indicates that the delegates/representatives for the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association are different from those who have voted at the contentious elections last October while the Mt Sinai Cricket Club was registered after that October elections.

Based on those grounds, the former members are expected to file legal proceedings shortly.
But Somwaru is of the opinion that court actions will not help the development of the game, and as such, is calling on those individuals to desist from any legal battle.
“The process were ‘free, fair and transparent’ … it was held in keeping with the Court Order, so I don’t see any reason someone will want to go to the Court again,” the 64-year-old revealed.

He added, “The game is bigger than anyone of us. Personally, I want cricket to be played, so how will cricket move on if those in office are not allowed to function, so give the new body a chance.”
Observers described the elections as a “way station” to administrative stability and full equality of all stakeholders.

To this end, former Chairman of the Special Events Committee of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, who defeated Somwaru, by 18 votes to 16 when the electoral process was held at the New Amsterdam Town Hall, has openly offered Somwaru an advisory position on the board.
Foster, is of the opinion that the former BCB president could play an integral part in the development of the game in the Ancient County.