AS far as regional cricket is concerned, the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) “cannot feel that they’re it and call any shots. Our argument continues to be that we gotta sit at this table. This regional cricket is not WICB table, they have a role no doubt about it, a role that has evolved over time but this administration, and I think the region, has to be careful.”

Head of the Presidential Secretariat Dr Roger Luncheon made those observations yesterday when he hosted his regular post-Cabinet press briefing at the Office of the President in Georgetown.
Noting that the WICB believes it is an “untouchable” body, Luncheon said he is certain that within a few weeks when the CARICOM heads meet, this will again be a subject matter on the agenda, “something that has to be dealt with again in-camera because I am pretty certain President Ramotar is going to let loose on this band of WICBers.”
Having unilaterally decided to remove the New Zealand match from Guyana and as a consequence, having denied Guyanese the opportunity to attend and participate in Test cricket, Luncheon said the WICB is now writing to disassociate itself from any attempts, any intention to belittle President Donald Ramotar and to show disrespect to him and his administration.
“Interestingly, in the very same breath of that correspondence, the WICB issues further threats. The WICB would have us believe that these extreme measures are quite appropriate, and they’re appropriate for their ill-defined charges of government interference in cricket and cricket administration, charges that are based on their misconception of the parliamentary enacted Cricket Administration Bill,” said Luncheon.
He said the administration is yet to receive a WICB “well-considered” response to its earlier offer. “We asked them to give us a list of their concerns within 14 days about this bill. Fourteen days come and what we have gotten, threats and more threats.
“WICB really think they are untouchable, that regional governments exist to do their bidding and follow their dictates where cricket is concerned. That is bad for them but it is even worse for regional cricket.”
At his press conference last week, he reported how Cabinet had found appalling the recent decision by the WICB to deny this country’s hosting of the Test match against New Zealand later this month.
He said more appalling was the “arrogance” with which WICB President Dave Cameron dealt with Guyana’s President and his Cabinet.
Furthermore, Luncheon said most appalling is the support the Guyanese directors apparently provided during the WICB recently-held board meeting that influenced such an “unacceptable” outcome for Guyana.
“The West Indies have recognised the role of cricket, the role it has played, is playing in the region’s commitment to its integration. Here we have a regional institution that insensitively acts in this indecent, high handed and reckless fashion, issuing ultimatum to a regional government.

WICB BEHAVIOUR
“The Cabinet of Guyana records its absolute rejection of the WICB behaviour, particularly as one comes to understand and appreciate the full picture. Guyana enjoys cricket. Guyana supports cricket. Taxpayers’ dollars contribute to the development of the sport in Guyana.
The WICB had announced the relocation of the third Test between West Indies and New Zealand from Guyana, citing failure to bring resolution to an ongoing dispute within the game in the country and the recent passing of the Cricket Administration Bill in the National Assembly.
In a release, the WICB said they had serious reservations about the Bill which they say thrusts the administration of cricket in Guyana from an independent body to the Government of Guyana, viewing such a move as undesirable and inconsistent with International Cricket Council (ICC) tenets.

(By Telesha Ramnarine)