GCB executives not opposed to ‘outside’ intervention

Apr 01, 2010 Sports

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To help solve internal rift

By Sean Devers

Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Terry Holder and its Secretary Anand Sanasie are not opposed to ‘outside’ intervention to help solve the internal rift that has developed among executives of Guyana’s governing body for cricket.
However, Holder the 2nd longest serving executive on the GCB, warned that the board has to be careful how it demonstrates to others what could be considered its incapability off running its own organization.
The two executives spoke with members of the media at the GCB secretariat as the gap between two factions of the board seem to be widening and both officials said they felt the intervention of Guyana’s Sports Minister and the National Sports Council (NSC) in the matter could be helpful once it is done in a constructive manner.
Sanasie, who attended last week’s West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) meeting in Jamaica, explained that there were a few questions regarding the GCB problems but added that the WICB is not fully aware off all the problems and usually does not get involved in the running of an individual board except in extreme situations.
“I told them we are working on the problems and I am hopeful that we (GCB) can solve all of the issues which have now become public knowledge due to the media,” Sanasie said.
Chetram Singh, the GCB President since 1991 is recovering well in the USA and is expected home next month. Both Holder and Sanasie feel that Singh’s return should make a positive difference with the present situation.
A major dispute among the two factions is the constitution and Sanasie explained that at present two versions of that document is being used conveniently by members and suggested that the executives take this problem to the full board to decided which one would be recognised.
Sanasie says the 2nd constitution, which he says was signed by the executives and registered by the Friendly Societies Act, should be adopted since it is more up-to-date and clearly states who the Acting President should be. The first document, which was formed in 1992, is silent on that matter and it was up to the President to appointment his assistant when he was out of the country.
This has not gone down well with Vice-President Bissoon Singh who has bee upstaged for the position by Fizul Bacchus and those supporting his ‘side’ have been boycotting activities where Bacchus will be present as the Acting President.
Three executives (Sanasie, Bacchus and Treasurer Asif Ahmad) walked out of the last GCB meeting on March 12 after a disagreement concerning the constitution and Holder said that he set up a special meeting a week later to address the concerns of both sides and none of those supporting Bissoon Singh turned up which suggests to him that they are not concerned about the cricket.
“I recognised the damage that is being done and sent an e-mail to every member inviting them to the meeting but when the meeting was convened none of those who complained showed up,” Holder revealed.
“We have got to try and stop this destruction to the Board and our national sport since people should know that if the board collapses nothing that those with ambitions of taking overs will be able to do to put it together again.
Only yesterday (Monday) I sent an e-mail to the members letting them know how the Board is being seen as,” and referred to an Editorial in the Sunday Kaieteur News and a story in the same paper by Sean Devers.
“I pointed out that I have spent a lot of time establishing integrity and was not willing to be brought down with what is happening at present,” Holder stated
Sanasie said that despite the internal power struggle the day-to-day affairs of the GCB are going ahead as usual and said that no developmental plans have been disrupted so far. Sanasie said he aggress that something must be done to bring back unity in the GCB which he says he financially sound.
Sanasie denied that the Essequibo Cricket Board collected as extra million dollars from the GCB as claimed by some GCB executives and said that the marketing Manager is working on a sponsor for a national 20/20 competition. “We did not get a sponsor for the national three-day format and we (GCB) are funding that on our own. We have to run off a 20/20 to prepare our team for the regional 20/20 competition if we want to stand a good chance of qualifying for the champions League tournament in India,” Sanasie said.
He said that any member of the media is free to contact him for access to documents to substantiate what he says and to dispel the many rumors which are being peddled about the GCB.
Sanasie said everything is in place for Guyana’s hosting of the T/20 World Cup from next month and disclosed that the GCB was expected to meet with the Sports Minister yesterday. He also said the board’s next meeting is fixed for the 2nd Friday in April and it is hoped that several matters will be resolved at that statutory meeting.
He also informed that four committees (Logistics, Operations, Marketing and Promotions and Health and safety and security) have been set up for the World T/20 matches in Guyana. Chetram Singh heads the Operations committee but Bissoon Singh is acting in his absence while Ramsay Ali is heading the Marketing and Promotions with Sanasie in charge of Logistics.
Holder was the head of the Security and Health and Safety committee but he said he has recommended Chief Medical Officer Shamdeo Persaud to head that committee. Holder said he has accepted.

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