Seeking some answers from the GCB

Oct 15, 2011 Sports

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Dear Editor,
As a dedicated and passionate supporter of Berbice Cricket, I was shocked to read Berbice Cricket Board’s Secretary Angela Haniff letter in the Stabroek and Kaieteur newspapers that the office administrator of the Berbice Cricket Board was dismissed by the Guyana Cricket Board.
This dismissal was among the first act of the illegal board led by Ramsey Ali after they were illegally elected to office.
All Government and leadership across the world, Mr. Editor always use the first 100 days in power to build bridges and to cement new relationships even with their worst enemies.
The Guyana Cricket Board on the other hand seemed to have other plans to settle old scores with people who might not have supported them, rewarding those who have betrayed the Berbice Cricket Board to support them.
Angela Haniff is one of the hardest and dedicated cricket officials in Guyana and I understand that together with Hilbert and Keith Foster, Carl Moore, Anil Beharry and Romesh Munna, are responsible for the remarkable transition in Berbice Cricket over the last four years.
The works and achievements of the Berbice Cricket Board on and off the cricket field are unmatched any part in Guyana and the West Indies and with the present state of our cricket, the work of the superb organisation should be emulated and not being victimized with the dismissal of its administrator for no proper reason.
How in God’s name can the Guyana Cricket Board justify dismissing the best run cricket board administrator while maintaining the services of the worst ever cricket board that is based in Essequibo.
It is simple Maths answer of nine faithful votes from Essequibo and just one rebel vote from a united Berbice Cricket Board. In my last letter to the press as a concerned resident of West Berbice, I raised the question of the very low standard of the game in that area because of the very poor administration of the West Berbice Cricket Association. Despite these very administrators have become the favourites of the Guyana Cricket Board because of one rebel Berbice vote.
In several weeks, four West Berbicians have been appointed to major positions with the Guyana Cricket Board – Guyana Female Manager, Guyana Senior manager, Guyana Senior Selector and Liaison Officer for the Guyana Under-19 Team. These four individuals’ contributions to cricket development in West Berbice and Berbice are at best very small but they have been promoted nationally infront of more dedicated and productive leaders.
Mr. Editor, for too long we have allowed the Guyana Cricket Board officials to operate as if the board is their personal property and they can do what they want.
Unless there was fraud or non performance involved, the Guyana Cricket Board should reinstate the Berbice Cricket Board administrator as long as the Essequibo Cricket Board still receives their money.
As a concerned Berbician, I must inform the nation that the elements involved in the Guyana Cricket Board during the recent 50 Overs Inter county finals at Albion was more interested in meeting with some officials from Upper Corentyne and two clubs to discuss the take over of the Berbice Cricket Board in 2012 to allow them to have control of cricket in Guyana.
They do not care about the present administration.  Mr. Hilbert Foster’s press briefing states, that no other county board has the vision like the Berbice Cricket Board and has produced so many top players who are dominating cricket in Guyana and has cricket played at all levels in Berbice and carried out over 75 off the field programmes.
Why care for progress and results when it is easier to have your yes men in position to do your dirty biddings. Berbicians are however very smart people after all we are from the East and we would not allow these gentlemen to destroy our beloved cricket in Berbice as they did in Demerara because of the need for power and more power and on interest in the development of the game and its players.
I would like to close this letter by asking the Public Relations Officer of the Guyana Cricket Board to inform the nation why was the Berbice Cricket Board Administrator dismissed and on what grounds. I would also be grateful if he can explain to the cricketing public and the Demerara Distillers Limited (sponsor of 2011 Senior Inter county Competitions) why at the 50 Overs Finals at Albion between Berbice and Demerara, none of the Guyana Cricket Board Executive Members spoke at the presentation ceremony despite the presence of their representatives at the venue. Imagine they were all inebriated, if you see rum in all types on display at the counter; imagine the young cricketers sat there looking on. I went to many finals, I saw Mr. Chetram Singh and other Executives and I have never seen that type of behaviour displayed by any Executives. The executives present did not even thank the management of Albion Estate, crowd nor teams for making the event successful, they were more for show and point proving.
Wasn’t there need to express gratitude to Berbicians for their large support, to say thank you to DDL for their sponsorship and to promote the Company or to inform the large crowd of developmental plans for the game in Guyana.
If I was the sponsor of that tournament, I would have been very angry and disappointed at the missed opportunity.
Harold Ramdass

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