Letters to the Sports Editor…GCB clears the air & issues warning to its detractors

Feb 15, 2012 Sports

---

 

 

Dear Editor,
The GCB is pleased that the IMC has finally discovered its correct role and job description, but seems to be having trouble translating this into actual work.
They have adopted a most noble mission statement which is aimed at improving the governance structure of cricket in Guyana which we fully endorse and support.
However, it is disappointing that only its paid employee, Mr. Lloyd, appears to be representing the IMC.
None of the other appointed members of the IMC has attended any of these consultations and we are left to ponder whether they have accepted their appointments or have deliberately absconded due to a lack of remuneration or otherwise.
There is no evidence of Norman McLean, Tony Xavier, Eddy Luckhoo, Harry Parmesar nor any other of the government appointed IMC appearing at these consultations.
Instead, the GCB notes the close collaboration of Mr. Lloyd with a few of the disgruntled group of ex GCB Committee Members, namely, Bissoondyal Singh and Ronald Williams, whose main contribution again seems to be  limited to the venomous spewing of reckless allegations against the GCB.
This association only serves to further discredit the purportedly noble mission of this Committee.
Quite obviously, they are not privy or have deliberately chosen to ignore the Rupert Foster Report which they had orchestrated.
In that report very clear and concise answers were provided by Mr. Foster regarding their 11 specific outrageous allegations.
The GCB will not stand idly by and allow these so called cricket loving administrators to continue peddling such falsities in the public domain and have now consulted with its legal team regarding the continuous outpourings of misinformation and lies from these detractors.
Cricket administration in Guyana has taken an unfair beating in the last 3 years and it is time that it stops! Persons need to respect the rule of law and democracy!
The GCB had obtained an Order from the High Court allowing them unrestrained access to its Offices and has had to execute this Order no less than 3 times as padlocks appeared every time they were taken off with the Government only acknowledging their intervention the very first time in December 2011 whilst issuing a disclaimer for the last 2 times these locks were placed on our Offices. During the last 2 lockouts, a Board official and a guard were falsely imprisoned.
We note that the IMC has now embarked on a taxpayer funded vacation across the country as it continues to peddle misinformation and half truths to the general public. The GCB has been following the reports in the media regarding the public consultations being held by the handsomely paid IMC Chairman, Clive Lloyd and wonders how these hastily put together consultations blend in with the stated mission of the IMC.
In the absence of clearly defined terms and scope of reference for the IMC, one is left to speculate on the purpose and usefulness of these consultations. Have there been enough preparations for these meetings? Or are they just a grand PR gimmick? Surely, none of these deliberations/discussions relates to the drafting of a constitution or the development of a national cricket development programme as no draft document has been circulated or discussed at these consultations. The modus operandi of the IMC leaves a lot to be desired and can easily be classified as a farce.
We fully endorse former test player, Basil Butcher’s comments denouncing government’s intervention in sports citing his personal experiences a few years ago when he walked away from the process. We also strongly welcome Butcher’s condemnation of the IMC’s illegal action of padlocking the Offices of the GCB, selection of national teams, fixing practice matches, appointing coaches and its own selection panel.
These actions all combined to create public mischief and confusion in the minds of our cricketers and the public at large. Mr. Butcher had some very pointed advices for the IMC head regarding his standing in world cricket and his exile from Guyana over the years and Mr. Lloyd would be well advised to heed these wise words of counsel. We would make every effort to ensure that Mr. Butcher obtains a copy of the Rupert Foster’s report so that he can be thoroughly advised on the financial impropriety allegations which were levelled by the disgruntled group of former GCB executives.
The GCB would like to advise Mr. Butcher that the Board facilitates an annual audit which is conducted by the independent professional auditing Firm, PKF Barcellos, Narine & Co. In addition, the Board was subject to a forensic audit of the 2 hostels conducted by Design & Construction Services in 2010.
Further, the GCB was subject to a rigorous 2 months audit and investigation into its financial, operational and constitutional affairs which findings were embodied in the Rupert Foster report which has now been made public by the GCB. It should be noted that this report was dated February 22nd 2011 and was never released by the Minister of Labour or the Friendly Societies Registrar.
Based on these investigations, the GCB finds it rather unfair to say that it has not opened its books to scrutiny. The GCB has now invited the Minister of Sports or its representative to join its auditors during the 2011 audit exercise which is currently underway but this invitation has not been taken up. Our Audit Report for year ending 2011 will be available for distribution upon completion. We will also be inviting the West Indies Cricket Board’s Auditors to conduct their independent audit.
The Guyana Cricket Board will facilitate anyone who is interested in a copy of the Rupert Foster Report.
Released by the GCB

---

---