When sentiments replace facts

Mar 01, 2012 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Performance, not sentiments, must be the yardstick in any evaluation of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB)
Mr. Elroy Stephney’s letter in the Kaieteur News of February 26, 2012 is replete with misinformation and inaccuracies, and the arguments contained therein are based on sentiments rather than a fact and statistics.
Mr. Stephney contends that “the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) must remain a vital pillar and strength to the Guyana Cricket Board not only on the field but equally off as well” but fails to accept that the ECB has lagged far behind the other two Boards in the promotion, development and administration of cricket.
Mr. Stephney laments the “total disrespect” shown to Essequibo Cricketers, Dinesh Joseph and Trevor Benn. However, the facts present a different picture. Dinesh, a promising cricketer, was invited to national trials on three separate occasions but failed to turn up,  did not submit a reason to the selectors and, therefore could not be considered for selection.
Mr. Stephney could not possibly be suggesting that the Selectors should play a cricketer who has shown total disregard for official trials  Trevon was selected to the thirteen-man touring squad for the 2010 Regional  Four- Day Competition.
For sound cricketing reasons, as was explained by the tour officials he was not selected in the final eleven. Those officials recommended to the ECB that they pay special attention to Trevon as he is obviously a talented cricketer. The ECB has however not provided a plan or programme to develop the talent of Trevon.
There is no Three- Day Cricket at any level played anywhere in Essequibo. Mr. Roger Harper and Mr. Neil Barry offered their services to Essequibo Cricket but they are yet to receive a response as to how they can make a contribution.
Mr. Stephney argues weakly that Essequibo should have representation on both the Junior and Senior Selection Panels of the GCB “to minimize the fear that the Essequibo Players continue to endure” however a Selection Panel is made up the best personnel around.  Players must always be selected on the basis of established criteria including performance. Is Mr. Stephney suggesting a quota system for the selection process?
In relation to the administration of cricket in Essequibo, is Mr. Stephney aware of the following?
1. The ECB failed to present a financial report at the June 2010 Ordinary General Meeting of the GCB. The President of the ECB explained that this Board was fearful that the report would be made public.
2. The ECB boycotted the October 2010 Ordinary General Meeting of the GCB and refused to give a reason for their decision.
3. The ECB was the only Board that took part in the illegal GCB’s elections held in July 2011.
4. In one year (2010) the President of the ECB who was also at the time the Treasurer of the GCB attended only four of the Statutory Monthly Meetings and his performance was so pathetic that he was asked to resign.
5. The President of the ECB together with the Secretary of the GCB proceeded to Bartica and illegally removed the properly elected Bartica Cricket Committee and installed some of their friends as the Bartica Cricket Association (BCA). The ECB then officially recognized that illegal BCA and allowed its participation in the 2011 elections of the Essequibo Cricket Board.
6. A sum of $600,000 that was provided to the ECB for the preparation of its Female Cricket Team was not utilized or accounted for that purpose.
7. In a 2010 GTM Under – 19 Inter County Match played in Essequibo, play was halted as cows invaded the field.
8. At a T-20 fund-raiser played at Anna Regina, the President of the ECB brought in gatemen, officials and account clerks from his home community of Wakenaam and bypassed the ECB Officials at Anna Regina.
9. The Vice-President of the ECB who is also a Vice-President of the GCB lives in Charity, and representing Pomeroon as member of the ECB has not had elections for a number of years.
10. At the February 2010 Executive Meeting of the GCB, the President of the ECB reported that the contractor (for the Anna Regina Hostel) had been paid off in full. However, at the January 2011 Executive Meeting, members found out that a further sum of $1,500,000 was paid to the same contractor without their approval.
11. The office assistant of the GCB had to travel from Georgetown to Wakenaam regularly to get signatures from the President of the ECB/Treasurer of GCB for payment cheques, etc.
Mr. Stephney must know that at the January 2011 AGM of the ECB, proven and tested Essequibo Officials were not elected including Carl Brandon, Alvin Johnson, Lindon Daniels, Shawn George, Hakeem Khan,  Edward Skeete and Mr. Stephney himself.
Instead some strange persons emerged from nowhere to be Executive Members for the first time on the GCB.
Further Mr. Stephney who served for a number of years on the Cricket Development Committee of the GCB never produced a programme for the development of Essequibo Cricket. His efforts for the empowerment of Essequibo Cricket could be better spent in presenting a plan to revive cricket in the Cinderella County both at the playing level and the administrative level.
It is interesting that, having admitted to being in support of the IMC, Mr. Stephney did not attend either of the two (2) Stakeholder Meetings held in Essequibo where he would have had good opportunity to make a contribution to Essequibo Cricket, and he seems to be lost in a world of sentimental fantasy and not reality.
Essequibo‘s cricket needs practical, honest professional officials which is sadly lacking within the present regime.
 W. G. Boston

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