Cricket IMC concludes investigation

Mar 06, 2012 Sports

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Minister Frank Anthony to peruse and pronounce upon document

 

After months of intense scrutiny and investigation, the Clive Lloyd led Interim Management Committee (IMC), installed by the Government to regularize the sport, concluded its series of stakeholders meetings on Sunday February 19 last.
The forum has highlighted numerous concerns and was attended by a sizeable gathering at the Berbice High School.
This was the eighth such meeting following successful ones in Georgetown, East and West Coast Demerara, East Bank Demerara, Essequibo Coast, Parika, Linden and New Amsterdam.
A release from the facilitators reported that the meetings were well attended and entertained lively discussions on various cricket issues.
According to the report, participants voiced their support for the IMC and further expressed disappointment with the state of Guyana’s cricket especially at the administrative level.
Participants then urged IMC officials to continue working towards a speedy resolution for the sport.  Stakeholders are now encouraged to submit oral as well as written submissions outlining their concerns, views and recommendations to the IMC. These submissions were supposed to have been submitted by 2nd March last.
During the sessions, stakeholders were updated on the Terms of Reference of the IMC with the primary objectives being constitutional reforms, a cricket development plan, a forensic audit of all the accounts of the GCB, preparation of a legislative framework and the holding of free and transparent GCB elections.  These stakeholders were assured that the life of the IMC ends within 6 months whereupon Government officials would ensure that elections are held and those duly elected installed and given a free hand to conduct the affairs of the Cricket Board.
The IMC officials examined several grounds and pronounced them to be in deplorable conditions with many of them overrun by vegetation.
They also noted that the fences were severely damaged even as cattle roamed the grounds. Several grounds were also found to be in bushy conditions while four of these facilities, in Ann’s Grove and five in Golden Grove are no longer in proper conditions to host cricket matches.
It was also discovered that a number of cricket grounds under the control of the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils (NDCs) have deteriorated considerably. Upon investigation, the officials discovered that there were no money for the care and maintenance of those grounds.
Many other issues pertaining to the misuse of the grounds were raised and included damages incurred after musical and other shows and festivals. Residents also utilize the grounds for football activity, inconveniencing those cricketers wishing to utilize the facility.
The non availability of requisite equipment for maintenance works also formed a part of the contentious issues coupled with allegations of theft of movable infrastructure.
Meanwhile, in an effort to alleviate these problems, the stakeholders recommended that a nationwide inventory of grounds be undertaken while the categorization of matches is clearly spelled out. Proposals were also extended for separate grounds for those desirous of playing cricket and football.
The shortage of groundsmen and the need for curator courses to alleviate this problem was also raised and many suggested that grounds be removed from under the control of the NDC’s and placed instead under the Ministry of Culture, Youth & Sport or the National Parks Commission.
It was also noted that there was an acute shortage of specialist officials and some of the attendants suggested training of scorers, umpires, match referees, coaches and statisticians.
The need for a comprehensive cricket development plan was also mooted as it was felt that such ploys would lift Guyana’s cricket to another level.
Meanwhile, former West Indies all rounder, Roger Harper, also a member of the IMC Cricket Development Committee outlined the components of cricket development.
These include kiddy cricket, summer camps and specialist camps among others. He pointed out that a sustained developmental programme for players and coaches is urgently needed to lift the standard of cricket.
Mr. Harper explained the importance of an expansive cricket structure where cricketers would have the opportunity to progress from school cricket right up to representing Guyana and consequently, the West Indies.
Women’s Cricket also came into focus and the general consensus suggested that this category must be planned and promoted as a part of the overall development of cricket in Guyana. It was also suggested that women be exposed to hard ball cricket as well as cricket officials’ courses. These initiatives must be supported with adequate budgetary allocations and sponsorship of competitions as well as facilities that are gender friendly.
Several additional issues were addressed including restriction of players between clubs, associations and counties, sponsorship issues, light facilities at major venues in each county, affiliation procedures, transportation issues, the establishment of a National Cricket Academy, medical support funding for cricketers and officials, at least 50% of subventions from the WICB for the respective counties and the reorganization of venues of matches with each county receiving favourable consideration.
Following extensive deliberations, Mr. Lloyd thanked the stakeholders for their active participation at the meetings and assured them that their contributions were carefully recorded and would form the basis for the IMC’s cricket development programme and constitution reform.
Notably, officials from the GCB, the Essequibo Cricket Board and those that comprise the Raj Singh faction of the DCB were absent from the consultations. The general view was that the absentees had missed a good opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the general healing process.
Officials of the IMC will now examine the documents and submit a report to the Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Frank Anthony who will peruse the document and pronounce on the way forward. In the meanwhile, information from the stakeholders’ forum will be made available to the sub-committees of the IMC to assist in their work.

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