NOT SURPRISED AT BACCHUS’ DISMISSAL OF CRICKET ADMINISTRATION BILL

Aug 30, 2013 Letters

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Dear Editor,
Please permit me a response to Mr. Fizul Bacchus’ letter in the Kaieteur News dated 2013-08-23 in which he attempted to proclaim my ignorance of the impending Cricket Administration Bill. He sought to dismiss the Bill as being destructive to the continued existence of the present GCB for which I can only conclude that he supports the current administrative structure where only the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) voted to install the regime, which is unconstitutional. On the contrary I have read the bill with a binocular, ascertaining quite unequivocally that it represents considerable hope towards restoring sanity to the GCB. Permit me therefore to highlight a few points as being relevant to Mr. Bacchus’ misguided concepts.
1- The Bill alludes to the Minister acting in consultation with the WICB to set a date for election.
2- The Bill also provides for the Minister after meaningful consultation with the WICB to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman who shall be responsible for the verification of legitimate clubs and performing the duties of Returning Officer. Isn’t this suggesting that the WICB will have to be involved before a legitimate GCB is installed Mr. Bacchus?
3- The Bill further highlights the transfer of rights whereby all employees of the former GCB are deemed to be employed by the GCB. It also caters for all assets, funds and resources and movable and immovable property held by the former Board now stand transferred to the GCB. So what compensation are you talking about Mr. Bacchus? The only compensation that must be given is to former West Indies fast bowler Reon King who was unceremoniously removed from his post as Cricket Development Officer.
4- The Bill provides for the books of the GCB to be audited and the report shall be laid before the National Assembly within a month of the completion of the audit. Will this not provide for transparency, accountability and prudent management of the GCB’S financial resources, including monies given by the WICB Mr. Bacchus?
5- This is one of the grave areas that resulted in the intervention of the IMC and my involvement as an ECB representative at the time. The ECB under the previous leadership of Mr. Asif Ahmad and Mr. Prince Holder unanimously supported the stance taken to cleanse the GCB. The position was swiftly reversed after Mr. Bacchus was gifted the Presidency after being previously suspended by the Board.
While I would wish to highlight several other critical clauses of the Bill that I believe will transform the Board beyond its present manipulation by the one goodly gentleman that you have glorified, space does not permit me to expand. As for the other questions relating to Linden, funding from the Government, submission of recommendations from the DCB, Directorship(Presidents of the BCA and TTCB are not Directors of the WICB) all of which I am sure will be answered by the Honorable Minister at the appropriate time.
It is sad to note that many of the emerging players from the Pomeroon River don’t even know who the President of the Pomeroon Cricket Committee is, since Mr. Bacchus seldom visits the area or convenes meetings. I have never contested for an executive post in the history of ECB elections, though I would have served in other capacities, including as a player, Manager and Coach. I am still committed to the development of cricket and sports in general in Essequibo since I have highlighted many of our challenges in several letters to the press. I hope that I can still make a positive contribution in or out of the ECB even though Mr. Bacchus sees me as a critic of the ECB and GCB, when in fact I am a supporter of good governance at all levels of cricket administration in Guyana. Ironically it is convenient governance that currently exists, since the GCB has lost its credibility through questionable elections and the isolation of two-thirds of its constituent members. I anticipate that litigation will further suffice, but for the right cause in restoring pride and dignity to cricket in Guyana. In the meantime I hope that Mr. Bacchus’ vision will not continue to be impaired by the visionless and those that never held a bat, much less to execute any stroke of conviction. I am therefore not surprised that Mr. Bacchus who has a dual role as Vice President of the GCB and a Director of DEB Essentials, whatever that means, is highly dismissive of the Bill since he effectively wants to maintain the status quo and that of a chaotic GCB. Will the players ever achieve their true potential under the present circumstances Mr. Bacchus?
Elroy Stephney

 

 

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