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What is the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) in shock and disappointed about?

Feb 01, 2016 Sports

Dear Sir,
In response to a letter in your paper captioned “GCB sternly reprimands Claude Raphael” I pen this missive in support of Claude Raphael and his right to express his opinion.
At the outset it should be made clear to all that Mr. Raphael’s right to criticize and or lawfully demonstrate are enshrined in the Constitution of Guyana and further there is a legal principle in the free world that justice delayed is justice denied. I support both his constitutional right and that legal principle.
Mr. Raphael’s credentials as a cricketer and cricket administrator makes him part of the establishment and adds gravity to his outrage at what is being perpetuated by the GCB in the name of cricket. On the other hand the vitriol in the response from GCB suggests among other things the truth hurts.
Andrew Gordon Ganteaume the eldest West Indian test cricketer alive; famous for making a century in his first test inning, once described the Trinidad cricket board as “deader than a dead duck” although he was considered an outsider his views reverberated around the region.
What is the GCB disappointed about?
a.    The only country in the free world where the President of the Cricket governing body owns a betting shop.
b.    Or the One Day International on April 3, 1993 at Bourda between the West Indies and Pakistan ruled a tie by the match referee Raman Subba Row even though provision for a tie was not in the playing conditions.
c.    Or the One Day International on April 21, 1999 at Bourda between the West Indies and Australia ruled a tie by the match referee Raman Subba Row even though provision for a tie was not in the playing conditions.
d.    Or claiming several Under 19 West Indies championships while several players in the victorious teams were well above the legal cut-off age. Bringing shame to all Guyanese.
Mr. Raphael though awe struck by the lengthy miscarriage of justice in his tone he is very respectful of the judicial system and has no need to apologize.
Lampooning the judiciary in our country has become a cottage industry. Did the GCB not notice?
a.    Dr. Jagan’s vehement objections to the appointment of Ramraj Jagnandan to the bench. Was Dr. Jagan disrespectful?
b.    At her private swear in; when presented with papers signed by the then Chief Justice; Mrs Jagan tossed the papers to the floor. Was Mrs. Jagan disrespectful?
c.    It has been a well held view by many that high judicial functionaries are not acting fairly and that the justice system operates in favour of one class.  In fact six of the leading senior counsels in Guyana by letter drew President Dr. Jagan’s attention to the virtual breakdown of the justice system. GCB should investigate.
d.    In our courts, in the matter Green vs. PNC when the present Mayor Green challenged his unlawful expulsion from the PNC a procedural finding was made by a judge on an application by Mr. Hoyte that was never made. GCB please check the record.
e.    Many GCB members / associations / clubs / cricketers can add their own personal encounters with the system to this list.
Guyanese in the Diaspora are sick and tired of being sick and tired of our legal system.
Claude Raphael very astutely pointed to a problem that has affected cricket for a long time and needs to be resolved.
It appears as if the GCB wants to serve as counsel for Mr. Raphael and hang on to power at the same time.
It is unfortunate how political we have become as a people; instead of addressing issues and seeking to find common ground we look for wiggle-room in the legal system that allows us to impose ourselves upon those who financial or otherwise are unable to access the same wiggle-room.
To the GCB; wake up and smell the coffee; wrong is wrong and right is right but they are definitely not the same things.
Peace.
Respectfully yours,
“Friends of Malteenoes Sports Club” (New York)

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