Letter to the Sports Editor … Mr. Claude Raphael needs to stop peddling false information in the public domain

Jun 29, 2016 Sports

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Dear Sports Editor,
The Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) continues to execute its mandate regarding the administration of cricket in Guyana in accordance with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act despite the regular diatribe that emanates ever so often in the national media from a disgruntled few inclusive of Mr. Claude Raphael. We have refrained from responding to those constant spurious allegations against our Board and its members with the hope that the media would fact check these issues prior to publication but this has not been the case. The Board strongly feels that in this instance it is necessary to provide a comprehensive response to the general public on these sore issues and as the head of a successful sports organization I cannot continue allow misinformation to be peddled in the public domain.
My response is to the letter captioned, “Questionable Sports Awards to GCB and Mr. Sanasie”, published in the Kaieteur News and in another daily newspaper:
In his letter, Mr. Claude Raphael refers to himself as an “experienced administrator’ in these publications circulating in the press. He also signed off as “Former Executive of the GCB” and “Former Director of WICB”. No matter how hard I have tried, the success of Claude Raphael as an administrator has proven deeply elusive. However, what is very easy to find, is that Raphael is involved directly or by association in at least four (4) court matters filed against the GCB and/or its officers and, ironically, some of those said matters were attempting to stop elections at the GCB or DCB.
One of those matters was also directed to stop the GCB from being represented at the WICB. It should be noted that Claude Raphael, whilst serving as the GCB’s Chairman of Senior Selectors, was democratically removed as a WICB Director by the GCB electorate in February 2009 and herein commenced his bitterness and vitriol against those persons whom he perceived to have voted against his election as a WICB Director.
Most of what Raphael has to say in his letter is addressed hereunder:
Mr. Editor, I would like to state the following matters of fact and allow the public to make their own inferences.
1. The GCB is currently the most successful territorial Cricket Board, both administratively and on the field of play in West Indies Cricket. The facts are there to prove it.
2. The only sports association in Guyana with a countrywide structure is the Guyana Cricket Board. By structure I mean development across the country from school to national level at all age groups and club.
3. Cricket Guy Inc. is the commercial arm of the GCB and is a requirement for all franchises of the WICB Inc. The WICB has also established a commercial arm.
4. Despite its numerous flaws the GCB adheres to the Cricket Administration Act as the law of the land.
5. Our Audited financial statements, which are completed annually by a reputable auditing Firm in Guyana, has been submitted to the Chairman of the National Sports Commission, the Director of Sports, the Deeds Registry and the Minister of Sports. We are still contemplating how to present same to the National Assembly if not through these entities. Perhaps Mr. Raphael can arrange a seat for the GCB in Parliament to make a direct presentation of its audited accounts. I would like to note that the GCB receives no funding from the Government’s coffers and we are not a budget agency.
6. The Guyana Cricket Board has summoned its elections on every occasion when it is constitutionally due. In fact Mr. Raphael and his cohorts filed the first court matter to stop the GCB elections in 2011 yet still claim that elections are not being held. For Mr. Raphael’s knowledge, the current Cricket Administration Act 2014 has created a roadblock to any proper elections process. The GCB even sought the court’s help to resolve same.
7. Article 10 (d) of the GCB Constitution, appended to the Act states “Nominations (with resumes) for all positions on the executive committee of the Guyana Cricket Board must be made and seconded by MEMBERS at the October Ordinary General Meeting preceding the Annual General Meeting at which elections are to be held……..”. Please note that the GCB has three members only, namely, Demerara Cricket Board, Essequibo Cricket Board and the Berbice Cricket Board. In October preceding an election year at the OGM of the GCB, when one member makes a nomination for any and all positions on the Executive Committee and another member seconds that nomination, that nomination and election is effectively completed. In practicality, it is virtually impossible for the remaining third member to secure a seconder hence the positions are filled by a single nomination and seconder. That was the foresight of the authors of this Act ably strayed by Mr. Raphael and his detractors. The GCB PROTESTED against this flawed piece of legislation but yet it is now law. We have to and will abide by this lopsided piece of legislation which Mr. Raphael cannot see any flaws within until it can be corrected.
8. The public should know that Claude Raphael was a member of the PPP Government delegation when the WICB sent a delegation to Guyana to resolve the cricket impasse and the very flawed cricket Bill. The other members of the PPP delegation were Messrs. Anil Nandalall, Frank Anthony, Stephen Fraser and Bissoondyal Singh. The WICB also met with the opposition parties, APNU and AFC, to get their consensus on a revised cricket bill. Everyone agreed on the revised Bill but the PPP representatives objected to the presence of the opposition parties names listed on the MOA. The PPP representatives then never turned up to sign off on the revised draft MOA and the revised Bill even after the WICB/GCB agreed to remove the then opposition parties as signatories to the MOA.
9. Mr. Sanasie, the GCB Secretary, also acts as our CEO on a pro bono basis, while all other CEOs of the Cricket Boards throughout the region earn hundreds of thousands per year. The savings to the GCB helps to finance our cricket academy programme. Mr. Sanasie’s business acumen has helped to place the GCB on a sound financial footing.
10. Mr. Sanasie replaced Claude Raphael as the WICB Director in 2009 after free and fair elections at the GCB then led by Chetram Singh. Raphael has been sour ever since then and seems to be on a crusade to discredit everything about the GCB and WICB. We at the GCB welcome constructive criticism. In fact, the public should ask Mr. Raphael why Stephen Camacho had to demand the return of a passport and Digicel phone from Mr. Raphael after he was ousted as a WICB Director.
11. Claude Raphael, for most of his time spent at the GCB, was an appointed Executive; he never had to face the GCB electorate. In fact, when his name was touted to replace Chetram Singh, then Vice-President, Alvin Johnson, decided to run against him.
12. Raphael served a single term as WICB Director during which time Alvin Johnson attended Meetings and not Claude Raphael, so his competence and achievements as a Director cannot be determined.
13. Mr. Raphael’s term as the Chairman of GCB’s National Senior Selection panel ended in July 2011, Guyana’s cricket went in the doldrums at that stage and during the majority of his tenure.
14. The National Sports Commission now has a transparent process to select Sport Awardees. Firstly, an extensive document was sent out by the Commission for recommendations from all sporting disciplines. These submissions were then submitted to seven (7) independent unknown individuals across the country. Their recommendations were then collated and sent to a high office of the land, after which, sealed envelopes were delivered at the National Cultural Centre at an impressive presentation ceremony. Transparency and a new beginning alien to Mr. Raphael.
15. The GCB made submissions in all the available categories. We won in two of those categories. I personally submitted Mr. Sanasie’s name for his dedicated work as Secretary/CEO of the GCB. We are all happy that his personal sacrifices were rewarded. Only a fool would not recognize the success of Guyana’s cricket and Mr. Sanasie.
In conclusion I would like to state that we are proud of our achievements and would continue to push ahead while Claude Raphael continues with his masquerade.
I would again state that all sports in Guyana should be governed by a National Sports Policy which includes tax incentives for sponsors to support sports in general. Cricket cannot be singled out. Scrap this flawed piece of legislation.
Yours sincerely,
Drubahadur
President of GCB

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