A response to Berbice Cricket Stakeholder

Jan 22, 2018 Letters, Sports

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Dear Sports Editor,
Please allow us to respond to the letter that appeared in Kaieteur News, 3rd January, 2018, “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders concerned over interference in the game” signed by “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders”.
First, the so called “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders” are a hand-picked, private group of individuals selected by members of the previous Berbice Cricket Board administration at the Skeldon Back Centre Ground on the 9th December, 2012 (Stabroek News 12th December, 2012.).
At half-time in a local T/20 final match between local clubs the PA system announced: “Teams that were so informed [are] asked to meet in the pavilion for the promised meeting.” It was, we learnt later, a contrived selection and not a meeting in which selected clubs had been privately invited (word of mouth and telephone) to a pre-arranged meeting behind closed doors where the present “Berbice Cricket Stakeholders” acquired life.
With BCB support for both competition and playing the UCCA announced both limited-over matches as well as T/20 competition and assumed the mantle of cricket in the Upper Corentyne. Questions of the bona fides of the Association were always seen as treasonous and either contemptuously dismissed or set aside for a “suitable” occasion, depending on who did the asking.
Cricket, in the meantime, took a back seat since it seemed that those in authority were the least concerned with the development of the game. One of the more disturbing signs of this was the absence of an umpiring fraternity and the clear unwillingness to cultivate one.
By whom and by standards the game was being played and judged soon became clear. In the absence of formally, qualified umpires, clubs and teams connived and contrived with each other and increasingly set aside the rules to do as they pleased – no one to demand any standards, equally, no one to deliver on them.
The obvious result was the game itself was now played with increasing indolence, while attention was drawn to the social festivities that the game tended to provide and increasingly attract. It was obvious why it lacked the standards to fit into a school’s curricula.
Equally troubling is the fact that since the Berbice Cricket Stakeholders have been the authority of cricket in the community no one can remember an Annual General Meeting (AGM) to discuss the affairs of the association or its financial status. What happened to the monies that were acquired for competition or tournaments? Were there other monies that came for the development of the game in the area from the BCB, the GCB, the WICB, the ICC? Isn’t there need for some accountability here? The record suggests that our Stakeholders have been less than forthcoming.
The Constitution of the association, no date given, Section 4, Sub-section b, says: “The Biennial General Meeting (BGM) of the association is that meeting where the officers of the Association are duly elected for two (2) years”. Our Stakeholders letter to the KN says that there was something resembling a BGM on the 27th September, 2017.
None among us seem to be aware of such a meeting – where was it held or how was it advertised, who/what were the teams/clubs/persons that attended, how were they invited? And, if as the Constitution says, this should be a biennial affair when and where was the previous one held? The record shows that the life of the Stakeholders began on the 9th December 2012 at the Skeldon Back Center. That would be at least five (5) years for the life of the present Stakeholders. Where/when was the other meeting between those two dates if the Constitution is to be acknowledged and observed for a BGM?
What would also be interesting is the time place and date where the constitution was approved? Who were the clubs/teams/persons that attended the meeting? How were they invited to such a meeting? What were the circumstances in which the document was made available for discussion and approval?
One last point of substantive interest as per the activities of our Stakeholders. Here is a letter that appeared in Kaieteur News 2nd May, 2015.

When did the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association become a PPP/C franchise?

Dear Sports Editor,
From recent reports it appears that the PPP/C has found a new vote bank – the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UPCA). KN News reports that the “Upper Corentyne names team for PPP/C fundraiser – May Day Cup 2015”.
It was also reported that “Proceeds from this event will be donated to the party to assist with the 2015 election campaign and beyond”.
At what meeting of the Association was it decided that the latter was now a franchise of the PPP/C?/Thankyou
Rishee Thakur

On the 16th November, 2017, Ten Clubs, all members of the UCCA, after several verbal requests to the Stakeholders for a meeting of the association failed, sent out a formal notice, signed by the ten clubs, inviting interested clubs for a formal meeting at the No. 73 Young Warriors Cricket Pavilion, on the 7th December, 2017, at 4:00 P.M.
In attendance at the meeting were 18 Clubs. They (named in the minutes of the meeting) agreed that the time had long passed for a formal meeting of the Association.
They were now well within their rights, according to the Constitution of the UCCA, to proceed with such a formal meeting and a decision on the way forward. The clubs then proceeded with elections for a new Executive for the Association as indicated in Kaieteur News 13th December, 2017.
More recently a new competition, Roy Baijnauth T20, started with 21 clubs participating, while the new executive is seeking sponsorship for a limited overs competition to include under 19 and under 15 Players and Clubs.
All of this was transpiring and the UCCA interim committee or the so called ‘Berbice Cricket Stakeholders” disappeared. It came as no surprise that, after Justice Singh’s order for new elections of the BCB on 18th December 2018, the interim authority installed in 2012 for control of UCCA suddenly reappeared, BCB voting time. Sorry! All the cricket clubs in Upper Corentyne have spoken.
A lot of club cricket is now playing in UCCA and it must continue. The group of pretenders must be put to pasture.
Thank you,
Upper Corentyne Cricket Stakeholder

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