Letter to the Sports Editor... Skerrit should resign for ethical reasons

Letter to the Sports Editor… Skerrit should resign for ethical reasons

Mar 22, 2021 Sports

Dear Sports Editor,
By any corporate standards, the action of CWI President Richard Skerrit, relating to participation in a questionable meeting with Minister Charles Ramson, would be unacceptable.
Reliable sources have confirmed that Mr. Skerrit was reported to the ICC Ethics Committee sometime last year, reference some perceived wrong doing in loan negotiations with the English Cricket Board (online reporting). It should be stated that the matter was dealt with by the ICC ethics committee and Mr. Skerrit was cleared. However, new information may cause the ICC to relook at this complaint as we have since learnt that Mr. Skerrit was nominated and ran for the ICC deputy chairmanship against Imran Khawaja, the Singaporean Associate member director and attorney at law. Mr. Khawaja came out on top of that race by a narrow margin, was there a quid pro quo to tour England and New Zealand at no financial or other benefits to Cricket West Indies? I guess we may never find out.
It is also common knowledge in the Caribbean that Mr. Skerrit was reported to the CWI ethics committee at least once before, of which the outcome is unclear. Recent information circulating indicated that an appeal has been filed because the person filing the complaint was never interviewed and a decision was made. The entire CWI may now be involved in a resolution.
In the current instance Mr. Sanasie, challenger to Skerrit, stated on the “Mason and Guess” radio broadcast, after a contributor asked the question, that he would not comment on the issue because certain internal actions have been taken, many suggest that yet another report may have been made against the embattled incumbent Skerrit.
If the facts reported in the print and electronic media are correct, the CWI and its president are in for a rough ride as he certainly would have to answer for the haste in which the CWI or its president and a few close confidantes allowed themselves to be dragged into a hurried decision with the already embattled Minister of Sports in Guyana.
It would be recalled that the very Minister pronounced the GCB as illegal after they objected to his usage of the National Stadium to play football, damaging the international wickets. Some also suggest that the Minister is trying to avail himself with the right to approve or disapprove all sports events in Guyana, something that will not sit well with these independent sports entities.
Mr. Skerrit should have been cautious and represent the position of the CWI shareholder rather than being sucked into the toxic local politics. However, to many local critics, Skerrit may have seen am opportunity to put pressure on his local challenger, a decision which has certainly backfired.
The CWI president may have underrated the deep-rooted fundamental issues and the diverse political undercurrents that were likely to evolve. More importantly, he certainly does not know the audacity and political goodwill of his challenger. Mr. Sanasie is well known to the political hierarchy of Guyana, on both sides of the house, while not being knowingly aligned to any political party. Although, some may argue he is an operative of the PPP because of his past militancy.
To many, this issue would surely have a bearing on the CWI presidential race as the actions of Skerrit must be explained, if not to the directors of CWI, then to the people of the West Indies.
Recently, Mr. Sanasie made some damning comments on the mismanagement of CWI funds and is likely to reveal more as the campaign heats up.
Interesting times ahead as it is believed that if the reports on this matter are proven to be correct, Skerrit must resign.
Yours in Sports,
Former Cricket Administrator
Krisnchand Mangal.

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