GCC bedeviled by bad leadership and management

Sep 27, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,

Permit me space in the letter column to voice my concern about the state of the Georgetown Cricket Club and the management, or should I say the lack thereof. Since His Excellency, Dr. Irfaan Ali, and other Caribbean leaders have voiced their concerns about the state of West Indies cricket, I felt it opportune to raise the following issues, in the hope that same sort of change is achieved.
Let me start by commending the Government of Guyana for efforts in furthering sports in Guyana, particularly cricket, by giving subsidies to clubs across the country to enhance grounds, etc. As a result of this initiative, the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) got GY$2M from the Government. However, if one was to visit the ground, it is obvious that the club is in a terrible state. In fact, the doors, seating, and the buildings are falling apart. This begs the question, what use was made of the subsidy?
Editor, it’s a well-known fact that clubs garner funds from various sources, a primary source being dues paid yearly by club members. However, GCC has not had a ‘ballot’ in over 18 months. For those readers who are unfamiliar with the term ‘ballot’, this is the process of vetting, deliberating on the entry of new members. In my respectful view, allowing new members into the club increases revenue for the club to enable its upkeep and maintenance. Therefore, 18 months of no ballot is significant revenue lost to the club, since there are tons of persons who are awaiting admission to the club. Further, the Executive Members and/or Committee Members are rarely seen, or rarely ever present at the club. In my view, this is a significant contributing factor to the myriad of problems facing the club currently. The president of the club is rarely ever there, and rarely looks after the club’s interests. This is just one example of the terrible leadership that has befallen this once prestigious organisation.
As a result of the president’s and executive members’ lack of interest in the club, the manager runs the organisation as his private business. Many members are upset at the current state of affairs. The basic services the club offers are terrible, and persons are more often than not disgusted with it. Notably, the president and executive members of the club are all successful businesspeople. Clearly, if they were committed to the interests of the club, like they are to their various businesses, the club, too, will be successful, and not in the derelict state that it is in currently.
Editor, I must mention that due to the pandemic, I do not expect that the club would be reckless and hold massive events to raise funds, etc. However, I visited the Everest Cricket recently and a few other clubs in Georgetown and some on the East Coast and these clubs are all flourishing.
These clubs have: increased their membership; increased their complement of sports offered to members thus attracting persons from all background; erected lights; executed repairs and improvements to their various club buildings and other facilities. Therefore, I do not buy the excuse of ‘…oh it’s COVID-19 time that’s why we are in this position…’
It is my hope that by penning this missive, more persons will come onboard and speak up for a change in the state of affairs at GCC. It is time we have new leadership. Leaders that genuinely care and want to effect change and carry on the legacy of the organisation. It is time we restore this club to its once prestigious position, and to do this, we must first get rid of the bad leaders currently just filling positions in the decision-making seats.

Yours faithfully,
Rawle Nichols

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