Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
Aug 31, 2011 Sports
Dear Editor,
I wonder what else the President of Guyana will get involved in. Cricket administration has been administered by the Guyana Cricket Board since 1943, 68 years ago and this system has proven to be a relative success over these last 7 decades. Discounting the last 18 months since the announcement of Chetram Singh’s decision not to seek re-election at the helm of cricket in Guyana after close to 2 decades, the administration of cricket was considered to be very decent, gentlemanly and organized.
Bissoondyal Singh supported Chetram Singh against Bish Panday in 2009 and maybe feels that he is the heir apparent and has solicited a group to support his campaign. Every step of the way, in his quest for power, he has been effectively stopped by the democratic process or by the judicial process.
Mr Jagdeo has now gotten involved in the administration of cricket through the formation of an IMC. This action is totally illegal in my view and should be rejected out rightly.
The Chief Justice in the last matter filed by Angela Haniff discharged his injunction that he seemed to have incorrectly granted in the first place. He ruled that the action was struck out as it was misconceived. That is all that his order contained in this matter. It now leads us to ask. WHY DID HE GRANT THIS INJUNCTION IN THE FIRST PLACE? Didn’t he know or realise that Angela Haniff, as the Secretary of the Berbice Board, had no locus standi to file such a matter?
There were a multitude of reasons for him to throw out or discharge this injunction but he chose this one. He has now opened up a can of worms for all sporting associations and other unincorporated organizations with this landmark judgment.
All other Associations such as the Guyana Olympic Association, Guyana Football Federation, Guyana Chess Club, Guyana Lawn Tennis Association, Guyana Basketball Association, Guyana Volleyball Association and all others not incorporated nor registered under any legal framework are now considered legal non-entities. I am sure that some of the political parties such as the APNU,AFC, PPP, TUF, VOP, etc operating in Guyana may also not be legally registered or incorporated and can and should now expect Jagdeo to form IMCs to administer them as that seems to be his prerogative.
I now expect the President to use the same haste with which he has summoned the cricketing fraternity and form IMCs to run these Associations also otherwise he will be accused of some deviousness or deception by his actions. Chang’s order was granted on August 22nd and he summoned the cricket executives on August 25th. The President needs to tread cautiously on this issue and carefully examine all the issues surrounding his actions before proceeding. He needs to examine and ask himself the following questions:
Under what legal authority am I using to initiate this (ese) IMCs?
These bodies have been formed and functioning over the years fairly successfully
These bodies have been formed or evolved through a democratic process and are governed by their own rules and constitutions.
What role should the government play in the administration of cricket and/or other sports and other such organizations?
Is the government equipped to deal with these additional administrative duties and responsibilities?
Should the government provide just the legal and regulatory framework for the smooth functioning of these bodies as recommended by the CJ? These are all very relevant issues and the President seems to be misinformed in his current actions.
Intikab Sankar
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
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