Latest update April 20th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jun 06, 2014 Sports
Dear Editor,
Rupert, nothing surprises us anymore as it relates to Guyanese politicians, especially those that prostitute themselves to the highest bidder. I nearly had a heart attack when I visited the Government Information News Agency (GINA) website and saw an article captioned “In light of match removal from Guyana…Dr. Rupert Roopnarine challenges WICB to show where in the Cricket Bill Government is given power over GCB”.
Now, my first thought was that the joint opposition had reinstated the GINA funding, cut during the parliamentary budget debate. If not, then the price must have been really good for Rupert to have gained such prominence of being the mouthpiece for the PPP / APNU coalition on such an important issue should give him tremendous political mileage. On the contrary, he may have been told to clean up the shit he has now placed on the head of APNU.
Mr. Roopnarine, I am sure the WICB would not waste its time to respond to you as they have already done what was promised, move the test match to Barbados. While they will continue to engage the Government, if the bill is signed into law, everything else would be moved and we will play cricket at Freedom House and Congress Place. I would, however, highlight a few things in the Bill, a copy of which I obtained from the Parliament that you must answer before seeking to condemn the WICB.
The Bill states on page 10 Article 10.4 “the other functions of the Ombudsman and the rules of procedure of his office shall be prescribed by regulations”. At no point is it further stated who prescribes the regulations. IT IS PELLUCIDLY CLEAR THAT THE MINISTER INTENDS TO EXERCISE HIS CONTROL THROUGH AN OMBUDSMAN WHOM HE APPOINTS AND REGULATES.
The WICB made it clear, in its correspondence to the Guyana Parliament, that it does not interfere in the internal affairs of its members as they are governed by their own constitution, rules and regulations.
This brings into question my second point. Why did the Bill misrepresent the correct constitution of the Guyana Cricket Board? Mr. Roopnarine, you were present when the valid and legal GCB constitution was placed on record in front of your Select Committee during their written and oral submissions.
It is appalling that your Committee has totally disregarded such a sacred document and proceeded to insert a constitution that was prepared by the Government’s special legal counsel, who amazingly ended up as legal advisor to your Select Committee.
It was the same Stephen Fraser who took the GCB to court, on behalf of the Government, to claim the GCB’s assets on the principle of “Bona Vacantia” or ownerless property. I, in no way, disrespect Mr. Fraser as he is a brilliant attorney and must do his client’s bidding (for which I hope he attains silk).
Hence, Mr. Roopnarine, it came as no surprise when on page 6 Article 4; 5; 2 and 3, the Bill states “All assets, funds, resources and other movable and immovable property held by or on behalf of the former Guyana Cricket Board on or before the commencement of this act shall without further assurance stand transferred to the Guyana Cricket Board: Provided that in respect of immovable property the Registrar of Deeds shall take due cognizance and make the necessary annotation in any deed under which the immovable property is held. All moveable and immovable property now held by or vested in any person for the purpose and benefit of the former Guyana Cricket Board shall by virtue of this act and without further assurance, stand transferred to the Guyana Cricket Board”.
What this Bill has now done is give the Government all they prayed for in the Court action above filed on their behalf by Mr. Fraser even though the CCJ ruled that it is trite law that an unincorporated entity can own property. We have to be careful here as APNU, WPA, and PPP are all unincorporated entities. That makes me wonder, who actually owns Freedom House and Congress Place?
Mr. Roopnarine, the WICB has made its position very clear; it is the primary source of funding for the GCB and, as such, has a vested interest in its fixed and movable assets. The funding from WICB cannot be used to pay a government appointed Ombudsman when all of the Officers of the Board are volunteers.
I was also informed that the GCB accounts are usually sent to the WICB after being audited by a reputable auditing firm and, the WICB is quite satisfied with those accounts. In fact, I am told that the GCB is the most compliant in this regard.
Is the following statement made at the Select Committee and attributed to Minister Anthony true? “ Members might want to consider making the UDCA a substantive member of the DCB, in the interim, but with a reduced number of voting delegates… the odd number created on the DCB, with UDCA membership status, might prevent deadlock during future elections”. Is it not true that this political maneuvering gambit placed opposition members on the committee in a precarious position on the Linden political support base?
This political bartering is exactly why the ICC made its stringent rules since there is no place for political interference in Sports. Mr. Roopnarine, this fact was extracted straight from the records of Parliament.
Your Committee unilaterally proceeded to insert a new member in Demerara thereby influencing the voting numbers to benefit your friends. Maybe, the PPP Government should use this same tactic on a national scale since you easily fell for the move.
You also said that Pakistan and Sri Lanka did the same thing and the ICC did nothing. I do not know if you realise that Guyana is a member of WICB while Pakistan and Sri Lanka are members of the ICC.
Pakistan has had four Cricket Boards in the last five months. The President of Pakistan is the Patron of the Cricket Board and every time he installs a Board the high court overturns his decision and reinstates the previous Officers.
This is a bad example Rupert, since in Pakistan the Army has a great say, unless you are insinuating that Brigadier General Granger has an interest. Also, for your information, the Sri Lankan Cricket Board has been democratically elected and is well on its way to fully comply with ICC regulations. Please do not advise your colleagues to move backward.
Let me get straight to the point Mr. Rupert Roopnarine. When the Minister is finished with this one single appearance in the bill, as you put it, there will be no need for him to do so again. The GCB would have lost its assets, a government entity replacing it, and Guyana will have no cricket.
The WICB / GCB will surely take the matter to court and possibly before that is resolved we will have a new government and APNU will cease to exist.
Regards
Onlooker
Where is the BETTER MANAGEMENT/RENEGOTIATION OF THE OIL CONTRACTS you promised Jagdeo?
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