By Akeem Greene
Newly-elected Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) President, Bissoondyal Singh, has expressed an interest in running for the top post at the level of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), but said a definitive decision will be made following consultations with stakeholders.
Now that the DCB has held its Court-supervised elections, the way is cleared for elections at the GCB and the appointment of an Ombudsman by the Sport Minister.
That appointment was made by Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. almost immediately after the DCB process was over on Friday, with Attorney-at-Law Kamal Ramkarran appointed Ombudsman and the GCB elections fixed for February 26.
Questioned by News Room Sport whether he has an interest in the GCB presidency, Singh responded: “At this time, yes.”
“That [GCB Elections] is a going to be a transparent and democratic process; elections are a democratic process and we will see how it goes.”
Singh further indicated that it is important all stakeholders work together to move the sport forward. As such, he said he will extend an olive branch to all.
The East Bank Cricket Association and the West Demerara Cricket Association, two of the five affiliates of the Demerara Board, were not represented at the DCB elections. Delegates from the Georgetown Cricket Association, the East Coast Cricket Board and the Upper Demerara Cricket Association were present on Friday.
“It (the absence of two associations) is a concern, we will actively engage them; we are extending an olive branch, we don’t need to have a confrontation with anyone, but it is time for us to work together and fix this thing; it is too long.”
The businessman added, “Let’s work together and fix it; if you have an interest in cricket and not personalities let’s put that aside and let’s fix the cricket. Let’s hear what is your problem and I will tell you how I think it can be solved. Nothing can be done without conservation, let the conversation be done and we work aggressively to fix it.”
From the DCB level, Singh said the Executive Committee would have to assess the resources they have at the moment to know what plans they can implement.
“We have to see what is the infrastructure in place and what is the financial resources and we will sit with the board and put our committees together.”
“Once I get to meet with everybody, we [will] have a programme that is not isolated in Demerara alone, it is waste of time, it has to be a national project and we will share it with Minister [Charles Ramson Jr.] and see if we can get his help to move forward with Guyana’s cricket.”
