….Min Ramson says GCB will not be recognised until it complies with the Cricket Administration Act
The Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has banned the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and its members from utilising the Guyana National Stadium with immediate effect over an alleged breach of the Cricket Administration Act, and the dissemination of disinformation.
The Sports Ministry issued the ban on Thursday. In a statement posted on its Facebook page, Charles Ramson Jr.-led Ministry said the decision was taken as a result of disinformation being peddled by the GCB concerning the state of the pitch at the Stadium, located at Providence on the East Bank of Demerara.
“As a consequence of a failed attempt to denigrate the Guyana National Stadium and to maliciously incite public disquiet by an illegitimate body purporting to call itself the “Guyana Cricket Board” by causing to be published images of the ground which have proven to be false, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports has taken a decision to prohibit entry of the members of the illegitimate body to the Guyana National Stadium ground with immediate effect until there is full compliance with the restored Cricket Administration Act,” the Ministry said in the statement.
In September, 2020, the Court of Appeal dismissed an order, which had suspended sections of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act, paving the way for the Act to be fully enforced. It was officially restored in October, 2020.
But with the restoration of the Act, the Sports Minister has accused the Cricket Board of being an illegitimate body.
“While the Ministry has been engaging with and assisting many sports associations, clubs, community centres, and sportsmen and sportswomen over the last five (5) months, the Ministry has disengaged with the body which purports to call itself the “Guyana Cricket Board” since the restoration of the Act and will have no further engagement with this body until there is full compliance with the Act,” the Ministry said in a statement issued recently.
However, the Cricket Board, in a statement on Wednesday, accused the Minister of political interference. It reminded both the Government and the public that though the order was dismissed, the substantive matter remains active.
“It must be recognised that the GCB’s challenge to the Cricket Administration Act remains to be heard. The GCB vehemently believes that once the same challenge is heard, the GCB presented arguments will be unabatedly upheld,” the Cricket Board said, while brushing aside claims that it is an illegitimate body.
However, while GCB is being prohibited from entering the Stadium, the Sports Ministry said it is mindful of the careers of the players, particularly those scheduled to participate in the Super50 Regional Tournament, and as such, will permit access to the Guyana National Stadium to players and coaches only.
It also signaled its intention to engage the President of Cricket West Indies (CWI), Ricky Skerritt on the recent developments here in Guyana.
