Essequibo Cricket Board lacking in transparency and leadership

It has come as no surprise, the manner in which the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) is being managed. To date, the Board cannot produce its audited financial statements and minutes of the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) which was purported to have been held to elect the current executive members. I am aware that the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) would have requested such vital information at its last Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) held recently. However, the ECB has failed to produce same despite adequate notice being given.

This is indeed of grave concern to the stakeholders (Area Committees). In fact, the committees are rarely consulted and are being starved for key information that should have been disseminated. I am also extremely disappointed in the management of affairs, particularly during the last five years. The ECB received financial and other resources including subventions from the former GCB, yet there is nothing to exert any degree of confidence in its management. Cricket competitions and coaching were non-existent during the past five years while statutory meetings were only kept as a mere gathering of members. Nothing of worth was developed, and ironically, the Hostel has deteriorated. This facility was left in its present state for over three years including the indoor practice facility which was never completed for use. This is the level of leadership that is being offered to our budding cricketers. I am therefore of the firm view that the ECB should be held accountable for the resources that were disbursed to the Board and it must deliver by honouring the request by the GCB in a timely manner as a matter of due process. In fact, I am aware that the GCB will be conducting a forensic audit with the findings to be made public.

The Board has been dysfunctional, yet a few executives were more interested in what was taking place in some area committees when those elections were democratically held. I will single out the Pomeroon Cricket Committee which did not have an AGM for the past six years. Some executives of the ECB including the acting President and Secretary seem to have had other motives in their not recognising the results. The new executives of the Committee however, have stood their ground against what seemed to have been an assault on their intelligence. I am happy that democracy has prevailed and that the Committee is now on the path to revive and develop cricket in the Pomeroon. The same too is required at the ECB, including greater transparency, accountability, and leadership. I doubt though that this can be achieved by the current administration.