Political interference in Guyana's cricket deepens

Political interference in the administration of cricket seems likely to worsen in Guyana following revelations made in that county yesterday. Minister of Labour Mansoor Nadir has said openly at a press conference in the capital of Guyana that he will determine when the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) General Elections will be held. The Minister made it clear that he had the power to do as he pleases and if he did not get his way the Government of Guyana would grant no concessions whatsoever to cricket. Legal sources in the South American State however said that Minister Nadir is sadly mistaken as to his statutory powers. One source said "he has no idea of the contents of the Friendly Societies Act and has no idea of what powers he could and could not exercise". The source continued that "the Minister's continued efforts to direct the Registrar of Friendly Societies of what to do and how to stall the GCB elections is unlawful and and an abuse of political power". 

Attorney-at-Law Anil Nandlall who is behind the political interference has been making every effort to make sure that the Mr. Bissoondyal gets control of the GCB. Nandlall has promised that under the next government he will certainly be the Attorney General and will make sure that Bissoondyal has full control of the GCB. It is principally for this reason that he is instructing Minister Nadir to do everything to delay the GCB general elections. One commentator said that Nandlall needs to support Bissoondyal because he needs to remain relevant on the East Coast politically and needs Bissoondyal to achieve that or he will not have the necessary political interference he needs for the next National Elections in Guyana.

However, one source at the International Cricket Council (ICC) who wished to remain unnamed said that Guyana risks being isolated from the international cricket community if the reports of political interference in the country proves true. It is well known that the ICC will not tolerate political interference in cricket administration.

Sarwan Involved with Corrupt Individuals and Political Graft

The match fixing saga involving Ramnaresh Sarwan has revealed the player's association in a series of corrupt practices and political cronyism in Guyana. Over the past two days the Cricket Crusader has received hundreds of unsolicited emails detailing Sarwan's involvement and association with corrupt individuals and practices. Only allegations which have been independently confirmed will be published.

In the first instance, the embattled Mr. Bissoondyal who leads the Bissoondyal faction of the Demerara Cricket Board was the proprietor of the Texaco Gas Station at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara but has been forced to relinquish the franchise because he had embezzled in excess of $10M of fuel and petroleum products which were supplied to him at the station. He later used his political influence to have the matter kept quiet and is alleged to have bribed a key witness to disappear and not provide information against him. Last night it was revealed that Sarwan is now closely aligned to Bissoondyal and supports the latter's campaign to be President of the Guyana Cricket Board. In emails seen by the Cricket Crusader between Sarwan and Dinanath Ramnarine, the President of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA); it is clear the Ramnarine encouraged Sarwan to speak to Ministers of Government and other key officials to assist the Bissoondyal campaign so that WIPA would have control of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). It is well known in cricketing circles in Guyana that WIPA is supporting Bissoondyal after extracting a promise from Bissoondyal to have the legal proceedings instituted by the current GCB discontinued. WIPA sees control of the Guyana Cricket Board as crucial to its plans to influence cricket and improve its finances.

Sarwan's close association with Bissoondyal is recent, as little as a year ago Sarwan's father had instructed solicitors to take legal proceedings against Bissoondyal and his brother who owed the elder Sarwan in excess of $10M and was refusing to pay. Bissoondyal and his brother are indebted to various friends and moneylenders for millions of dollars and is seeking control of the GCB so as to use his position to to improve his financial position and that of his brother. However, Sarwan now supports Bissoondyal because of the instructions he is acting upon from WIPA.

Sarwan's well known close friendship with junior Minister Irfa Ali has been revealed to be one of political corruption. Sarwan has benefited from the relationship by being awarded several acres of land in the upscale Providence  area to allegedly construct a mall. It has been discovered that Sarwan is but a front for the construction of the mall complex with Minister Ali and Minister of Labour Mansoor Nadir being substantial shareholders in project. However, it appears that the owner of the Windies Bar in Scarborough, Toronto; who has been named with Sarwan in the match-fixing allegations is the principal source of finance for the mall project.

Additionally, junior Minister Ali and Sarwan have prevailed upon Minister Nadir to have the Investigator (Mr. Foster) appointed to audit the Guyana Cricket Board corporate and financial documents re-write his report to fabricate the existence of irregularities. The report which has been completed for weeks reveals no irregularities with the financial or corporate documents of the GCB. However, Minister Nadir wants to have irregularities inserted so as to discredit the Chetram Singh Administration and enhance the Bissoondyal campaign. This is despite the existence of an injunction against the Bissoondyal led Demerara Cricket Board from acting in any manner as administrators of Demerara Cricket. The GCB General Elections which were due in January is still to be held because of the direct interference of Mansoor Nadir in withholding permission for the elections to be held. The GCB as a registered Friendly Society requires permission from the Minister to be held; a process which is usually a matter of formality.

Sarwan's match fixing allegations although being widely circulated in cricketing circles has not been denied by the player. Any denial would mean that he would have to hope that Team Manager Richie Richardson "develops amnesia" about the meeting he was required to attend with Sarwan at the invitation of the Anti-Corruption Unit of the International Cricket Council (ICC). However, WIPA appears set to blindly deny the match-fixing allegations against Sarwan because of his influence in Guyana and the key role he is playing in WIPA's activities in Guyana.

more will follow on emails received.

Sarwan under investigation by the ICC in match fixing allegations

West Indies batsman and former captain, Ramnaresh Sarwan, has been accused by the Anti-Corruption Unit (ACU) of the International Cricket Council of being engaged in match fixing. A source close to Sarwan has confirmed that the ACU informed Sarwan of their investigation immediately after the recent West Indies vs England World Cup match.

In cricketing circles for years Sarwan's relationship with a Guyanese businessman who owns a night club and bar in Scarborough, Ontario has been reason for suspicion. The owner of the night club is frequently seen with Sarwan and is known to travel with Sarwan on cricket tours. Sarwan often boasts that he owns the night club; but sources close to the businessman have often said that Sarwan never contributed any monies to the establishment of the night club known as "Windies"; but receives a share of the profits every month. Many persons in cricketing circles have often suspected the so called profits may have been derived from sources other than the night club.

As news of the investigation into the Sarwan spread in cricketing circles former and present West Indies players have expressed disgust and disappointment that Sarwan would undermine his team and jeopardize his own cricket career in such a reprehensible manner.

It appears that the investigation into the corrupt activities came to light during the recent 2011 World Cup in India/ Sri Lanka/ Bangladesh when suspicious activities and phone calls were observed and recorded from taps placed on Sarwan's phone.

It is unclear at this time whether the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) has been officially informed of the investigations; with one knowledge source saying in the the investigations which led to Marlon Samuels being banned, the WICB was informed of the investigations at the same time that the player was initially informed.

This investigation comes at a time when Sarwan who was dropped from the West Indies Team for its tour of Sri Lanka in 2010/ 2011 had only just earned a recall to the West Indies Team.

Ramnarine damands larger share of Champions League money and threatens to strike if not satisfied

In an exact repeat of circumstances and events that took place in Guyana in August/ September 2010 following Guyana's qualification for the Airtel Champions' League; the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) is demanding more money for itself and members from Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) or it will refuse to permit the Trinidad and Tobago cricketers to sign participation contracts for the tournament. The Guyana Cricket Board was forced to obtain an injunction granted by Chief Justice Ian Chang to restrain WIPA's interference last year. TTCB members have privately expressed the view that it may be necessary for them to do the same to protect themselves.

Sources here in Trinidad have confirmed that at the core of the dispute between the TTCB and WIPA is the payment and share allocation of the prize monies and participation fee to the TTCB by the Airtel Champions League. Dinanath Ramnarine, the Chief Executive of WIPA has claimed that his sister company West Indies Players Management Company Limited (WIPMACOL) owns the image and playing rights of the Trinidad cricketers to the exclusion of the players themselves and even if the players agree to play they cannot play without his consent. Of course, WIPA and WIPMACOL's interest in the amount paid to the players is because the two companies extract 5% and 15% respectively from each player as fees. It was common knowledge that when Guyana had qualified for the Airtel Champions League 2010 WIPMACOL's Secretary was seeking to actively negotiate a sponsorship deal for the Guyana Cricket Team, with the sponsor being Venky's (an Indian fast food brand). However, it was a deal in which WIPMACOL was seeking in excess of  US$100,000 as a agency fee with the Guyana Cricket Board being paid less than US$100,000 as sponsorship fees.

Ramnarine when contacted via telephone last night would not elaborate on the full nature of the dispute between WIPA and TTCB but said "the players have a right to a bigger share of the money; its them who playing not the Board". When asked if it was not unfair for the TTCB to pay the 15 players such high fees when cricket development in Trinidad and Tobago amongst the younger cricketers and other development projects which would benefit a much wider cross section of cricketers; Ramnarine replied "its not the other cricketers that playing; its this 15 and they should be the ones to reap the rewards". Ramnarine's comments have drawn hostile criticism from some quarters in Trinidad cricket who has said that "this policy of paying some of the players exorbitant fees when the development of youngsters is sacrificed must stop".

It must be noted as was expressed by the Chief Justice of Guyana when dealing a similar situation in Guyana last year said that he found it strange that the entire cricketing world had agreed with the Airtel Champions League the allocation of prize and participation money but it was only that players in the West Indies were the only ones demanding more money. Indeed the Airtel Champions League participation contracts provide for the distribution of prize monies with 50% going to the players and 50% to the team Board; and the participation fee to be paid to the Board from which the team originates. This  is accepted by every other team and Board participating in the Airtel Champions League it is only here in the West Indies that Ramnarine seeks to incite players that they should be paid more and demand a bigger share of the monies on offer.

One cricket enthusiast commented that such greed by the cricketers in the Region must come to an end; having recently tumbled out of the 2011 World Cup and not winning against top teams; its time for more money to be distributed in cricket development in the region and the West Indian players should now be paid based on performance. Many in the Region feel that it is Ramnarine's influence of greed that has led the cricketers in the Region to keep demanding more money for everything. Ramnarine is well known for refusing to accept performance based pay for his members preferring to take as much as he can whether they perform or not; and as history has shown that more often than not they have failed to perform.

It is understood that the TTCB has already consulted its legal advisers and are in the process of contacting Sanjay Datadin and Sir Fenton Ramsahoye (the lawyers employed by the Guyana Cricket Board to obtain the injunction against WIPA last year) to represent the TTCB in this matter. 

Ramnarine said he is unafraid of Court proceedings as he has ways of dealing with that and his lawyers were ready. In relation to the Guyana Court matter Ramnarine said that he had the Guyana Court matter under control as his chosen candidate in the Guyana Cricket Board elections Mr. Bissoondyal had assured him that once he is elected he will "instruct that the Court matter be withdrawn against WIPA and WIPMACOL".

Players angry that management of WIPA and WIPMACOL shrouded in secrecy

The legality of the West Indies Players' Association (WIPA) and the West Indies Player Management Company Limited (WIPMACOL) have been questioned by regional cricketers. It has been confirmed that players who play regional cricket for the Windward Islands Cricket Team, The Leeward Islands Cricket Team and the Combined Campuses Cricket Team have questioned the legality of WIPA and WIPMACOL. WIPA is the players' union, while WIPMACOL is an offshore company incorporated in St. Lucia and functions as a sports management entity and owns the image and playing rights of all of WIPA's members.

This players question how the office bearers are elected to WIPA saying that elections are held "in secret"; and that members of WIPA who WIPA CEO Dinanath Ramnarine consider to be unsuitable are not even told of the elections; and no one is permitted to nominate any other person. Additionally, it has been questioned who are the true office bearers of WIPA and how is it that the Chief Executive Officer is elected or appointed. The players are complaining because it it apparent that Ramnarine is supported only by some members of WIPA and has ignored the hardships facing the full membership in favour of attending to the needs of a few players who he see as "cash cows". West Indies middle order batsman Ramnaresh Sarwan who is an executive member has denied that WIPA has corporate sponsors; and said if that is true he would not agree with that. Speaking from the West Indies Team hotel in India Sarwan said that he was not sure about the day to day running of WIPA since that was "Ramnarine's business". He however admitted that WIPA and WIPMACOL are both managed and run by Ramnarine. 

The issue of the management and control of WIPA and WIPMACOL arose in arbitration proceedings between WIPA and WIPMACOL before the agreed arbitrator the Honourable Justice Michael De La Bastide, the current President of the Caribbean Court of Justice where he questioned who were the principals behind the two organisations and was informed by Ramnarine that they were independent organisations. When De La Bastide asked for the registered officers of the two organisations he learnt that Ramnarine was a key office holder in both; but a mere two weeks later Ramnarine produced documents to show the the office bearers were completely different. The arbitrator questioned how it was that Ramnarine could contend that the two organisations were independent of his control when in two weeks he had reshuffled the Board of Directors of BOTH organisations. The arbitration continues.

However, of real concern to the regional cricketers who wish not to be named, the issue of how Ramnarine is elected and the transparency of the electoral process is being questioned. WIPA has never made public or disclosed the date and voting details at any elections; instead the results are announced from time to time and accepted because none of the players really appreciate what is going on at WIPA. Ramnarine is the self appointed CEO of WIPA and has incorporated the entity in Trinidad and Tobago but has refused to register WIPA in any of the other territories of the West Indies because regulatory control in other countries would require details which he is unwilling to make public. One legal expert said it was for the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the individual regional Boards to insist on compliance with the local law in each territory. "It is patently unfair for any public body to function in such secrecy and such a haphazard manner" he said. The lawyer continued; that "since WIPA was holding itself out as a representative of the West Indian players the WICB should demand the details of all elections held since it is the WICB that pays players and not WIPA they would be entitled to inquire into the entity claiming to be a representative of the players. Additionally, a lawyer in Guyana attached tot he Attorney General's department who wished not to be named said that "the laws of Guyana specifically provide for the furnishing of details of management and elections by every union and even further the deduction of union dues from the salaries of workers is not permitted in Guyana. He went on to say if WICB was deducting the union fees due to WIPA from Guyanese players that would be "contrary to Guyana law".

When asked for a comment via email Ramnarine refused to answer any questions about the corporate structure or management of WIPA or WIPMACOL. He said "that is my business and the business of the West Indian players; not the public". When telephoned and confronted with the assertion that WIPA was a public body and therefore amenable to the laws which apply to every public body Ramnarine said he was "not going to answer anything over the phone". 

Regional players are unhappy that WIPA makes deals with sponsors which do not benefit them and they are unable to make any arrangements with sponsors independently because Ramnarine has threatened to sue any player who attempts that; always asserting that he owns their image and sporting rights.

Guyana Cricket Board Official Locked-Up for Drunken Disorderly Behaviour

Mr. Bissoondyal Singh, leader of one faction of the Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) confirmed today that the vice-president of his faction Mr. Prettipaul Jaigobin was locked up since Friday night for driving drunk and behaving in a manner such as to be a public nuisance. 

Confirmed reports reaching the Cricket Crusader indicate that on Friday night Jaigobin was driving on the wrong side of the road in Railway Embankment Road in the vicinity of Ogle, East Coast Demerara when President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo was traveling in the other direction. Reports are that Jaigobin refused to heed the sirens of President Jagdeo's outriders and was driving on the wrong side of the road approaching the President's vehicles. When he was forcibly stopped by the President's Security Personnel he was found to behind the driving wheel drunk and had soiled himself. When the President's security personnel removed him from his vehicle Jaigobin was heard saying loudly that he is the President's "buddy friend" and that Minister of Finance Ashni Singh depended upon his expertise to make decisions; "Ashni Singh cannot make a decision without consulting me" he reportedly said. Jaigobin was slurring his speech and was unable to stand properly but the President's Security Personnel were reluctant to touch him because he had shat himself and was urinating himself as he was standing next to his vehicle. He was so intoxicated he had lost control of his bodily functions.

One onlooker to the entire incident said "da man nasty, and he so drunk he coulda kill somebody pun this road here tonight". The onlooker who has a small stall by the roadside said this is not the first time he saw Jaigobin is a drunken state driving along the Railway Embankment Road; "he does do this regula; this is he style ... he does stop by the shop right deh [points to a local rum shop] and drink steady". The onlooker said on many occasions Jaigobin would come to the nearby shop already drunk but would still go inside and drink even more.

Jaigobin in addition to being the Vice-President of the Bissoondyal faction of the Demerara Cricket Board is also the Assistant Treasurer of the Guyana Cricket Board and a senior functionary at the Ministry of Finance. He was assaulted several months ago with acid in the East Coast Demerara region but was too drunk at that time identify his assailants. It has long been rumoured that his acid-assault was as a result of his offensive drunken behaviour towards females in the liquor establishments which he would usually patronise along the East Coast.

Bissoondyal directs the Chairman of Selectors to pick "his" Guyana Team

Sources in Guyana confirmed that embattled cricket administrator Bissoondyal Singh boasted yesterday at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) pavilion that he was going to "ensure a Guyana [Cricket] Team of his choice would be selected". His comments were made to all and sundry at the GCC pavilion bar where he was lamenting the lack of talent of GCC and Guyana player Vishal Singh. Bissoondyal said "Vishal doesn't deserve a place in the Guyana team" he continued "you see how he 'throw away' against the short ball today? He can't bat!". Bissoondyal was making reference to Vishal Singh's hurried evasive action taken to fend off a short pitched ball from Esau Crandon in the Guyana Cricket Team trials at the GGC  cricket ground Bourda. One onlooker who was there confirmed that Vishal Singh's evasive fending off resulted in him popping the ball up to be out caught and bowled. A club member in attendance confirmed that Bissoondyal was saying that now that he had control of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) with Roger Harper's recent re-election as President of the GCA he was going to make sure that GCC and Demerara Cricket Club players were not on the Guyana Team. One observer noted that both of those clubs voted to support Roger Harper's adversary at the recent GCA elections.

A person who was present at the GCC pavilion confirmed that Bissoondyal was boasting that he was going to "have to tell [Claude} Raphael [Chairman of Selectors] what to do". Bissoondyal made it clear that Rafael was going to have to listen to his his opinion if he wasted to remain Chairman of Selectors of the Guyana Cricket Team. Bissoondyal said further that at the moment Raphael was on a "long leash" but that would soon change. "Picking teams is about picking who you want .... nothing else" Bissoondyal stated and he said it was time that those who supported his election campaign get some benefits. 

When contacted this morning Bissoondyal said he was "simply stating his opinion on a cricketer"; he was not judging the club from which the player came. When asked further if he was going to dictate team selection he said he had "no comment" at this time but if questions were submitted to him in writing he would respond. Bissoondyal did however mention that as the leader of one faction of the Demerara Cricket Board he though he was entitled to say who he thought should play for Guyana. He said Raphael was unfortunately "influenced by race" on occasion and "nobody complained about that; so he didn't see why if he wanted to select players from clubs that support him that should be a problem". He said he had no difficulty on being quoted on his statements "once you report exactly" what was said.

On a separate issue, unconfirmed reports from Guyana indicate that former Test Cricketer and coach Roger Harper has been sued in the Guyana Courts for libelous statements made against several persons involved in cricket. More to follow on that story as details unfold.

Roger Harper can only win GCA elections with deciet and trickery

On the eve of the Georgetown Cricket Association elections former national cricketer Neil Barry has said that incumbent President "[Roger] Harper should see the writing on the wall and he could only defeat [Alfred] Mentore by deceit and trickery".

The long awaited Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) Annual General Meeting is set to finally take place this afternoon amidst fears of underhanded and illegal dealings on the part of Roger Harper. The Annual General Meeting at which the election of office bearers for the upcoming year takes place was originally set for the 26th January 2011; but when it was clear that the incumbent President Roger Harper was not going to be re-elected he contrived a frivolous and self-created reason to have the elections postponed. One former Test captain said he was "disappointed that Roger would be party to such dishonesty and deceit for the sake of a cricket office". However the apparent dishonesty and deception of Roger Harper is now in high gear with former administrators of now defunct cricket clubs; being the GUYSTACK Trade II and the Guyana National Service both saying that they have been approached by Harper to "pretend to be in existence for the sole purpose of voting at the AGM today". 

The accusations of dishonesty and deceit against Harper, a former Test cricketer and coach, is not new. Allegations abound during his tenure of office of financial impropriety; indeed most of it involved GCA Board members and not Harper. However, one former National Cricketer who is on Harper's current GCA Board said "it doesn't matter whether Harper is the one accused of financial swindling, what is important is that as the President of GCA he must be aware of it and is doing nothing to stop it". These allegations are being made against Harper at a time when television stations in Guyana broadcast the Executive Committee Meeting of the Demerara Cricket Board, of which Harper is a member, which displayed Harper's unruly, uncouth and obstinate behaviour. Since the broadcasts have begun Harper and his associate, the embattled Bisoondyal Singh, have been the laughing stock of the cricket fraternity.

However, a former Guyana and West Indies cricket captain who is familiar with Harper said he hoped that Harper would not stoop to such levels to keep a cricket administrator job; he added that he was disappointed that "Roger would be involved in such underhand practices as trying to inflate the list of clubs eligible to vote by improperly including defunct and phantom clubs to get votes against legitimate club who are entitled to have a full say in cricket administration in Georgetown". 

When contacted yesterday Bissoondyal Singh in a invited comment said that he was sure Harper would win since "it was simple mathematics having regard to the number of clubs voting". Bissoondyal went on to say there were no defunct clubs registered but admitted that some of the clubs now registered for the elections today had not played cricket for years and in fact did not have active cricket teams or administrators; "but they could come and vote now that we have re-registered them" so there should be no objection to them.

Bissoondyal labels Minister of Agriculture an ignorant, self-promoting, egomaniac

Mr. Bissoondyal Singh has branded Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud an "ignorant, self-promoting egomaniac" amidst reports that Minister Persaud has refused to publicly support the Bissoondyal led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board. Bissoondyal was speaking yesterday in response to questions posed to him about junior Minister Irfan Ali being guilty of misusing public office in promoting his campaign for the Presidency of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB). When confronted about reports in Guyana that indicate that Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud has expressed support for the Raj Singh faction of the Demerara Cricket Board in light of local television stations broadcasting a recording of the Executive Committee meeting held on 17th January 2011; Bissoondyal dismissed suggestions that Minister Persaud's opinion had any value in cricket circles. Sources have confirmed a lunch meeting at a Brazilian restaurant at Alexander and Charlotte Streets, Georgetown between Minister Persaud and a representative of the Raj Singh faction was arranged by Mr. Sanjeev Datadin, one time Attorney at Law for the Raj Singh faction. Efforts to contact both Datadin and Minister Persaud were unsuccessful; as they are both out of the county at the moment.

Sources have confirmed that the airing of a full tape of the meeting of the Demerara Cricket Board Executive has made public the arrogant, destructive, selfishness of Bissoondyal. On more than one occasion he demonstrated a wholly irrational and unreasonable demeanor when faced with the views of the majority of the Demerara Cricket Board Executive. Bissoondyal conveniently labeled every document produced at the Executive Committee meeting as "forgeries and fakes"whenever they contradicted what he was saying. he then arbitrarily and without stating any logical or lawful reason tried to remove Mr. Rovin Stanley from the Executive because he does not apparently live in Demerara. High ranking political sources have said that "such and embarrassing display in an election year is not what politicians want". Another political source close to the Government confirmed that "there was political support for Roachie [Bissoondyal is called Roachie] because he and his lawyer mislead the politicians that he was the only candidate likely to defeat Bish Panday at the GCB elections". Mr. Bish Panday is a contender for the post of President of the GCB; and is reported to have strong affiliations to the opposition Alliance for Change party. The source confirmed that if the politicians in the ruling party knew Bissoondyal was such a "disaster of a person" they would never have flexed their muscles on his behalf, and is Irfan [junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali] who really mislead the [ruling] party".

Bissoondyal said this afternoon "I don't care about Robert [Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud], he is [President] Jagdeo's errand boy; ... he is too stupid and corrupt for anybody to pay attention to him". Bissoondyal continued "I don't care what he says or does ... I have [junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali] Irfan behind me and Jagdeo will listen to him not Robert".

Players claim WIPA and WIPMACOL deceived them into sigining away their image rights

Senior members of the Guyana Cricket Team have expressed their disappointment and anger upon being made aware of the "true" contents of the contracts they have signed with the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and with the West Indies Players Management Company (WIPMACOL). The Senior Team members who wish to remain anonymous said they learnt of the true contents shortly before their departure for St. Vincent and never realised that WIPA and WIPMACOL own their image rights solely. "I cyan imagine that Ramanrine would mek we sign a document taking away our image rights for himself" one player said. He said that he was never given a copy of anything he signed and he "signed during the lunch break while on tour with the Guyana Cricket Team last year". "Nobody explained anything to we; the captain said we signing up to join WIPA, I never hear 'bout WIPMACOL" another player said. His colleague said that "Ramnarine lie to us; he tek away our image rights and he ain't even put in the contract how much he gon pay us".

The players said they only learnt of the true contents of the contract when a "small gears sponsor" said he could not afford to pay Ramnarine the fees he was demanding for the use of their image rights. We were only getting gears which we need and he was demanding money payment from the sponsor to use our image rights. When we heard this we consulted a lawyer in Guyana who obtained copies of the contracts from the Court files and explained what was going on to us.

The Guyana Cricket Board throught their lawyer Sanjeev Datadin last year sued Dinanath Ramnarine (the Chief Executive of WIPA), WIPA and WIPMACOL and obtained injunctions against all of them just before the Guyana Cricket Team left for South Africa to play in the Airtel Champions League. The contracts were reportedly exhibited in those Court proceedings. 

The WIPA contracts state clearly that the players assign their image rights for a period of 15 years (with a renewal exercisable by WIPA option for a further 10 years) and will be paid "a fee to be agreed" for their image rights; the WIPMACOL contract is similar. Senior Counsel in Jamaica said "this would mean that even the player cannot enter into a contract to play cricket anywhere in the world as he is not the owner of his own image rights. WIPA and WIPMACOL own the players' rights solely, to the exclusion of the player himself". Another lawyer in Barbados who wished not to be named said "I am suprised that the West Indies Cricket Board has not intervened on the players' behalf". He said such a contract was opressive and the players were being taken advantage of because of thieir innocence and lack of formal education.

Another Guyanese Cricketer who wished to remain nameless said the "Sars tell us to sign everything; its only for membership to WIPA he said, I would not have signed otherwise.

The contracts also revealed that seasoned and experienced cricketers such as Darren Ganga, Dwyane Bravo, Ramnaresh Sarwan and Wavel Hinds were the principal officers of WIPMACOL and were the ones who signed the contracts on behalf of WIPMACOL. WIPMACOL is the business arm of WIPA and its shareholders are secret. The Minister of Sports in Guyana, Frank Anthony said that it appears that the senior players were influencing the younger players "to sign up" when they were the ones who were benefitting financially from the deal.

When asked the embattled Bissoondyal Singh of the Guyana Cricket Board said he saw "nothing wrong with WIPA owning the players' rights; they signed a contract and if they not sensible enough to read what they are signing then its their fault. Nobody force them to sign anything". But the Guyanese players disputed this saying that there was enormous pressure from Ramnarine and Sarwan (their captain) for them to sign the documents. They said it is apparent that anyone who does not obey Sarwan on such matters do not find their way into the final eleven regardless of how well they perform in trials. This they said was the case with Assad Fudadin and Richard Ramdeen; neither player could be reached for comment. However, the Chairman of Selectors Claude Rafael said he did not think that "such onerous and deceitful" contracts ought to be allowed. "This is Sarwan and dem teking advantage on dem youngeters" he said. He said he hoped it would not continue.

Guyana High Court issues injunction against entire Bissoondyal led faction of DCB

The High Court in Guyana granted an injunction against each and every member of the Bissoondyal led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board on the 8th February 2011 restraining them from holding themselves out or in any way performing the functions of the Demerara Cricket Board. Reports from Guyana indicate that Justice James Bovel-Drakes granted the injunction which will now continue until the 28th day of February 2011. The injunction was sought by the Secretary of the Raj Singh led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board. Legal experts in Guyana have said that as a result of the injunction the Raj Sing led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board in now the only entity lawfully entitled to administer cricket in Demerara. 

The ruling came despite reports in Guyana that Minister of Labour Mansoor Nadir had rushed through and registered as a Friendly Society the Bissoondyal faction of the Demerara Cricket Board. Senior Counsel in Guyana who did not wish to be named said that that would mean that the Bissoondyal faction is now outside the control of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) since the GCB is a registered Friendly Society with its affiliates all being unincorporated entities.Additionally, the newly registered Bissoondyal faction of the Demerara Cricket Board does not include in its membership the East bank Cricket Association and the West Demerara Cricket Association which would mean that if the Bissoondyal faction's registration is proper and allowed to represent Demerara Cricket then two divisions have no affiliation to the Guyana Cricket Board; plunging all the club players in the excluded clubs into non-selection for the Guyana Cricket Team. In cricket circles it is being said that the folly of Bissoondyal and his polotical gang have been exposed as they have now apparently "out-smarted" thenselves, to use popular Guyanese parlance.

Additionally, Bissoondyal boasted last night that his political backers will force the High Court judge to rule in his favour when the matter comes up for hearing. He boasted that "we will have to tell the judge what to do"; however, the same Senior Counsel in Guyana said he doubted this judge in particular could be subject to external influence in matters before him.

Dinanath Ramnarine, the Chief Executive of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) last night in an invited comment said that "its unfortunate that the backward judicial system of Guyana is the forum for all this litigation [there was an injunction granted against WIPA by the Chief Justice of Guyana]; the judges there are not capable of understanding the issues at hand. These matters should be heard in Trinidad". Ramnarine said he had spoken to Roachie [Bissoondyal is called "Roachie" by his friends] and he was confident that the proper Board would soon be administering Demerara cricket. Ramnarine said he is unlikely to visit Guyana in the near future unless a meeting with Bissoondyal or the politicians is necessary. "Boy, I am in contact with Roachie and Irfan [junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali] all the time by telephone, I don't need to go there ... yes?" Ramnarine said with a smile. "Don't worry; we have things under control" he said.

The Court matter continues on 28th February 2011.

WIPA decieves Guyana Players about payment to FICA

Several players in the Guyana Cricket Team that participated in the Airtel Champions League 2010 (Champions League) in South Africa are angry that they were misled by Dinanath Ramnarine, the Chief Executive of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) and their captain Ramnaresh Sarwan into giving 5% of their match fees to the Federation of International Cricket Associations (FICA). Payments to the players from the Champions League is understood to be imminent and it is only now that the payers realise that they are obliged to pay FICA 5% of their match fees a figure which is approximately US$ 2000 or G$400,000 (four hundred thousand Guyana dollars). One player who did not want to be named said that Ramnarine and Sarwan both made them all tick a box indicating "yes" to the contribution on their contracts; in fact Sarwan checked each contract to see that each person had ticked "yes". It is only now the player understands that it will cost him so much money.

Another player who also wanted to be nameless said that "we are young players now making our way and we need every cent to support our career and our families" he further said it was unfair that players like Sarwan who is financially well off would mislead his players into "giving away" their hard earned money to an organisation of which they knew nothing and who had no attachment or involvement with them.

On source in WIPA confirmed that FICA is the 'umbrella' body of all the players' associations worldwide and WIPA relied upon FICA for advice and support when they are fighting the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and as such to keep FICA support they assisted FICA with funding. The source further said none of that money was going to WIPA; WIPA player fees are separate and distinct. A source in the WICB also said that the players would not only have to pay WIPA but they would also "have to pay a licence fee to West Indies Player Management Company Limited (WIPMACOL) which is in effect Ramnarine's business arm of WIPA".

Three Guyanese players confirmed that Ramnarine had made contact with them about fee payments which have to be made to WIPA and WIPMACOL but he did not specify to them the amounts that had to be paid. The players are afraid of disclosing their identity because of the likelihood that Sarwan and Claude Rafael (GUyana's Chairman of Selectors) who are both close to Ramnarine could hinder their cricket career. The three players confirmed that two other players had already sought legal advice on the payment of the 5% to FICA with a view to reversing their choice made earlier and they were now thinking of doing the same.

Ramnarine refused to answer any questions about the deduction of fees from the Guyanese Players saying whatever they signed on the the contract is what they have to pay. However, the Guyanese Players contention that they were mislead and cajoled into giving the fee to FICA has caused much anxiety in legal circles in the West Indies; causing a leading Senior Counsel in Jamaica to say that it appears the WIPA is now functioning in a style and fashion more commonly seen in organised crime where a "monopoly is obtained by threats, fear and deceit"; such organisational practices would be a "most ominous sign for West Indies Cricket".

WIPA behind cricket dispute in Guyana

The ongoing dispute over the control and administration of Guyana's cricket took a new twist when sources confirmed that Dinanath Ramnarine, the Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Players Association (WIPA) was actively behind the Bissoondyal faction of the Demerara Cricket Board. Sources in Trinidad confirmed that Ramnarine boasted about having the politicians in Guyana "eating out of his hands". He said his plan to remove the current Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was hatched since the GCB obtained an injunction last year in August/ September restraining WIPA from representing the Guyana Players. Ramnarine said at that time he discussed with "his soldier" Ramnaresh Sarwan, the Guyana Test Cricketer, the plan to remove the current Board of the GCB and have the legal proceedings already filed against him withdrawn by that new Board installed by him. Bissoondyal was the identified candidate because in the words of Ramnarine "I could control him easily and he will listen to Sars". Additionally, Ramnarine further said that he has arranged with Sars to have junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali campaign for his chosen candidate. He further said his level of influence extended to President Bharrat Jagdeo who he claims "consults him on all cricketing matters". Ramnarine said "I could pick up the phone now and tell Jagdeo what to do about cricket."

Ramnarine boasts were made at a time when rumors abound in cricketing circles in Guyana that he is trying to put persons favourable to him on the GCB and to remove persons who are against WIPA. Political interference is alleged in the Guyana media; a situation which could get Guyana banned from international cricket.

A source in the Guyana Cricket Team confirmed that Ramnarine had indeed said he would bring down the GCB and take over Guyana cricket. When asked Ramnarine flippantly said that he had removed "CEO's and Presidents of the WICB [West Indies Cricket Board]; how hard would it be to remove Guyana Cricket officials?". The Trinidadian source also confirmed that Ramnarine was very derogatory of Guyanese generally labelling them and "backwards and primitive" and President Jagdeo as a man who "did not grasp what was fully at stake with Guyana Cricket ... he just does not have the intellect to appreciate what is at stake; I had to show him whats the real value in cricket". This is not the first time Ramnarine is on record as being derogatory to Guyanese, the local media had carried verbatim statements from Ramnarine during the Caribbean Twenty/ 20 last year where he referred to Guyanese cricketers as "hungry-belly" and "stupid"; when they signed the participation contracts for the Airtel Champions League 2010.

Ramnarine had made similar boasts when he removed persons unfavourable to him from the Trinidad Cricket Board and installed a Board favourable to himself at the last elections in Trinidad.

Bissoondyal: "I have money so I control dem black people on my Board"

Mr. Bissoondyal Singh, leader of the Bissoondyal led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board, speaking in the company of friends and his lawyer at a Sleep In hotel in Georgetown on Friday night boasted that no member of his faction of the Demerara Cricket Board was free to vote at the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board elections in an independent manner. "I tell them who to vote for" he said. He further went on to say that he had made promises to the politicians to deliver the Board to them to be used as a tool in the upcoming election campaign and as such he had to take instruction from the politicians and his Board members in turn had to follow his instructions. Bissoondyal boasted that the vice-president of his faction of the Demerara Cricket Board, former West Indies Test Player Roger Harper had no say in the decisions of the Board. Bissoondyal boasted to his friends that "black people greedy, is only lil money they want and they have to depend on indians for the money, we own them". He said Roger Harper was not working at the moment and was being supported by hand outs from him of which he said he had plenty. He further went on to comment that "pacer" Adonis who has been involved in Demerara Cricket for more than a decade was now squarely on his side because of the "couple thousand dollars" I give him every week. Adonis would do "anything I ask him to do" because of the "lil freck" I give him every week. That is how you control black people he declared.

Bissoondyal admitted that he was dependent on the support of Harper, Adonis and Chairman of National Selectors Claude Rafael to be elected but he said he was sure of the support because "Rafael goes to Berbice for me ... look he going on Sunday again (last Sunday) and he gotta go because he bruk and is me who he gotta beg for a small piece". In a comment about the appointment of Mark Harper as the National Cricket Team Coach, Bissoondyal defended his fight against Mark Harper at the Board level when a vote was being taken on the appointment saying "Mark ain't nobody; I gotta put somebody there who I could control and Mark don't even listen to Roger most of the time".

Bissoondyal boasted that he had the votes to win the Presidency of the Guyana Cricket Board because he had bought out four votes from the Berbice Cricket Board. "Bai, I telling you, I gat money so I will always control dem black people ... all you need to do is give them a two thousand now and then and they will follow you like a dog everywhere".

Bissoondyal was confident that his faction would be the faction that would go to the Guyana Cricket Board Elections because of the political clique he had behind him. "I don't care about any constitution or any Court or what anybody else say ... I taking over the Board and all I need is for the Ministers I have behind me to do what I say and I got it covered". He openly admitted that the interference of political elements was an integral part of him succeeding and he feared if the  High Court got involved to examine things that would interfere with is march to the Presidency of the Guyana Cricket Board.

Political clique takes control of Guyana Cricket

In a naked display of political interference and corruption Minister of Labour Mansoor Nadir is set to force the Registrar of Friendly Societies Mr. Kareem Abdul Jabbar to recognise the Bissoondyal faction of the Demerara Cricket Board at the meeting of the Guyana Cricket Board and the Registrar of Friendly Societies (the Registrar) fixed for today at 2 p.m. The Registrar had previously granted permission for the Guyana Cricket Board Annual General meeting to take place as all the accounts and documents of the Board were in order; but Minister Nadir acting on the instruction and influence of junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali had instructed the Registrar to recall that permission and ask for further documents to purportedly scrutinise the management of the Board. No discrepancy was found, but it is clear that the clear intent of the political clique was to delay the Board elections so that they could bully and terrorise persons who could vote into supporting the Government's candidate. 

This has always been the suspicion in cricketing circles that a clique of politicians intended to take control of cricket in Guyana without regard to the democratic process, rules and laws governing Friendly Societies. Over the past two months it is apparent that Junior Minister Irfan Ali, Minister Mansoor Nadir and Minister of Trade Manniram Prashad were working assiduously to take control of cricket without regard to the vote process of the Guyana Cricket Board. Sources have confirmed that the trio which form the political clique have been threatening persons who hold public service jobs that they will suffer if they do not support Bissoondyal. Bissoondyal held elections which were called by himself alone without any official sanction and elected himself President of Demerara Cricket and managed to have the State media publicize his election in a manner designed to make it appear it was the only election. State media refused to carry any news item about the elections at which Raj Singh was elected which were the lawfully fixed election of Demerara Cricket Board.

It appears now that the political interference is no longer operating covertly but as Minister Nadir confirmed to a source he was just following instructions and the PPP wanted control of the Board and he had to assist them. He further went on to say that Irfan [junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali] was determined to take control of the Board and he had the full backing of Jagdeo [President Bharrat Jagdeo].

This clear political interference would mean that the Raj Singh led faction which has been elected in a accordance with the decisions taken by the Executive Committee of the Demerara Cricket Board would find themselves shut out of the democratic process. Officials of the West Indies Cricket Board have indicated that such a level of political interference in the region is unprecedented and it puts the upcoming Pakistan tour to Guyana in doubt.

Nandlall Brands Sports Minister as Weak and Confused

Guyanese lawyer Anil Nandlall confirmed whilst having a casual drink with friends and playing table tennis that he indeed spoke to Minister of Sports Dr. Frank Anthony about the latter's recognition of the Bissoondyal (also known as Roachie) led Demerara Cricket Board in the precincts of Parliament Building during the budget debates and the Minister indeed confirmed that he was in full recognition of the Bissoondyal led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board. Nandlall confirmed in a conversation with the a source that after the meeting in Parliament "I instructed Frank to meet with Roachie and make public his pronouncement about recognising Roachie as the President of the Demerara Cricket Board". Nandlall was speaking about the public controversy created by the Kaieteur News story of Sunday 30th January 2011 where it was reported that he had said that the Minister of Sport had recognised the Bissoondyal led faction of the Demerara Cricket Board; only for the Minister to deny every speaking to the Nandlall on the subject two days later in a separate article in the same Newspaper. However, Nandlall admitted personally calling Sean Devers before the publication of the initial story in the Sunday Kaieteur Newspapers asking that it not be published and directing that the Chronicle Newspapers and the Guyana Times not carry the statements which he had made at a public press conference. He said he only asked to stop the publication because he knows that "Frank is weak" and "afraid of his own shadow".

The flamboyant lawyer went on to further say the the Minister of Sports is weak and is not standing up to what he had agreed. Nandlall further said that junior Minister of Housing Irfan Ali and Minister of Labour Mansoor Nadir and himself were working assiduously to ensure that Bissoondyal's campaign to be President of the Guyana Cricket Board was successful and that the Minister of Sports "could not decide things on his own when I have the Party [PPP/C] campaigning for Roachie". Nandlall said further that he had instructed Minister Nadir to delay the Guyana Cricket Board elections so that he could get control of the votes necessary to elect Bissoondyal. He asked rhetorically  "Mansoor is also acting on instructions so how could Frank say that he did not recognise Roachie?"

Nandlall also confirmed that he had personally spoken to Chief Justice Ian Chang and had other "persons in Government" speak to the the Chief Justice to prevent the Raj Singh lead faction of the Demerara Cricket Board from getting a judge to hear their application for an injunction. Nandlall said that on the Saturday of the Demerara Board elections the Raj Singh led faction were seeking to have an injunction application heard to stop the Bissoondyal led faction from holding elections but he had to speak to the Chief Justice to prevent it being heard. Nandlall further said "I had to ask the [Attorney General Charles] Ramson to meet with [Chief Justice] Chang; and they met at Natoo's Bar and Ramson had to make it clear that the injunction could not be heard before the elections". "So how is it that all the other Ministers are acting in support of Roachie and Frank is saying I am lying?" Nandlall asked.

Further, Nandlall said persons who were appointed as  Minister of Government "must have backbone" and stand up when necessary and keep their word and he disappointed the Sports Minister was not displaying those characteristics. He said further, in the next Government he doubted that "Frank would be a Minister of any portfolio; he is too much of a coward to be in Cabinet".

Chairman of Selectors Slams Government Over Non-Payment of Monies

In a startling disclosure Claude Rafael, Chairman of Selectors of the Guyana National Cricket Team slammed the Government of Guyana for not paying the full sponsorship monies due to the Guyana Cricket Team. Sources say the startling revelations were made over the last weekend by Rafael in the presence of several persons at a cricket associated event.

The Guyana Cricket Team upon winning the Caribbean Twenty/ 20 Tournament in July, 2010 were the representatives of the region at the Airtel Champions League 2010 in South Africa. The team then received numerous offers to sponsor them in the Airtel Champions League 2010; but the then acting Minister of Sport Irfan Ali insisted he could arrange for a more lucrative sponsorship commitment that was being offered to the Guyana Cricket Board at the time. In the end the Guyana Cricket Board had no sponsor and President Bharrat Jagdeo to sponsor the Cricket Team and ensure the Team had the necessary funding to prepare and participate in the Champions League. The urgent and magnanimous act of the Guyanese President saved the day for the Guyana Cricket Team. However, sources at the Berbice Cricket Board have confirmed that to date the Government of Guyana has not paid the full sponsorship amount to date.

The Cricket Crusader was able to confirm Rafael's statements from multiple persons present at the gathering. The Chairman revealed that one of the officials seeking to be elected President of the Guyana Cricket Board, Bissoondyal Singh, had informed him that he had gotten junior Minister of Housing Mr. Irfan Ali to block the sponsorship payment due tot he players. Rafael said the PPP Government was most likely not paying money to the players because they wanted to siphon off the money to fund their participation in the upcoming General Elections.

Persons at the event said Rafael was adamant that Bissoondyal would be the next President of the Guyana Cricket Board but he doubted whether the Government would even pay the money even then; because as he said "dem man corrupt" and "nobody gon get that money from them". 

Rafael said further that its only the players who will suffer because of the pure greed of the Guyana Government. The sponsorship money was to be paid in part to the players.

Guyana Risk Ban From International Cricket

Guyana was plunged into chaos following newspapers reports on Sunday in that country that the Minister of Sport Dr. Frank Anthony had endorsed a faction of the conflicted Demerara Cricket Board. The Demerara Cricket Board, according to newspapers reports, has two factions at present contending they are the lawful Board charges with administering cricket in the county of Demerara. The Demerara Cricket Board Executive Committee under the direction of the Honourable Chief Justice Ian Chang met on Monday 17th January 2011 and fixed its Annual General Meeting (AGM) for Saturday 22nd January 2011 at the Wales Community Centre Ground. However, the incumbent Present Mr. Bissoondyal Singh fearing that he was going to loose that election and be voted out of office unilaterally decided to hold a separate meeting with parties favourable to him, on the same day, at the Lusignan Community Centre Ground. The result was that at the lawful AGM, Mr. Raj Singh was elected as the President of the Demerara Cricket Board. Mr. Bissoondyal defiantly contends that he is the elected President of the Demerara Cricket Board

The unlawful elections held by Mr. Bissoondyal was widely covered by the State media; whilst the Raj Singh election was not carried in the State media leading to speculation that there was political interference in the administration of cricket in Demerara. This was confirmed when it was made known in cricketing circles that the junior Minister in the Ministry of Housing Irfan Ali was threatening State and Government officials and employees that were on cricket boards nationwide that they had to support Bissoondyal to be President of Demerara Cricket Board and Guyana Cricket Board. This macabre act of political interference has on numerous occasions been confirmed by the candidate Bissoondyal himself where sources have confirmed that he is boasting that he has the support of Ministers of Government so the democratic election process is irrelevant to him. The interference of Ministers of Government was confirmed by Bissoondyal lawyer when he made the spectacular statement, carried in the Sunday edition Kaieteur Newspapers that the Minister of Sport had infact recognised Bissoondyal as the elected President of Demerara Cricket Board. This alarming level of political interference have raised concerns at the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) level, where a source who wishes to remain anonymous have said that if the level of political interference continues in Guyana's cricket there would be no alternative but to ban Guyana from participation in international cricket. The source continued that this would have adverse repercussions for the Guyanese players int he West Indies Team. Ronnie Sarwan and Shiv Chanderpaul may find themselves being unable to represent the West Indies until such a ban is lifted.

The WICB source was at pains to point out that such a ban would be catastrophic to cricket in Guyana and the region as a whole but the rules of the International Cricket Council and the WICB were clear that political interference in cricket in any level was unacceptable and that the democratic selection process of electing the cricket boards at the various levels of cricket in the territories had to be respected at all times.

The level of political interference in sport in the West Indies is strongly frowned upon and even in the several impasses with the West Indies players and the West Indies Cricket Board; no direct intervention was tolerated. The CARICOM Heads of State formed a Committee to try and mediate the issue; so the action by Guyana's Ministers of Government raises serious concerns in the region.

The failure of the Ministers of Government in Guyana to respect and adhere to the democratic process of voting to elect leaders is quite ironic since this is an election year in Guyana. 

It is hoped that Guyana cricket returns to the democratic process soon.