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.