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.