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".

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.