Well-known Essequibo businessman Deleep Singh was elected President of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) at its Annual General Meeting held on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at the Imam Bacchus Library Hall, Affiance.
Standing from left: Khemraj Surejpaul (Trustee); Mustapha Zaman (Assistant Secretary); Sheman Austin (Marketing Manager); Shazim Nasrudeen (Treasurer); Kumar Dass (Chairman – Competitions Committee) and Ernesto De Matlos (Trustee). Sitting from left: Wazeeda Bacchus (Public Relations Officer); Elroy Stephney (Vice President); Deleep Singh (President); Trevis Simon (Secretary) and Adjhodia Lall (Assistant Treasurer)
The elections were conducted by Cricket Ombudsman Malcolm Peters and were held in accordance with the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014, with a high-powered team of Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) officials, including President Bissoondyal Singh, as observers.
The new President, the proprietor of the popular WD’s Hotel and Mall at Charity and a miner, was elected unanimously to the position. A former president of the Essequibo Chamber of Commerce and Industry and also a former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Essequibo Technical Institute, Singh previously served as Vice Chairman of the Pomeroon Sports Committee for over 10 years and Vice President of the ECB.
The new ECB President played competitive cricket in Essequibo for a number of years during which time he captained his club, the Enterprise Cricket Club, before retiring as a player at the age of 48.
Elroy Stephney was elected Vice President while Trevis Simon is the new Secretary with Mustapha Zaman as his assistant. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer are Shazim Nasrudeen and Adjhodia Lall respectively. Kumar Dass secured the position of Chairman of the Competitions Committee, Sheman Austin the position of Marketing Manager and Miss Wazeeda Bacchus the position of Public Relations Officer. The Trustees of the ECB are Khemraj Surejpaul and Ernesto De Matlos. Excellent Business Consultants will serve as auditors.
The Area Committees of the ECB were clearly delighted at having free, fair and transparent elections after a number of years, and expressed their appreciation by voting unanimously for all positions, an outcome that demonstrated their resolve to ensure a long-overdue change in the administration of cricket in Essequibo.
The positions of Chairman of the Senior Selection Panel and Chairman of the Junior Selection Panel will be filled by the new Executive Committee.
In his acceptance speech, the ECB President thanked the delegates for their overwhelming support and pledged to serve the interests of Essequibo cricket in a responsible and committed manner. He also thanked the Ombudsman and the Returning Officer for the efficient and transparent conduct of the elections, the GCB team for their attendance, and the delegates for their attention and discipline during the elections.
The ECB President disclosed to the meeting that some time ago he had considered running for the ECB presidency but was preoccupied with business. Now that he has the requisite time, he added that he was ready and excited to serve the game he loved so dearly and acknowledged that cricket in Essequibo was at an all-time low. The challenge, he continued, would be to reverse the decline and to develop the game so that especially the youths can have the opportunity to showcase their talent towards selection at the national and regional levels.
The new President concluded his presentation by calling for unity and hard work for the good of Essequibo cricket and added that he was pleased there was now an all-inclusive Board in place. He advised that he would soon engage in meetings with the Area Committees of the ECB.
The GCB President, in an invited comment, congratulated the new Executive Committee of the ECB and promised the full support of the GCB as the ECB begins its task to revive the fortunes of cricket in the Cinderella County. President Bissoondyal said he was pleased to see former national female cricketer Wazeeda Bacchus on the committee as female cricket was a priority of the GCB and females were encouraged to be involved in cricket administration.
President Bissoondyal added that the GCB would pay special interest to Essequibo cricket. He lamented the deplorable condition of the cricket hostel at Anna Regina. He then announced that the GCB would remit a subvention of $2.5 million to the ECB, a quantity of cricket gear would be donated to each Area Committee of the ECB and financial assistance would be provided for the renovation of the Anna Regina Hostel.
President Bissoondyal expressed his delight at being part of the very important elections of the ECB and wished the new Executive Committee the very best.
