Govts should not meddle in sport administration spats – Pres Ali

– Sanasie complains to CWI Ethics Committee

President of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, on Friday said his Government supports the proper functioning of sport bodies in Guyana, and would not be induced into controversies within administrations.
President Ali, in a comment to News Room Sport, said: “the Government has no intentions of being dragged into issues of controversies within sporting bodies and administrations. I have communicated this to the relevant Ministers, Agencies and Ministries. We are not in the business of satisfying or responding to egos.”

President Ali added: “We support the proper functioning of sporting bodies, but will not get involved in any high-handed manner in determining outcomes. Cricket administration is no different. In relation to the CWI election, no official or government must exercise seeming bias for any contestants, as this will be unethical.”

Recently, Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Secretary Anand Sanasie lodged a formal written complaint with CWI Corporate Secretary Alanna Medford-Singh regarding CWI President Ricky Skerritt’s meeting with Guyana’s Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. Sanasie is contending that the full CWI board was not informed of the meeting, and the decisions flowing from the meeting are designed to create an unfair advantage for Skerritt’s bid to be re-elected.
Meanwhile, Skerritt has acknowledged meeting Guyanese Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jr, although the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) was not invited. In an interview with Newsday on Tuesday, Skerritt, who is seeking re-election on March 28, said this meeting took place with Guyana cricket’s best interest at heart.
Skerritt’s meeting with the Guyana minister has been criticised by some members of the GCB, including Anand Sanasie, who is challenging Skerritt for the CWI presidency. Sanasie has reported Skerritt to the CWI Ethics Committee.
Skerritt told Newsday, “There are a lot of issues at stake in Guyana (in) which we are hopeful for a peaceful and legitimate conclusion so Guyana can be well served by a GCB that is properly put together.”

Of the current board, he said, “I have nothing against the GCB. I’ve been to the GCB to meet with them. But I’ve also met with the other cricket officials elsewhere, who are unhappy with what is happening.
“We want the best for Guyana cricket. They’re giving the impression that I’m hostile to GCB, but I’m only hostile to illegitimacy. I’m friendly with cricket. Some of my favourite people are Guyanese. How can you stand up and say you represent cricket when the court says differently, or you are challenging the court?”
The Cricket West Indies election is set for March 28, with the incumbent Ricky Skerritt and Vice President Dr. Kishore Shallow facing a challenge from Guyana Cricket Board Secretary Anand Sanasie and his running-mate, Vice President of the Barbados Cricket Association, Calvin Hope. The Guyana Cricket Board election, as announced by Minister Ramson Jr., is now fixed for March 29. (Newsroom and Newsday)