Ramson sends ‘stern messages’ during 4-Day opening

The Guyana Cricket Board’s (GCB’s) Senior Inter-Country 4-Day tournament bowled off in fine style at the Guyana National Stadium at Providence, East Bank Demerara on Saturday morning.
While a contest between Demerara and Berbice was on the cards, Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr., Director of Sport Steve Ninvalle, NSC Chairman Kashif Muhammad, and GCB President Bissoondyal Singh were all at the stadium for the ceremonial opening of the tournament, which according to the Minister is returning after 9 years.
Ramson jr., had much to share with the players based on a recent meeting with GCB Executives, including his commitment to ensuring the tournament, and by extension the sport, has adequate facilities for play.

“When I met with them 2 weeks ago, we discussed a number of things. The first we discussed was the principle of recommencing this inter- county tournament, but that where the facilities were required, that the Government of Guyana, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, will make every facility that we have available to the GCB, so that you can play as many games that is required. So that you can select the best team,” the Minister divulged to the players, officials and media operatives gathered.
As Ramson jr. continued to touch on some of the GCB’s recent issues, the Sport Minister highlighted the selection criteria, noting that older players will not be deterred, but selection will be dependent on form.
Ramson boldly declared, “The second thing that we discussed, and that they are in agreement with, is that when it comes to selection of the teams, who get the opportunity to participate at these trials, inter-county, whatsoever, age is not a barrier to whether you get the opportunity or not.
In fact, I see many faces here today who didn’t have the opportunity in the previous selection of the team.”
On the matter of performance, the Sport Minister added, “And I would add as well that its strictly based on performance. And that is something that is very important for us here, from the Government of Guyana, but it’s also very important for you to know that when it comes to examining your own performance, you must also be honest with yourself.”
On that note, Ramson jr. went on to praise the return of former Guyanese star Ramnaresh Sarwan as Chairman of Selectors.
“Since having that discussion with the GCB in relation to the selection of players, they have appointed a new chairman of selectors, and he is somebody who has played the game at the highest level and he was ranked as the best player in the world at some point,” Ramson related.
“That is the calibre of the Chairman of Selectors who is joining us here today, Ronnie Sarwan.”
The Sport Minister concluded, “Just so that you can know that the decisions that are being made on your behalf (are) not…gyaff. These are serious things that we have to do now to ensure that cricket advances in the way that we want it to advance.”
During his time with the mic, Ramson jr. also expressed his confidence in the GCB Executives and the capabilities of Guyanese cricketers.
“Everything that the Government of Guyana does is to advance cricket in general, but cricket is just the vehicle where we’re advancing the interest of you as cricketers,” he shared on that note.