Dhierandranauth Somwaru was elected the new President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday at the Classic Suits and Hotel in Corriverton.
The new BCB? From left standing: Vic Suebarran, Carol Nurse, Leslie Solomon, and Godwyn Allicock. Front row sitting: David Black, President Dhierandranauth Somwaru and Imtiaz Bacchus
The BCB’s election, which last occurred in 2014, was scheduled following a ruling delivered by Justice Navindra Singh on September 8 which mandated same for the purpose of electing office bearers of the Board.
However, according to sources who wished to remain anonymous owing to fear of victimisation, there was much turmoil over the outcome of the decision.
It was related to Guyana Times Sport by the said sources that only Berbice River Association, West Berbice Cricket Association along with first-division clubs Albion and Port Mourant were allowed to vote.
Blairmont Cricket Club were given the opportunity to vote, but declined in solidarity with the other clubs such as Canje Hospital Club, Rose Hall Community Centre Cricket Club, Guymine Sports Club, Chesney Cricket Club, Kildonan Cricket Club, Berbice Police Sports Club, Mount Sinai Cricket Club, and Whim and Upper Corentyne Cricket Association.
The sources explained that “the clubs were not allowed to vote for varying reasons, one of which was that they did not pay affiliation fees, but that was abolished years ago under Keith Foster’s presidency”.
They added, “that Blairmont whose records show that they did not pay the fees were given a chance to vote.”
It is understood that the directive was given by the courts to allow clubs to vote once members can “show documents to verify their legitimacy as they seek to enter the venue”.
More so, based on the directive, the returning officer needed to be elected at a by-election by member clubs on the day itself, but the opposite was done.
Meanwhile, Rabindranauth Saywack, a member of ‘Team Foster’, revealed that they will be approaching the court today over the legitimacy of the election. Saywack explained that based on the ruling given by the Judge, none of the directions were followed especially that of electing the returning officer at the election.
