Scores of persons were present on Tuesday evening at the Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) Pavilion to witness the first ‘legal and official’ Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Georgetown Cricket Association (GCA) in three years.
Those who attended representative clubs, some of whom were delegates seeking
A section of the delegates and stakeholders of cricket who were present at the GCA AGM and election
elected positions while others were stakeholders of cricket anticipating the outcome of what could be deemed as the most important AGM in the local cricket arena.
It was a transparent AGM which included detailed information on how the administration functioned for the past three years financially, administratively and otherwise.
It was a relief for the association to host election for the first time since the AGM that was scheduled for February 19, 2014 was prevented from taking place because of a court injunction that was granted to the applicant Nazimul Drepaul, a life member of the Everest Cricket Club. Pursuant to the order of the Honourable Chief Justice (AG), Ian Chang, dated February 27, 2014 which resulted from the hearing of the injunction filed by Drepaul, the Georgetown Cricket Association Executive Committee held a Special General Meeting on Thursday March 20, 2014 at 18:00h at the Malteenoes Sports Club pavilion. Based on the ordered agenda set by the Honourable Chief Justice (AG), Chang, the members of the GCA set the date for the AGM to be held on November 20, 2014 and authorized the current executive to continue to function until that date.
Following that, Drepaul of Everest Cricket Club and Shalim Baksh of Third Class Cricket Association, which is based at Lot 22 Grove Housing Scheme, East Bank Demerara, brought another court action seeking to have YMCA, Diplomats Cricket Club and Ace Warriors declared ineligible to vote. They were asking the court to declare that those clubs should not have been allowed to vote at the Special General Meeting held on March 20, 2014 that was ordered by the Honourable Chief Justice and that the decisions made by the members at that Special General Meeting be declared null and void. They were also asking that those clubs be declared ineligible to vote at the AGM set for November 20, 2014 or any other general meeting. This matter was due to be heard on September 29, 2014.
Following a series of court hearings, postponements of hearings, mediation meetings and more court hearings, the matters were withdrawn by Drepaul and Baksh in December 2016. The business of the GCA can therefore return to a state of normalcy and the Association can now focus on executing its mandate.
Subsequent to the AGM, returning officer Ronald Williams conducted the election and former West Indian player and coach, Roger Harper, returned to his post as President of the GCA unopposed.
Gandhi Youth Organisation (GYO) was the only member of the GCA who was ineligible to vote due to failure to update its financial status for the year 2016 and 2017.
In his first interview after being reelected, Harper said the GCA is focus on serving its members and will build on work that would have been done over the years. “We look forward to serving our members and we’ll be aiming to build on the work we’ve done over the years. Continuing to implement our development programmes, ensure that our members have competition for all levels.”
The former Guyana skipper added that the GCA’s aim is to give the players, especially the youths the opportunity to showcase their talent and develop their skills with an aim of moving on to higher heights in the game and if the association can complete that task of getting the players to develop their skills and enhance their ability then they would be contributing to the goodwill of cricket locally and regionally.
Filling the GCA’s other executive positions are; First Vice President Neil Barry, Second Vice President Azad Ibrahim, Secretary Debra McNichol, Assistant Secretary Paul Castello, Treasurer Dennis Wilson, Assistant Treasurer Imran Ali, Marketing Manager Graham Alli, PRO Colin Alfred, Chairman of Competition Committee Shawn Massiah. PKF……was elected for the auditing work.
IN: Marketing Manager Graham Alli, Assistant Treasurer Imran Ali, Assistant Secretary Captain Paul Castello.
OUT: Harry Parmesar, Captain Ron Daniels and Mohammed Qualander.
Out of the elected 11 personnel only three were opposed-Barry defeated Lavern Fraser 30-6 for the first Vice President position, Ibrahim won against Fraser 29-8 in the race for second vice president while Massiah trumped Kenroy Joseph in the battle for Chairman of Competition Committee.
The GCA is expected to commence their calendar of on field activities from as early as next weekend.
