The ongoing dispute between Guyana Cricket Board Secretary, Anand Sanasie and Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport, Charles Ramson Jr. took another turn over the weekend.
On Sunday (February 21, 2021), on behalf of Sanasie, legal representatives wrote the Minister, stating that he was only once permitted by the Cricket Administration Act to appoint a Cricket Ombudsman.
“Your recent purported appointment by Notice of 19th February, 2021 is the third such appointment of a Cricket Ombudsman by a Minister. Your predecessors in office Dr. George Norton and Dr. Frank Anthony had done so in 2015 and 2017, respectively. Professor Winston McGowan was the first Cricket Ombudsman to have been appointed by Dr. Anthony and although he later resigned his office his appointment was never declared to be invalid. In the circumstance your appointment of Mr. Kamal Ramkarran, Attorney-at-Law as Cricket Ombudsman is unlawful and of no effect.”
Also of concern was the stipulated seven-day period that Minister Ramson had given for elections of the GCB. This was addressed in the letter; “It is unreasonable and does not allow the Cricket Ombudsman to carry out his statutory function of establishing and verifying a Register of Clubs before the holding of the GCB elections.”
“The time frame fixed is not in accordance with the Constitution of the GCB, Schedule I of the Cricket Administration Act. The membership of the GCB has a right to and/or a legitimate expectation that a period of at least thirty (30) days would be given before the holding of any elections. Members must be allowed a reasonable period to identify delegates and contestants and to canvas support for the elections.”
However on Monday (February 22, 2021), Minister Ramson hit back with a letter of his own.
“Dear Counsel,
RE: APPOINTMENT OF CRICKET OMBUDSMAN & DATE FOR THE HOLDING OF GUYANA CRICKET BOARD ELECTION
Your missive dated the 21st February, 2021 is hereby acknowledged and response thereto is set out hereinafter”.
“While it must be stated at the outset that since the restoration of the provisions of the Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014 and pursuant to Order of Court by Justice Fidela Corbin in Berbice Cricket Board v Fizul Bacchus et al dated 3rd April 2019 in Action number 2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-1200, the capacity in which your client purports to instruct you is not recognized, paragraph two is denied and your position on the issue is incorrect as it is res judicata (see Judgement of Fidela Corbin dated 3rd April 2019 in SAYWACK V LEWIS in Action number 2018-HC-DEM-CIV-FDA-808)”.
“The Guyana Cricket Administration Act 2014, the subject Minister is entitled, empowered, and obliged to appoint the Cricket Ombudsman and the date for the first election of the Guyana Cricket Board until completed. I fraternally take the liberty to direct your attention to paras 15, 26, and 27 of the judgment”.
“Paragraph three is denied and coupled with your missive attached to the duly appointed Cricket Ombudsman, Mr Ramkarran, if published, will be defamation and may result in the institution of legal proceedings at the appropriate time upon advisement”.
“Paragraph four and five are denied, and it would be inappropriate for you to seek to speak on behalf of the Cricket Ombudsman. You would, no doubt, recall that Justice Singh set the Demerara Cricket Board election within five (5) days and the argument, inter alia, was advanced by you to the Full Court on appeal and the appeal was dismissed”. In addition, I would direct your attention to para 28 in SAYWACK V LEWIS where Justice Fidela Corbin states:
“There has been a failure by the Minister to appoint another Cricket Ombudsman in accordance with Section 17 for reasons unknown to this court. The consequence is that there continues to be turbulence in the administration of cricket which does not promote the slated aim of improving and advancing cricket. This most unfortunate state of affairs will hopefully be remedied forthwith to give effect to the Act and advance its aims and objectives.”
“Paragraph six is denied and premised on incorrect information. The consultation took place with the President, Vice-President, several Directors, and three officers of Cricket West Indies including the Chief Executive Officer and the Corporate Secretary”.
“In the interest of appreciating a wider objective, I am professionally obliged to bring your attention that the consultation issue has also been ruled on already (see judgment by Chief Justice (ag) George-Wiltshire in Mohan Singh v Marlon Williams)”.
I am available for any further information or assistance.
Sincerely,
Honourable Charles S. Ramson MP
The 592 Dugout 