WICB Decisions Regarding Guyana Situation

St John’s, Antigua – The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the West Indies Cricket Board held a meeting by teleconference last evening. The Executive Committee discussed the Guyana Situation and noted the following points:

1.   Following the meeting of January 10th in Guyana with the West Indies Cricket Board, the Guyana Cricket Board and the Government of Guyana the Secretary General of CARICOM Irwin LaRocque circulated to the parties an agreement document which was drafted based on discussions in the meeting.
2.   The representatives of the Government of Guyana indicated that it needed to have final consultations before signing.
3.   WICB President Dr. Julian Hunte on Thursday January 19th and Monday January 23rd wrote Secretary General La Rocque requesting an update on the situation given the Government of Guyana’s outstanding position.
4.   On both occasions the Secretary General La Rocque responded to President Hunte that the Government of Guyana had not responded on the matter of its agreement or otherwise.
5.   The WICB is aware of the Government of Guyana through its Interim Management Committee has proceeded with various actions relating to cricket in Guyana even as it has not responded to CARICOM.

With regard to the WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament the Executive Committee took the following decisions:

1.   The Guyana matches in the first four rounds of WICB Regional 4 Day Tournament will no longer be played at the Guyana National Stadium.

2.   The Guyana Team will play its first and second round WICB Regional 4 Day matches at Windsor Park in Dominica.

3.   The venue(s) for Guyana’s third and fourth round WICB Regional 4 Day matches will be decided and announced at a later date.

The Board will announce its position with regard to the 3rd Digicel Test of the Digicel Series 2012, West Indies v Australia scheduled for the Guyana National Stadium after discussions with other stakeholders.

The WICB reiterates that the Guyana Cricket Board is the sole authorised governing body for cricket in Guyana.

The WICB restates its full support to the Government of Guyana’s Interim Management Committee functioning as an advisory body. The WICB will not recognize or approve any entity other than the GCB as the authorised governing body for cricket in Guyana.

The WICB deeply regrets the undue delay by the Government of Guyana in responding to CARICOM. The WICB appeals to the Government of Guyana to allow the GCB access to its offices in order that it can proceed with the management of cricket in Guyana.

The WICB is concerned that given the actions of the IMC the Guyanese players are being unnecessarily affected in the lead up to an important regional tournament.