The upcoming presidential election for Cricket West Indies (CWI) will prove to be an engrossing one; as Presidential Candidates Anand Sanasie and Ricky Skerritt make verbal jabs at each other, a mere six days before the elections.
In missive disseminated on Monday morning, incumbent president Ricky Skerritt has challenged the validity of Sanasie’ recent report of an ethics violation on the part of Skerritt, to the CWI Ethics Committee, while also denouncing claims that if proven guilty, the violation can hinder his campaign.
Skerritt’s statement is as follows:
“I note that Mr. Anand Sanasie has publicly stated that he has ‘reported’ me to the CWI Ethics Committee because of my attendance at a meeting with Honourable Charles Ramson of Guyana. Other than through Mr. Sanasie’s public announcement, I have not been notified that there is any matter before the Ethics Committee.
I also note for the record that, just in the last year, there have been two previous mischievous attempts by Mr. Sanasie’s running mate, Calvin Hope, to accuse me of unethical conduct during my tenure as CWI President. On both occasions the Ethics Committee found that there was no basis to the Calvin Hope complaints.
In this latest baseless tactic, Mr. Sanasie is showing a contemptuous disregard for the established system of the election of a President of CWI, just as he has done over many years in Guyana. It is Mr. Sanasie’s own disregard for good governance and his disrespect for the judicial system which seven years ago brought about related Government Legislation, designed to prevent his continued abuse of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
Even if he has actually complained, such a complaint could not disqualify my nomination for the presidency of CWI. This attempt to involve the Ethics Committee in petty politics further highlights my concern that Sanasie’s only plan for West Indies cricket is to get power over it, by any means whatsoever.”
Meanwhile, shortly after Skerritt’s allegations were circulated, Sanasie who is yet to make a formal response, underscored that the statement is reflective of the Incumbent’s true colours.
Sanasie’s statement is as follows:
“I have seen a statement from CWI President Ricky Skerritt and will be responding formally shortly. However, it is both disappointing and unsurprising to see the type of language used in the statement. The personal attack and slurs are a clear sign of desperation that is reaching a crescendo in the Skerritt camp as a result of my candidacy.
The vitriolic statement is in fact unmasking Mr. Skerritt who possesses a fierce aversion to different views and is a proponent of the “my way or the high way” philosophy of leadership. Such leadership styles cannot enure to the benefit of CWI. My formal statement will be released shortly.”
Sanasie, the current Secretary of the embroiled Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), has promised a formal statement soon.
The CWI election is pegged for Sunday, March 28 and is set to be a virtual occasion. On the other hand, the second shot at a GCB election for 2021, will come on Monday, March 29.
