BY MICHAEL YOUNGE
Former Chancellor of the judiciary and sport administrator, Cecil Kennard said he would welcome any well thought out and structured attempt to create a Bourda sports academy and stadium at the facilities of the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) and the Georgetown Football Club (GFC), which will result in resounding benefits for Guyana.
Justice Kennard also sternly criticised sections of the media attempting to undermine the proposed investment by the NEW GPC INC/ CPL OP CO in the venture. He said that were the proposal to be accepted by the membership of GCC/ GFC, attempts would have to be made to have the investors reconsider their stance.
The comments were made in light of misinformation being carried by Kaieteur News about a proposal that would see some $US30 million injected into the construction of a world-class stadium and sport academy at the venue.
Both sporting entities are currently struggling to keep their heads above water financially and administratively, as the entire infrastructure is in a state of decline and disrepair.
Kennard is a longstanding member with more than 25 years to the GCC. He is also a member of the board of trustees.
He said that the idea of merging the two facilities and ground is not new and therefore he is not surprised that discussions about pursuing such a course are being given due consideration yet again. “I think this was being discussed prior to the World Cup in 2007 and talks were taking place between the GCC and GFC about a merger, but because the government had gone ahead with plans to establish a stadium at Providence, further discussion did not take place,” he noted.
He said there is need for new life to be pumped into the facilities that were owned by the GCC, explaining that space and other modern advancements must now be considered.
Kennard said that he would have no objections to any proposal that would benefit the club and sports in general.
Must be condemned
Kennard, who is also president of the Kennard Memorial Turf Club, said he was shocked when he saw the Kaieteur News report that GCC was being sold. “I think any news paper which is discouraging investors from coming into the country must be condemned. I was disturbed when Kaieteur News gave the impression that the club was being sold,” he said.
Justice Kennard, who is integrally involved in the affairs of the club, also said he immediately contacted club president, Dr Lionel Jaikaran to get assurance that the reports were false. “He said there was no suggestion about taking over the club, nor were there any discussions about selling the club. The investors were prepared to invest to improve the club,” Kennard reported Dr Jaikaran as saying.
Kennard explained that the club has a rich history which must remain intact as he reminisced on some of the “happiest memories” that he has of the entity. “But I will give 100 per cent to any investor – whether it be an individual or a company which is prepared to invest in the club.”
The retired justice said that as far as he was aware, the annual general meeting of the club which was slated for Monday did not occur because of a lack of quorum. The issue, he suggested, would have been discussed and ventilated at that level to allow for scrutiny of the proposal.
“I am telling you that myself and another trustee Dunstan Barrow had a discussion last evening after the meeting was called off and if the membership of the club is giving the okay, we are prepared to have a meeting to see if this idea of having pulled out will be reconsidered,” Kennard said.
He said that he would urge the membership of the club to give serious consideration to the vision and spirit of the proposal, adding that proposals should be considered on the basis of their merit.
