GEORGE Forbes, competition director at the Inter-Secondary Schools Sports Association (ISSA), remains adamant that the association will not allow any girl to compete against boys in cricket at the Under-19 level despite the criticisms, in some quarters, being levied at his administration.

ISSA came under fire after deciding to bar Eltham High School and national player Rashada Williams from participating in the ongoing Grace Shield competition, which is for boys at the Under-19 level.

“Let us put it in perspective, this is strictly a male competition and we realise that some girls were interested in the game. We could well have said to them ‘you are not going to play’, but numbers came and we said ‘alright’ we are going to allow you to play to the Under-16 level, and we started to allow them to play to the Under-16 level,” Forbes explained to the Jamaica Observer in an interview on Friday.

“What we are simply saying is that it’s one of two things we can do: we can continue to allow the girls to play to the Under-16 level, or we can revert to what we were supposed to have done in the first place and don’t allow them to play any at all. If we don’t allow them to play any at all…who can tell us that we must allow them to play?”

Forbes said that Williams was allowed to play in the Digicel Twenty20 competition last year because it was not contested under the rules of ISSA. He also pointed to a situation in which Williams was almost hit by a bouncer from Manchester High School’s fast bowler Christopher Powell.

“So we are saying, while we are cognisant of the fact that we want to allow them to showcase their talent and develop their skills, we can do it to a certain level. The Under-19 level is different, [and] they knew from last year that she was not allowed to play in the Under-19 competition.

“So I am at a loss to see why now this indecent haste to say that we are ‘massacreing’ the young lady. The principle of the thing is that we prefer to err on the side of caution to not put the young lady into fire…of course, she is going to say she wants to play. She is a cricketer, she wants to play, but we have a responsibility to protect ourselves, her and the schools,” he said.

Forbes was angered by the view expressed by acting principal of Eltham, Remonia Stoddart-Morrison on Television Jamaica’s (TVJ) sports program Eye on Sports aired on Thursday.

“Now, I saw that her principal was saying that she is adamant, that she is going to make all the steps to ensure that she plays. But we have spoken to members of the cricketing staff, and they are saying to us that they understand that they (girls) are not allowed to play and they did not have a problem with it.

“So I found it strange last night (Thursday night) for the acting principal to be on TV as if she was taking us to the highest court, so to speak, to get this young lady to play. It is her democratic right, so we await the action to be taken by Eltham where this young lady is concerned.”

And while in the midst of his staunch defense, Forbes also took a jab at the Jamaica Cricket Association (JCA).

“We are not afraid, and it is ironic that the JCA is talking up a lot of talk. Four to five years ago, we had a meeting in the same office with the JCA representatives and they asked us if we could organise the cricket for the young ladies…we said yes, but give us the money [and] they have not come back to us with any sponsorship.”

“Five years… so I was surprised when I heard the president [Wilford ‘Billy’ Heaven] as if he is saying he is going to use his good offices or things to that effect to have her play. She will not be allowed to play and it’s one of two things: we can either let it remain Under-14 and Under-16, or we don’t allow any female to play any at all.

“I don’t understand where they are going, and we are going to stand our ground until the executive and all 170 principals vote to have the young lady play or not play,” he noted.

Finally, Forbes pointed out that the purpose of his association is not about developing individuals, but instead to “provide opportunities” for participation in wholesome organised sports as part of a rounded educational experience in preparation for successful living.

“People think that ISSA is all about developing sport… that is not our duty…we are not responsible for developing any sport, the parent bodies are so responsible. As far as we are concerned, what we do is an extension of physical education, so we have to be very careful with what we do,” he ended.