-Ordinary General Meeting postponed
Turmoil continues to plague the Guyana Cricket Board as there remain serious questions about the board’s finances.
Some members say that President Chetram Singh’s postponing of last Sunday’s ordinary general meeting prevented the fielding of questions about the present financial statements and they questioned his decision in this matter. Stabroek News was reliably informed that the meeting, which is usually held at the club’s Bourda location, was switched to the Chetram Singh Hostel at La Bonne Intention (LBI). Some members of the club were unaware of this and as a result turned up at Bourda for the meeting. The meeting was expected to start at 10 am and at 15 minutes after this hour, Singh called the meeting to order and it was noted that only nine members were present instead of the 14 required to form a quorum. Sources told this newspaper that Singh, who was at the head table along with the board’s secretary Anand Sanasie, was told that some members were on their way but instead of waiting–as he has done in the past–the president brought the meeting to an abrupt end. Singh has not spoken to Stabroek News on these issues in the past. “This is the first time an ordinary general meeting ended like that for years we would wait until members arrive. Sometimes we wait for one hour before starting the meeting…” a source told this newspaper. The meeting was called to an end at 10.30 am and Singh and Sanasie then left. Some on the executive feel that their colleagues are quite prepared to allow the current executive to limp forward to January when the annual general meeting (AGM) is slated to be held and a new executive elected. However, it is felt the handling of the board’s finances and the unprofessional manner in which cricket matters are handled–at times only two or three executive members decide on issues with the other members being ignored–should be investigated and the findings made public.
Un-deposited
It was pointed out that the current financial statement reflects some $8.9 million as un-deposited funds and this is of serious concern to some members. “How could a NGO have such a large sum un-deposited? Even GRA [Guyana Revenue Authority], Guyana’s largest revenue collector doesn’t have so much cash as un-deposited for one day,” a source told this newspaper. The source is of the opinion that when those preparing the finances attempted to balance “they were coming up to $8.9 million short so they stated it as un-deposited in order to balance.
‘“This is serious,” the source stressed. The source also said that the statement indicated that from the last two practice T/20 practice matches between Guyana and Trinidad the board only collected $11,389,000 as revenue from the paying public. “This is equivalent to approximately 11,389 spectators for the two days. This is impossible as they had approximately 25,000 spectators so they have had to at least $20,000,000,” the source said. Further, the $20 million contribution the government made to facilitate Guyana’s participation in the T/20 tournament in South Africa is not reflected in the statement. There is a $1 million prize under ordinary income and the source said only “God knows what this is”.
According to one of the minutes the board received US$50,000 from theWest Indies Cricket Board but this amount is not reflected in the financial statement”, the source said.
‘Boycott’
And while swirling questions continue about the board’s finances its treasurer, Sheik Asif Ahmad, has not been present at meetings even as several of his colleagues have said at past meetings–this was recorded in the minutes–that he should be relieved of his position. Because the AGM is around the corner some executive members are accusing others of wanting Ahmad to remain since as President of the Essequibo Cricket Board (ECB) he has a casting vote and some would want him to vote in their corner. Before calling the meeting to an end on Sunday, Singh read a letter he received from the ECB in which it stated it was boycotting the meeting because one of its cricketers, Norwan Fredericks, was not included in the Guyana squad that participated in the one day tournament in Jamaica. “Now that was the first time anyone heard about this. The ECB never wrote to the board expressing this view and it is believed that it was just another ploy because Ahmad did not want to attend the meeting,” a source said. A source said it would be extraordinary that a constituent board would boycott over a selection issue that explanation should not be allowed to stand. It was pointed out that Ahmad, who had missed the crucial meeting with Minister of Sport Frank Anthony following the acid attack on assistant treasurer Pritipaul Jaigobin, has been absent from several executive meetings. He had reportedly indicated that he was unable to attend an October 13 executive meeting because he had accidentally ingested something toxic. Ahmad, as treasurer, is the key person signing cheques relative to the board’s business. It was revealed that in recent times the cheques are taken to him at Parika where he would sign. The last meeting he attended was in July and he had indicated to the executive that the board was on the “verge of a financial collapse” and that it only had $6 million in its coffers. He also reportedly said the money would be spent by month end to pay outstanding bills. Meanwhile, some executive members are questioning why none of the promises—in particular the forensic audit of the board’s finances–that were made at the meeting with Anthony over four months ago had been fulfilled. The executive had met the minister and his Permanent Secretary Alfred King following the acid attack on Jaigobin. The spotlight was on the board as Jaigobin had publicly said he was attacked because of queries he made of the finances at the board level. Since the incident, there have been several revelations surrounding the cost for the LBI hostel and the fact that the hostel along with one at Anna Regina had defects, while there was no defects liability period in the contracts under which they were built.
Forensic audit
It was those allegations that led to the meeting with the minister and it was decided that the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) would audit the board’s finances and the LBI and Anna Regina hostels would be examined by building experts to determine whether the board got value for money and also to pronounce on the soundness of both structures.
“All we are hearing is that it started. It start all the time but nothing is happening,” a frustrated board member told this newspaper. It a meeting in July, King had reported that the OAG had indicated that it would have to name a private accounting firm to audit the financial records of the board.
However, there has been no move to have the forensic audit done and board members said the matter should not be taken lightly, as should the audit prove nothing is amiss then it would put the matter to rest. However, on the hand, if it is proven that there are irregularities those culpable should be held responsible. Sources had told this newspaper that the OAG had requested the financial records of the board and, according to King, it was pointed out by the office that the board should have appointed an accounting firm to audit its books some time ago instead of waiting for this situation. Sources noted that at a March meeting a decision was taken to hire the services of a well known accounting to firm to look at the financial records but this decision was overturned by a senior member of the board who was not present when the decision was made. Meanwhile, Design and Construction Services Limited is yet to start its review of the two hostels; another of the decisions taken at the meeting with the minister.
There were reports that both of the hostels—only recently completed— had cracks in the walls while doors and toilet and other fittings were coming loose. The construction firm is expected to conduct a value-for-money review but it was again pointed out recently that there was no defects liability clause in either of the two contracts and as such the board has no way of holding the construction companies liable. Several attempts by this newspaper to speak to Minister Anthony on the issues have proven futile.