National Chess Champion, Wendell Meusa, has opted not to participate in upcoming chess tournaments including the Guyana National Open Championship based on the illegality of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) while its President, James Bond, says an Elections Committee has been installed to deal with the issue.
Meusa explained that he informed the executives of the GCF via electronic mail that he will not participate based on a number of reasons.
According to Meusa, he was protesting the fact that the current GCF is illegal after not holding elections which are due.
He added that he will only participate further if the Annual General Meeting for 2019 is held, while adding that it has not been held since 2017.
Bond, speaking with Stabroek Sport said that indeed the GCF had opted to defer the Annual General Meeting which was scheduled, because of the participation in the Chess Olympiad last year.
The GCF constitution states …“The Federation shall, no later than three months after the end of every financial year, hold an Annual General Meeting…”
The GCF President acknowledged that the elections should be held yearly and said that while they have not done so, there was an Elections Committee which is chaired by Vice-President of the GCF, Frankie Farley and also includes Loris Nathoo and other executives, installed.
Meusa also said that it was unacceptable to give a national champion just two days of notice for the tournament in which he is expected to defend his crown.
He said that a tournament of this magnitude would require the earliest of notices with players receiving details of the tournament such as rules and regulations, among others.
According to GCF Executive, Irshad Mohamed, the National Open and Women’s Championships are billed for June 1.
On a personal note, Meusa said he needs adequate notice of the tournament in order to “put things in place family wise and business wise.”
He also said that he would have to apply for time off from his employer to focus on chess.
Bond, however, called the actions of Meusa childish adding that if Meusa opts not to participate then that is on him.
Bond indicated that the Elections Committee is tasked with setting a date for the Elections and said that he has already expressed his desire to run again and has gathered the support from the executives.
According to Bond, Farley is also expected to run for the post of GCF president.
