The International Chess Federation (FIDE) will make a ruling on the issue of the president of the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) after duly elected president Frankie Farley was ousted by the board recently.
Farley has sought the intervention of the world governing body.
Yesterday, a release from Farley, who was elected president but was subsequently removed from office by the board of the GCF last week, stated that he had written the world governing body and was awaiting their ruling on the matter.
“I, Frankie Farley, duly elected president of the Guyana Chess Federation, GCF, wishes to inform the public and the Guyana chess community that I have officially notified the International Chess Federation, FIDE, of the illegal and unconstitutional actions by four board members in their attempt to undermine the president of the Guyana Chess Federation,” the release stated.
“I consider these board members’ actions to be null and void.
“My claims were filed on October 27th 2022 with the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission against the respective board members of the Guyana Chess Federation.”
According to the embattled Farley, the actions by the board members are disturbing and can have far reaching implications for all federations if they are allowed to go without consequences.
“I have already engaged my lawyers, who will be taking all the necessary actions to protect the constitution of the Guyana Chess Federation,” Farley wrote.
Meanwhile the GCF subsequently sent out their own release giving their version of the events which transpired.
“The Guyana Chess Federation Inc. wishes to inform the chess community and the general public that by way of a majority vote, at a reconvened Board of Directors meeting, vacated the position of director and President of the Guyana Chess
Federation Inc. that was being occupied by Mr. Frankie Farley.
A motion was approved by majority decision, (5 for, 1 abstention and 0 dissents) to remove Mr. Farley from the Board of Directors of the Guyana Chess Federation Inc., as well as from holding the office of ‘The President of the Guyana Chess Federation’ with immediate effect on October 20th 2022.
This motion was passed pursuant to clause 6 a (iii) of the GCF’s constitution. This action was deemed necessary by the Board given Mr. Farley’s flagrant breaches of his responsibilities as set out in Clause 8 c (vii) of the GCF’s Constitution (“To abide by and carry out the instructions of the Federation”). The latest example of these failures was his decision to participate in the recently held CCA Assembly in Costa Rica despite the clear and unambiguous decision of the Board not to attend or participate in the Assembly.
Mr. Farley was suspended from acting in the capacity of the President of the Guyana Chess Federation to give him time to present information on how his overseas trip was funded and the identity of the person who paid for his airfare and hotel accommodation. It should be noted that Farley had admitted to a third party funding his trip.
Mr. Farley failed to fulfill his commitment to provide the board with the relevant source documents to prove how the expenses for his trip was paid, so as to allay the grave concerns that the funding of his trip may have constituted breaches of the FIDE Ethics Code, inclusive of those set out in Articles 6 (E), 6 (F), 6 (H), 7, 8 (B – 8.8).
Since the matter is before the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission, the GCF prefers to withhold any further comments until the commission has made its findings,” the release ended.
