– Body says otherwise

THE management of the nine-member interim body selected to run the affairs of the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA) has come under severe criticism, just under nine months since the group was put in place.

Led by businessman Poonai Bhiroog, the body replaced the previous administration which was inactive for a number of years, following the resignation of the then president, Vickram Ouditt, who demitted office in February last year.
However, several horse owners and turf club executives have voiced their concerns, saying the body has failed to execute its mandates, and as such, the work of the authority remains at a standstill.

An executive member from a leading turf club, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the proper management of the authority remains in limbo.
The member is of the opinion that the interim body is non-functional at this time, adding that the implementation of the horse racing legislation will be the only way out of the dilemma the authority and the sport finds itself in.

Further, a prominent horse owner, who also spoke on condition of anonymity, pointed out that the interim body only pays attention to the affairs of certain horse owners and turf clubs, adding that in his opinion, the interim body is not functioning.
Meanwhile, first vice-president of the interim body, Fazal Habibulla, dismissed the allegations, saying that the body is functional.

He, however, is accusing some track owners (turf club owners) and race horse owners for creating the difficulties the body faces in executing its mandates.
“Look, the body is functioning…but let me tell you, is some track owners and also some race horse owners are creating the problems. They want to set their own rules and own class, so that is where the problems lies…every time we (interim body) planned a meeting, just a few horse or track owners turn up; so only a few could know what the body is doing,” Habibulla said.

Over the years, the work of the GHRA has been put on hold due to the lack of a critical piece of legislation that will legitimise its operations.
Dubbed the ‘Sport of Kings’, horse racing, since its resuscitation locally, has been operating under a legal document that was registered under the Miscellaneous Deeds Act.

But back in 2014, a key step to regularize the sport was taken when the then Legal Adviser to the Guyana Horse Racing Authority (GHRA), Rajendra Poonai, handed over draft legislation on the sport to then sport Minister Dr Frank Anthony.
Nothing much was done by the previous administration with regard to the implementation of the legislation.

However, the present Government cannot escape their fair share of criticism, since a copy of the horse racing legislation has been with the government for some time now.
In fact, an official from the GHRA has confirmed that the copy was handed over to the National Sports Commission in late 2015.

Subsequently, Assistant Director of Sport, Brian Smith, confirmed earlier this year that the NSC had indeed received the document which was sent to the Attorney General’s Chambers.

But the Attorney General’s Chambers remained sceptical about the status of the document.
The draft Guyana Horse Racing Authority Act, which will allow the sport to run more effectively and to deal with violators, includes: increasing the membership of the Racing Authority from nine to 15; including the Bush Lot United Turf Club as a member of the GHRA, and implementing a two-year term for members of the Authority.

The legislation, which was championed by former GHRA president, Justice Cecil Kennard, will also give the GHRA the power to schedule race dates for race meetings in the event that a club is unable to run off a race meeting.

Other members of the nine-member interim body are: Dennis De Roop, (Second vice-president), Mohindra Persaud (Third vice-president), Godwyn Allicock (secretary), Francis Chichester (treasurer) and Issac Dallo (assistant secretary/treasurer).

The committee members are: Nazrudeen Mohammed (Junior), Therbhuwan Jagdeo and Lakeram Sookdeo.
The Jockeys’ representative is Alan Padmore while Colin Elcock and Zaheer Sheriff are the trainers’ and horse owners’ representatives.