IN response to statements made in the Kaieteur News on Saturday January 15, 2011 and the Stabroek News on Monday January 17, 2011, by Mr. Chetram Singh, President of the Guyana Cricket Board, the Registrar of Friendly Societies is duty bound to conduct or cause to be audited, any society registered under the Friendly Societies Act Chapter 36:04 under the Laws of Guyana. It is the responsibility of every society to submit to the Registrar of Friendly Societies their annual returns consisting of information such as receipts and payments, assets and liabilities, movement of membership, changes in trustees and testimonial of office bearers.

In the case of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), these were never submitted for 2009 and 2010. After the annual returns are submitted to the registrar, an auditor is appointed to audit the financial records and certify the annual returns.

In the case of the Guyana Cricket Board, auditors were never-the-less appointed to audit the period December 1st, 2009 to November 30th, 2010. Upon completion, the auditors are required to submit to the registrar, in accordance to their appointment, copies of the completed audited financial report and the certified annual returns.

Whilst the financial audit report was received, the annual returns are still outstanding.

Therefore, Mr. Singh can be in no position to state that the elections will be held as scheduled. When audit reports and annual returns are submitted to the registrar, they are processed and officially released before any legally constituted Annual General Meeting (AGM) can be held, given eight days notice for such a meeting.

The Ministry of Labour, Human Services & Social Security refutes statements made by Mr. Singh in the said newspaper article claiming a third party informed the media of the contents of the letter.

The holding of the AGM, therefore, is dependent upon the timely submission of the outstanding annual returns to the Registrar.