By Marlon Munroe
Former president of the Guyana Table Tennis Association Attorney-at-Law, Anil Nandlall, said yesterday that the injunction which was withdrawn by the Bissondyal Singh-led Demerara Cricket Board (DCB) faction on Friday was to protect decisions made at a special Executive Meeting of the DCB.
He also said that Sports Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony recognises the Bissondyal Singh-led Demerara Cricket Board.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday to explain why his client Bisssondyal Singh had withdrawn the matter, Nandlall said the injunctions brought had lost their efficacy and therefore it was necessary to withdraw them.
He explained that that the injunction had been sought against the Ananad Sanasie faction to protect decisions that were made at the January 17 Special General Meeting that was ordered by Chief Justice Ian Chang after it was learnt that the other faction had attempted to disseminate information contrary to what was agreed at the Special Executive Meeting.
Nandlall said since the DCB’s Annual General Meeting had been held, there was no need to continue prolonging the issue in the courts.
He claimed that elections held by Bissoondyal Singh were legitimate since it is universal practice for a president of an organisation to convene meetings and not a vice president or secretary.
This was in reference to Raj Singh, who was elected president of the other set of elections held the same day (January 22) at Wales.
The Raj Singh faction had convened a meeting on January 18 which Nandlall said yesterday was to “override, overrule and impugn” decisions that were made at a Special General Meeting of the executives on January 17.
“What authority does a secretary or vice president have to convene an Annual General Meeting without the permission of a president when the president is acting in office?” Nandlall asked.
He added:”The vice president’s powers only kick in, in the absence or inability of the president and that is basic common sense and managerial principle.
“So that meeting that was held at Wales Community Centre can never be a lawful meeting of the Demerara Cricket Board because it was done without the president,” Nandlall explained.
He stated that the secretary of an organisation is the “instrument that carries out the decision of an executive.”
Nandlall also discredited the resolution that was brought by the Sanasie faction, declaring that it was not filtered through the chairperson, who was Singh at the January 17 meeting.
“I have withdrawn these proceedings and withdraw from them the rug on which they are standing. Let them now go and see how they are going to question Mr. Bissoon Singh’s election to the presidency and his executive.
“I have advised Mr. Singh and I am informed by him that he has already began to function, he has already set up his various sub-committees, you would have seen he has met Minister Frank Anthony.
“Work at the DCB is on its way and this executive will not be obstructed by some persons pretending to be part of the executive using legal mechanisms to come through the back door. “I am not going to permit my proceedings to be used to facilitate that type of clandestine and surreptitious conduct,” Nandlall declared.
Nandlall also said that when he spoke with Minister Anthony in Parliament on Friday, he said that the other faction called him to set up a meeting and that Dr. Anthony had told them that he had already spoken to executive members of the DCB. When asked if he can be quoted Nandlall said that was what he was told.
