Latest update February 7th, 2025 2:57 PM
Mar 15, 2016 News
As the debate continues over the granting of casino licences, Government has announced prominent Attorney-at-Law, Roysdale Forde, as the new Chairman of the Guyana Gaming Authority.
The notice was published in the Official Gazette of March 10.
The other members of the board are former army officer, Col. Christine King; Attorney-at-Law Geeta Chandan-Edmonds and George Vaughn, an accountant.
Forde, who has been involved in a number of high profile court cases, would replace former Minister, Manniram Prashad, as Chairman. Prashad’s term ended December 31 when the Board’s life expired.
Forde will be Chairman for two years effective March 1, 2016 to February 28, 2018.
A new Board of Directors for the Guyana Gaming Authority would come at a time when questions have arisen over casino licences.
The issue raised its head two weeks ago after former Magistrate, Kalam Juman-Yassin, objected to a casino going up on Church Street, Queenstown.
Clifton Bacchus, the owner of Sleep In, to whom the casino licence was promised under the administration of Donald Ramotar, had not seen any problems with the objections raised that the hotel and casino would have been too close to a nearby mosque and church.
The mosque had objected.
It recently came out that the licence promised to Sleep In, may have also been promised to businessman Omprakash ‘Buddy’ Shivraj, who is also building a hotel on Sheriff Street, behind his pool hall.
However, Clifton Bacchus, is objecting to Shivraj receiving another licence saying he already received one for Buddy’s Hotel in Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Last week, Government said that a new Board of the Gaming Authority would be reviewing past applications for casino licences.
Under regulations only three casino licences are allowed per region. Guyana has 10 regions, making a total of 30 licences that can be issued.
Meanwhile, Government has also named two persons on the Board of Directors for the Russian-owned, Bauxite Company Guyana Inc. /Rusal.
There are former Region Ten Chairman, Mortimer Mingo and Edgar Mendonca.
In the past there have been questions over the operations of Rusal which has bauxite operations in Region 10, at Aroaima and Kwakwani.
A few years ago, Rusal fired over 50 workers because they took part in protests actions. That matter angered union officials and reportedly remains unresolved.
A recent Ministerial inspection found several labour-related issues at the two operations with Government signaled intentions to lay charges.
A new Board of Directors was also named for the Guyana Lands and Survey Commission.
Heading the Commission which is charged with regulating the administration of state lands in the country, will be Paulette Henry.
The other members will be Maurice Gajadar, Leon Rutherford, Carol Khan, Joel Trotman, Rawle Small, Wilfred Brandford and Randolph Storm.
The other members will come from the Guyana Association of Professional Surveyors, Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Ministry of Communities.
The observers on the Board will be from the Guyana Defence Force, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Business and Ministry of Natural Resources.
Also announced was a new Board of Directors for the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation Board.
Dr. Carl Max Hanoman is the new Chairman. He would replace Dr. Noel Blackman, a New York-based medical professional who was detained earlier this year while on his way to Guyana to start his duties. Blackman is facing serious criminal charges relating to an illegal drugs distribution racket he was allegedly running.
Named as members to the GPHC Board are Kemton Alexander, Col. Patrick West, Cleopatra Barkoey, Collette Adams, Sonya Roopnauth and Mandy Sukhdeo.
The GPHC’s new board would be critical as there were allegations of wrongdoings with the purchasing of pharmaceuticals and other medical supplies to the tune of billions of dollars.
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