There will be no annual general meeting (AGM) of the Arima Race Club (ARC) on Sunday after a decision was taken to postpone the elections in light of an injunction received on Friday by the incumbent president Baskaran Baswah through his attorney Kelvin Ramkissoon demanding certain matters be put in place before the said meeting.
Baswah, who did not attend the High court hearing Saturday afternoon told Guardian Media Sports that, "It is my understanding that the injunction which was filed by John O'Brien and Robert Bernard, is related to the 58 new members and their voting rights on Sunday (today). It is my understanding that they wanted us to say that these 58 nominated members could vote in all other positions up for elections but not for the position of president. In light of this, we are postponing the meeting to another date.
"I will await further word and advice from our legal team in terms of what happens next and the decision of the court going forward but I wish to ask everyone to think about horse racing and let us all unite and seek the best for the sport. We have a great plan going forward which has worked at Gulfstream and Woodbine and which would help us to stop depending on governments for assistance."
An emotional Bassawh added: "For more than 10 months I have been here from early in the morning to late at night, not taking any salary or anything. I love this sport and want us to be the best ever in this sport."
O'Brien, who also spoke with Guardian Media Sports said: "The order that was granted by the court on Saturday says that we need to discuss and have an agreement which is the best way forward, in general, that needs to happen but while there can be an annual general meeting, there can be no election of officers at such a meeting on Sunday and instead the ARC acting secretary Sunita Ragoonanan and Baskaran Bassawh have two weeks to answer our questions about the eligibility of certain persons to be allowed to vote even though their nominations are not in compliance with the rules of the club and against the recommendations of members of the ballot committee."
O'Brien continued, "After they have preserved their reply, the judge has agreed that we have another two weeks to respond to such, so for the time Mr Bassawh remains the president."
But O'Brien stated that it is still possible for 20 members to call for a special meeting where a vote of no confidence could be called on the president as well as addressed the whole question of the nomination process.
In response to the state of horse racing, a passionate O’Brien said: "At the moment for horse racing to go forward the best thing would be for Mr Bassawh to resign. We need to be able to work together with everyone from the Minister of Trade and Industry to others."
O'Brien and Bernard were represented by former Attorney General John Jeremie and judge Nadia Kangaloo presided over the proceedings.