Carpenter secures landslide victory at GMR&SC elections

Jan 12, 2014 Sports

---

– urges all to come onboard and held build the sport

Incumbent President John Carpenter was re-elected to serve another term in office following a landslide victory when the Guyana Motor Racing & Sports Club (GMR&SC) held its Annual General Meeting recently, at the club’s Headquarters on Albert Street, Thomas Lands.
Carpenter will have as his deputy Mahendra Boodhoo, while the rest of the executive are Treasurer-Hansraj Singh, Assistant Secretary/Treasurer – Chet Singh, Secretary – Carey Griffith and Club Captain – Danny Persaud.
The five Committee members are: Andrew King, Wayne Vieira, Bobby Rasul, Mohammed Roshandin and Roshan Ali, while Ray Rahaman will serve as Technical Advisor.
The following services have also been retained: Club Supervisor – Desiree Lee, Office Assistant – Tina Morris and Caretaker of South Dakota Circuit – Deon Narine.
The President in his speech welcomed the members to the Meeting, but that was after calling on them to observe a minute silence to mark the passing of motor racing stalwart Stewart Stevenson, who died recently in Miami, USA.
Meanwhile, below are some excerpts from the President’s speech:
“This meeting concludes the activities of our committee for the period 2012/2013. We have published the agenda for the meeting and also have available for your perusal the audited accounts for the 2012 financial year and also draft managements accounts from January 1st, 2013 to end October, 2013.
I would first like to thank my committee and all our volunteers for their services beyond the call of duty in the interest of motor racing in Guyana. We continue to enjoy favorable relations with the Government and their agencies, and also have continued to strengthen our relations with our sponsors. These relationships are essential, as we all know how expensive motor racing can be and with the limited receipts we get, it would be impossible without their generous support. We must respect and cherish each and everyone of them.
We have had a successful year of Racing we have claimed the Country’s Trophy in the CMRC and the motorcycles continue to Dominate with their numbers and skill set unmatched in the Region. We are also happy to see the strongest contingent of Karters at our International Event. To all our Riders and Drivers I congratulate you on your year’s performance.
The audited accounts for the year ending December, 2012 along with the management accounts to end October, 2013 have been presented.
I must state that the members who made the compromise in the best interest of moving forward with our November plans faced the worse onslaught of personal attacks and character assassinations ever in the history of this club, maybe a first for this club ever on the social and other media. We must as a closely knit family commit to high ethical and moral standards.
We continue to enjoy cordial relations with the Government and there is no doubt about their commitment to the GMR&SC. We have been exploring joint promotions of our major events with the Ministry of Tourism as well as defining Guyana as a Sports tourism destination. We have completed the major works at the facilities in Georgetown and can now concentrate on improving South Dakota. High on the agenda and in partnership with GT&T we plan to renovate the club house which will be re-named the Pat Holder Clubhouse and also improve the first landing on the stairs which was previously dedicated to Mr. Francis Gouveia another stalwart who never missed a meeting and viewed all races from the first landing. 2012/2013 can be considered a breakthrough year for the club with regards to our relations with the FIA. This achievement is in no small measure due to the hard work and persistence of the committee led by Raj Boohdoo. The high point being the visit to Guyana by President of the FIA Mr. Jean Todt and Vice President Jose Abed in August 2013 who was suitably impressed with our plans for developing racing in Guyana. We were lucky to have Mr. Abed again for our November International event which he skipped the Formula 1 Race in Brazil to attend.”
Carpenter spoke of the personal e-mail he received from the FIA President following his visit informing that he was optimistic about the organisation’s development and assured his support in the future.
The President stated that Guyana has applied for and will access assistance from the FIA in 2014 for the training of marshals and stewards; will receive flags used in international events; will conduct a comprehensive review of South Dakota and develop a new plan that can suit Guyana and its economic ability; will be sending up the Top Driver and Karter for the FIA awards Ceremony this month; take advantage of the access to the Young Driver Training Programme; will discuss the possibility of co-hosting an International Rally together with FIA and Gov’t and explore Sport opportunities that can promote Guyana as a sport tourism destination.
He added that the club will use this track record to now align itself over the coming years with the FIM for motorcycles and CIK for Karting.
“What has been highlighted and must be taken on head-on is to ensure we are aiming for the highest possible safety standard at South Dakota. GMR&SC has also been appointed a Mobility Partner of the FIA which is the opportunity to partner with all of Guyana as we promote the safe use of our roads. We as motor Racers must make a concentrated effort to promote safe road use and tell our friends and family leave the racing for the track.”
Carpenter thanked all for their support during 2012/2013 and wished the new committee all success for 2014, before inviting all to be onboard as the club strives to continue to build motorsport in Guyana.

---

---