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Manniram Prashad renamed to new Gaming Authority board
Former Trade and Tourism Minister, Manniram Prashad, has been renamed Chairman of the Gaming Authority. The body also has a number of new faces.
Chairman: Manniram Prashad
According to the Official Gazette of March 15, the appointments on the five-member board, signed by Home Affairs Minister, Clement Rohee, became effective back on February 1, last.
Also named to the board are businessman, Stanford Solomon –Secretary; Laparkan’s shipping manager, Oscar Phillips – member; Frederick Singh – member and Charles Ramson (Jnr) – member. Ramson is a former legal advisor at the Office of the President.
Prashad served as the Minister of Trade, Industry and Commerce under former President Bharrat Jagdeo. He was not named in the new 2011 Cabinet of President Donald Ramotar.
The authority, mandated by laws established back in 2007, is the body that regulates how casinos are run in Guyana.
It has powers to determine the content of how applications are made for casinos; fees; and even set conditions for the restriction of licences.
Under the Gambling Prevention Act, only three licences can be issued in Guyana. Currently, only one casino is in existence and that is at the Princess Hotel and Casino, in Providence, East Bank Demerara.
Another licence has been earmarked for the Marriott-branded hotel that is currently under construction in Kingston and expected to be completed next year.
Casinos licences are restricted to hotels or resort complex with a minimum of 150 rooms with only workers and guests allowed in.
A major duty of the Gaming Authority requires that it monitors operators of casinos to ensure proper records
Member: Charles Ramson (Jnr)
are kept for inspection, reportedly for transactions and visitors.
The authority will take on even more importance as under new anti-money laundering legislations being considered by the National Assembly, the onus is the body to assess applicants for a license on the basis of “fit and proper” criteria.
Previous members of the board would have included former Tourism Minister, Manzoor Nadir, and Director of Tourism, Indranuath Haralsingh.
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