Voter padding in the ARC election!

A record 50 people have applied to become new members to be eligible to vote

A record number of persons have applied to become members of the Arima Race Club (ARC) so as to be eligible to vote in the upcoming ARC Annual General Meeting scheduled to be held on Sunday May 26, 2019 at Level 2 of the Grand Stand at Santa Rosa Park Arima.

Up for grabs are the posts of President, (to be elected for two years), 2nd Vice President (two years) and three positions on the Management Committee (two year-term)

According to a notice in the ARC programme on March, 9, 2019 “the names of every candidate shall be proposed and seconded by members of the Club. The names of every candidate and proposer shall be sent in writing to the Secretary before the April, 15, 2019.”

An email was sent from interim President Baskaran Bassawh’s office by acting ARC secretary Sunita Raghoonanan to about l00 members of the Club with the names of the persons who have applied to become members of the ARC. Sunshine Today has a copy of the email that was sent out to the members.

Members of Basswah’s family

ARC Interim President BASKARAN BASSAWH

Some of the names include members of Bassawh’s family, some small trainers, grooms and their families who live in the squatting area near the race track, residents in the Chaguanas and Felicity areas as well as from other parts of the country

The membership fee is said to be just over $1,000 plus Vat and it is rumored that it being funded by two high ranking officials of the Club.

Some members of the ARC have complimented Bassawh on such a big drive to increase membership of the Club, when other members have not shown interest in horse racing again.

However, they are suspicious of the move before the AGM and are hoping that it may not be a case of “voter padding” for the election to re-elect Bassawh for a two year term. Bassawh, who was Vice President moved up to the Presidency after the sudden resignation of President Brian Stollmeyer in October last year. He later announced a dream plan to revive racing if he is elected for the full two-year term.

But racing observers claim that some of the names being proposed for the Management Committee appear to be a “UNC party group”. They claim that if the 50 persons are accepted as new members, Bassawh may be assured to be reelected President, but the Ballot Committee will have to decide if some of those new applicants are eligible to become members of the Club to vote in the election. Sunshine Today will keep readers informed of the bacchanal that is brewing for the election.