Vanessa Dickenson was yesterday installed as president of the National Association of Women’s Football when that body held its Annual General Meeting at the office of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF).
However, her installation did not sit well with many members who attended the meeting, with the intention of participating in an election process. The body did not have elections as there were no other nominations apart from the slate put forward by Dickenson.
Dickenson, who put forward a slate of nine persons; Aubrey Henry first Vice President, Tricia Munroe second Vice President, Sharon Abrams Secretary, Onefa George Assistant Secretary, Candace McKenzie, Rawle Toney Public Relations Officer along with three vice committee members Fiona Mentis, Winston Forde and Brian Rodrigues was nominated by Striking Dolls and seconded by Eagles United.
Returning officer, Lyndon France, who is also Technical and Development Officer of the GFF, said there was no need for voting since the slate was already nominated and seconded by the two clubs that were eligible to participate in the elections.
Prior to installing the new executives, Dickenson said two committee members Fiona Mentis and Brian Rodrigues, no longer intended to be a part of the executive. France then recommended that the two be replaced at another forum.
Several dissatisfied representatives from Striking Dolls of Bartica and Eagles United of Georgetown said that while they had no difficulties with the election not being held, their concern was the way in which it was done.
Representatives who spoke with Stabroek Sports but who did not wish to be identified said they heard of a slate put forward by Dickenson but they had never seen the slate. They said too that they did not know some of the persons who were named on the slate.
The representatives said they were at the meeting to vote but were told that they could not make any nominations as their clubs had already signed on to the slate forwarded by Dickenson.
In the case of Bartica, the women said the Mentis did not supply them with the names on the slate while several from Eagles United, said that Wayne Forde was not the president of the Club, but Tricia Munroe. Forde signed the slate seconding the nomination made by Bartica.
When questioned on the Eagles United situation, Dickenson said “there was an incident involving some of the senior members of the clubs and they left the club and remaining executive and players of Eagles United held an election to elect a new executive which I have information on and it was based on that, that the normal procedures were followed. If you may recall as well Tricia who was the president, Charmaine Wade, Colette and Ronette left and participated with Bartica Female Football Club. Eagles United continues to play football and they were involved in tournaments.”
However, before Dickenson could complete her response or answer any more questions, Acting President of the GFF Franklin Wilson stepped in and asked what was she doing. He then advised that she should not speak with the media until the issues have been resolved.
Those in attendance at yesterday’s meeting were greeted with minutes from 2008 as there were no meetings since then and according to many of the women they found it strange that there was no presentation of the financial statement. They were told that the financial statements will be presented at another date. Wade, former secretary of the women’s association and current secretary of the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) said after learning of all the concerns raised by the two clubs she asked that the elections be deferred but said France and secretary of the GFF Noel Adonis said that the elections should proceed.
Wade said she had never seen the slate put forward by Dickenson and she was unaware of the opening and closing dates for nominations.
