Following reports of local sports officials remaining in office despite there not being elections for office bearers as mandated by their constitutions, Minister of Sport, Dr George Norton, said he plans to launch an inquiry into those associations who continue to flout their constitutions in this regard.
According to Norton, associations should be in good standing with the National Sports Commission and the sporting fraternity.
Norton was informed that elections for the Guyana Cycling Federation and the Guyana Chess Federation are long past due but officials of the two organisations are yet to set dates for the elections.
“If this is the case and I don’t know, I will ask the National Sport Commission to take a look into it and make sure that is not so.
“The NSC as part of its mandate should or would normally meet these associations and ask them to do so mostly on a yearly basis… this is the last information I have had… it has to do with them submitting their financial statement as well as the results of their elections and so forth.”
The Chess Federation President, James Bond has accepted that the one-year term has expired since last year and blamed the non-hosting of election on the Chess Olympiad being a priority but vowed that an “elections committee” headed by Frankie Farley was installed to host elections, though no date has been set, despite the National Championships coming up.
In contrast, President of the Cycling body, Horrace Burrowes maintained that his body was in good standing with the international body although according to reports elections should have been held since March.
“I will find out exactly where we stand with that and make certain all the fraternities that might be delinquent get themselves up to date.”
The National Sports Commission has supported the GCF’s bid to host the Caribbean Junior Cycling Championships in August.
They are also supporting the chess federation’s local and international tournaments.
Norton suggested that it was the investment by the NSC to fund certain activities by these bodies that are budgeted for in the National Budget but these bodies are expected to be in good standing.
“Well that is exactly what gives us as the interest in making certain they get their act together because if they don’t then we would not try to help them in anyway,” Norton said.
Norton agreed that there should be no subsidization delinquent associations.
“I would be surprised if the NSC continues to do that… this should not happen and if this is so I would make every effort to have this discontinued,” he declared.
