With the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to plague the administration of sport both on and off the field of play, several regional member associations of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF), are unsure if their respective electoral congress will be staged in this current climate. This is according to secretaries of the East Demerara Football Association (EDFA) and the West Demerara Football Association (WDFA) during a brief interview yesterday.
According to EDFA secretary Gidell Austin, elections for office bearers for the EDFA, which was constitutionally mandated for 2020, was unable to be staged due to the ongoing pandemic.
He opined that while the GFF is aware of the situation, a date for the possible staging of the forum seems unlikely to be realized. “Our election was supposed to be held last year but because of the pandemic we could not hold any meeting or virtual meeting,” he said adding, “No, I can’t say or give a positive word on a possible date.
“I spoke to the GFF President last year and he was understanding of the situation due to COVID-19. He said we would try and get it over with in the first half of the year but the GFF knows what is going on.”
Similarly, WDFA secretary Adrian Giddings said the WDFA was similarly affected.
“It was due to be held last year in November but because of the COVID-19, the elections could not have happened. We have plans to do it this year but no date has been set yet.”
He added that no individual has signaled their intention to contest for the top post.
“No one has signaled any intention as yet but candidates generally come up once the election talk is in the air. At the moment, there is none. The GFF is aware of the situation though.”
GFF President Forde, during December 2020 had decreed that no association should stage their Annual General Meetings (AGM) for the remainder of the year and that once the health situation improved, all elections will be held under strict control and supervision of the federation. However the GFF did stage its Congress December 12th.
