By Michaelangelo Jacobus
The Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF) Electoral Congress is a mere four days away and is shrouded in uncertainty following the declaration of members’ eligibility and ineligibility (in some cases) to vote at the December 9 elections.
The debarring of four members has largely been viewed as a direct attempt by the current GFF hierarchy to cut down challenges to their throne.
Incumbent Wayne Forde is being challenged by former GFF President Franklin Wilson and the latter has written to FIFA through the sport’s world governing body’s General Secretary Fatma Samba Diouf Samoura regarding the debarring of some of the members on his slate.
This latest development comes on the heels of the GFF Electoral Committee releasing a statement on December 2 in regard to members being in good standing and being eligible to cast their respective votes come December 9. Additionally, that statement singled out four bodies: the Guyana Police Force Football Club, Santos Football Club, Western Tigers Football Club and the West Demerara Football Association, as ‘not being in good standing’ thus resulting in them not being eligible to cast votes.
To this end, Wilson is asserting that due process was not followed by the GFF Electoral Committee in determining the eligibility of their members.
In the letter seen by Stabroek Sport,Wilson writes:
“As the Presidential Candidate for my slate to contest the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Elections on December 9, 2023, we are forced to write to you to point out a grave concern that has to do with the list of members in Good Standing with the GFF which was shared with me in December 02, 2023.
In perusing the document, I have noted that three of the four members, West Demerara Football Association, Santos Football Club and Guyana Police Force Football Club identified as members not being in Good Standing for the Congress are fielding candidates on my slate, the other member deemed not to be in order is Western Tigers Football Club.
It is my understanding that one of the duties of the Electoral Committee (EC) is to prepare the voter list with the assistance of the General Secretariat, the EC does not have the authority to debar or suspend members.
The members were not provided any notice that they were under any disciplinary process or suspended by the GFF and only learned of their ineligibility when the list of members in order was released on December 2, 2023.
The members are deemed to be suspended without due process and the principles of natural justice of laying a charge and allowing the accused party a fair opportunity to defend themselves. None of these procedures were followed.
It is my understanding that the jurisdiction of suspending members is the GFF Congress. Temporary suspension of members may be done by the General Council following due process and such suspension of members is placed before the next Congress for final decision on the suspension. It is my understanding that these members were never allowed to defend themselves.
This unilateral debarring of legitimate members who are only on my slate can only be seen as an attempt to tamper with the outcome of the elections by disenfranchising voting members. It must be noted that these members have all participated in the GFF tournaments and Elite League in its most recent editions.
Surprisingly members are debarred only from elections and not competitions and other activities of the GFF.
As the leader of my slate I am seeking an urgent response to the above as this unfortunate posture by the Electoral Committee and flexing of muscles does not augur well for the sport. My slate is committed to FIFA’s process of solving contentious issues but, given the way the GFF is operating, if FIFA does not step in, we will be forced to take this matter to the Court.”
The GFF Electoral Committee which is headed up by Marcel Bobb in their December 2 release had also unveiled the incumbent Forde’s slate.
Forde’s slate includes Bruce Lovell as First Vice President, Rawlston Adams as Second Vice President, and Dion Inniss as the GFF’s Third Vice President.
Proposed Ordinary Members are Alden Marlslow, Magenze Stewart, Rayan Farias, Andrea Johnson, and Denneze Lovell.
On the opposing slate led by Wilson, Vernon Burnette is proposed as First Vice President, Ramesh Persaud as Second Vice President, and Gregory Wickham as Third Vice President.
Ordinary Members on this slate are Otis James, Raul Jerrick, Althea Scipio, Christine Schmidt, and George Clementson.
Additionally, the Santos Football Club has also written to FIFA’s Samoura seeking intervention.
