The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) yesterday issued a response to questions posed about the seeming lack of transparency concerning deals made with Blue Water Shipping and kit supplier MEYBA.
While Blue Water Shipping has been awarded naming rights for the GFF’s D’Urban Park stadium project in return for an undisclosed sum of financial support, European kit supplier MEYBA has entered into a five-year deal to supply the Guyana National teams’ uniforms.
While the GFF deferred to confidentiality clauses as the reason behind the financial details of those deals not being made public, it did not address key issues, such as how those deals were agreed to and how the country’s football fraternity will benefit.
The statement read “We acknowledge the September 15th editorial by Mr. Rawle Toney, published in the Kaieteur News Sunday Edition, which emphasises the importance of transparency and integrity in football governance. These are values that the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) has upheld consistently since President Wayne Forde took office in 2015. However, we wish to take this opportunity to not only address the concerns raised but also to counter certain incorrect claims made regarding the GFF’s partnerships and its governance”.
“The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) takes pride in being a leader in good governance within the sporting fraternity of Guyana. We adhere strictly to our Statutes and maintain full compliance with the regulations set forth by FIFA and CONCACAF. Our operations undergo yearly independent audits, and we transparently publish these audits alongside our annual report on our website. These reports are also provided to our General Council for review and approval at our Annual Congress each year” the release continued.
The body maintained that all of its deals are above board and go through the right channels. To this end, the statement said; “Furthermore, all major decisions within the GFF are made following thorough consultation with the General Council and key stakeholders, ensuring that the voices of all relevant parties are heard and considered in every process”.
The crux of the release in addressing the transparency concerns further read:
“Large corporations have the right to determine what information they wish to protect and often include confidentiality clauses in their agreements. This practice is standard in the business world and is essential for minimizing risk, managing exposure, and safeguarding competitive advantage”.
“Specifically, kit suppliers may need to consider how sensitive financial details can impact existing contracts and ongoing negotiations”.
“The GFF is obligated to respecting and honoring the conditions of our contractual agreements. We assure our stakeholders and the general public that we remain steadfast in our dedication to upholding the principles of good governance” the GFF’s statement concluded.
