IN responding to the protest filed by the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) over the playing of Garvin James by the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation on June 14 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association’s (FIFA) Disciplinary Committee ruled that “after careful examination of all the requested information and documentation, it was considered that no further intervention was necessary in such context.”The GFF on June 16 had requested FIFA’s investigation and adjudication on a possible violation of the FIFA rules by the SVGFF for fielding a player not in possession of a St Vincent & the Grenadines passport during the World Cup Qualification match on June 14, 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium.

Investigations by www.sportcaraibe.com revealed that Garvin James is the holder of British passport number 523204951.
He is eligible to represent St Vincent and the Grenadines as per FIFA Statutes, but according to the Regulations governing the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, to do such, James would have to be the holder of a Vincentian passport.
It was also revealed that he played against Guyana using a British passport on June 10, 2015 in St. Vincent and the Grenadines at the Arnos Vale Playing Field and in the return leg on June 14 2015 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence,.
However, proof of his Vincentian citizenship is a stamp of the Immigration Office of St Vincent and the Grenadines in the British passport.
But, according to an official of the Director of Public Prosecution Office, It is not legal for the immigration stamp of St Vincent and the Grenadines to be used in a British passport, indicating that Garvin James, holder of British passport number 523204951 is a citizen of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The official added that proof of citizenship is a passport of St Vincent and the Grenadines, and if someone uses the stamp of the Immigration Office of St Vincent and the Grenadines on the British passport, then that person has committed a serious offence.
No word has been forthcoming from the British High Commission in Barbados on the issue, but sources very knowledgeable of the issue and immigration protocols, have told sportcaraibe.com that there could be serious repercussions for St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The source quickly pointed out that the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation could have gotten a Vincentian passport for Garvin James within 48 hours.
“Something is wrong and someone is not telling the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines the truth. Yes, it is to the country’s pride to reach as far as possible in qualifying, but to do so at the cost of the immigration department’s integrity and that of the nation as a whole is not a price we should pay,” The source said.
“There ought to be an investigation and disciplinary action taken. Additionally if there was some underhand activity in having the British passport stamped with a Vincentian immigration stamp to show the player is a Vincentian citizen; that is wrong, it is illegal and persons should be made to resign from office immediately, the source added.”

Editor’s note: Robertson S. Henry is a Saint Lucian sports journalist and photographer currently residing in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Having started his career with the Crusader Newspaper in 1994, Henry has grown into becoming one whose focus is the promotion and marketing of the Caribbean sporting talent.
Over the years he has been awarded many times by the Government of Saint Lucia for his work in sports journalism.

By Robertson S. Henry