The Guyana Police Force Football Club in a letter seen by this publication has questioned the claims by the GFF that is not in good standing ahead of this Saturday’s Elections & Congress that is set to be held at the National Training Centre Providence. Below is the letter:

5th November, 2023
Rev. Ian Alves
General Secretary
Guyana Football Federation
Section ‘K’ Campbellville
Georgetown
Guyana.

Dear Rev. Alves,

*Re: Guyana Police Force Football Club not in “good standing”*
It is very unfortunate, that the Guyana Police Football Club (Police FC) only became aware that it was not in good standing, via a Kaieteur newspaper article published on the 3rd December, 2023.
In the said article, it was stated that the Guyana Police Force among other GFF affiliates are prohibited from attending the Congress. The basis of the prohibition, appears to flow from an alleged breach of Article 15.1(b) of Guyana Football Federation Statutes. A copy of the newspaper article is hereto attached.
As is known, Article 15(1)(b) of Guyana Football Federation Statutes, provides that members of the Guyana Football Federation must ensure the election of its decision-making bodies at least every four years. On the 1st April, 2020 the current executive body of the Police FC was appointed. Copies of the appointment letters are hereto attached. Thus, the Police FC is in compliant with Article 15.1 (b). Accordingly, the statement in the newspaper article is unfounded and wholly false. It is also our view, that the article is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Guyana Police Force as a whole.
It is noteworthy, that the Guyana Police Force was established on the 1s July, 1839, by the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and is guided by the Police Act, Chapter 16:01.

As a disciplinary organisation, the Commissioner of Police reserves and exercises the right to appoint the President, who appoints the other officers for the various sporting disciplines, including football with the approval from the Force’s Executive Leadership Team.
This precedent has continued over the years with successive Commissioners, without any objection from any governing body, for the various sports including the Guyana Football Federation Executive Body.

This abrupt attempt to challenge the Commissioner’s authority to appoint decision making bodies to manage the various sporting disciplines, is to challenge the Constitutional Office of the Commissioner of Police.
It is noteworthy, that the Guyana Football Federation contravened Article 14.1 (b) of the Guyana Football Federation Statues, when it failed to notify and invite the Police FC an Elite Club to the General Congress 2022.
Alarmingly, the Electoral Committee of the Federation, has neglected to publish the full list of eligibility criteria, thus breaching Article 7.3 of the Electoral Code of Guyana Football Federation with impunity.
In an effort to continue the development of football in Guyana, the Executive Body of Police FC and the Commissioner of Police are looking forward to a swift and amicable solution to the aforementioned issues.