–FIFA’s intervention restores debarred members’ voting rights

By Calvin Chapman

A LETTER seen by this publication has revealed that the four members that were barred from voting at today’s election of a new executive of the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) will now be able to do so following the intervention of football’s governing body, FIFA.

Those members are West Demerara Football Association, Guyana Police Force Football Club, Western Tigers Football Club, and Santos Football Club.

Coincidentally, the four members that were deemed not to be in ‘good standing’ exactly one week ago were backers of the opposition slate, led by Franklin Wilson, who will be going up against current President Wayne Forde.

Wilson, along with Santos FC President, Ramesh Persaud, had publicly stated that they felt disenfranchised, and vowed to write FIFA, the Caribbean Football Union, and the Guyana Olympic Association. In addition, football stakeholders held a peaceful demonstration outside the GFF this week in order to prevent any unconstitutional removal of the voting rights of those members.

The full letter is as follows:

“December 7, 2023
“Further to the communication of the Electoral Committee on the issue of ‘Good Standing’ that was disseminated on the 2nd December, 2023, The Electoral Committee of the GFF wish to note as follows:
“Whilst the four members mentioned remain not in Good Standing with the obligations as it relates to Membership of GFF, the Committee will revisit its decision to restrict the four members, namely:

(1) West Demerara Football Association

(2) Guyana Police Force Football Club

(3) Western Tigers Football Club

(4) Santos Football Club

from voting at Elections.

As such, the General Secretary of the GFF will invite these four clubs to have their delegates participate in Item 7 of the agenda.

It is important to note that this decision was arrived at after continual discussions with the relevant officials, which culminated in a meeting that was convened on the 6th December, 2023. Whilst there were appeals filed by two of the Members and an Interested Party, we pause to note that the revisiting of the decision is in the absence of there being a constituted Appeals Committee of the GFF.

The Electoral Committee’

Regards,
Rev. Ian Alves
General Secretary
Guyana Football Federation
17 Dadanawa Street, Section ‘K’ Campbellville
Georgetown, Guyana
Tel: +592 225 0892; Fax: +592 225 2096

In response to this development, Franklin Wilson explained:

“We are happy that FIFA has stepped in and brought clarity and justice to this situation of the voting rights of members.

Contrary to what was stated by Mr. Wayne Forde, no one from our slate has attacked the integrity of the Electoral Committee. Instead, we have challenged the Electoral Committee’s jurisdiction to suspend functioning members of the GFF.

FIFA’s intervention has brought justice to an attempt by the Forde Administration to deny the rights of legitimate members to vote. The way they have had to work and rewrite correspondence to members is evidence of how that strategy was detected and exposed.

True integrity is not talk, it is allowing the democratic process to take place and ensuring members are allowed to vote. In the end, we must all abide by the decision at the polls once fairly contested.

And though we are very wary of the shenanigans of the GFF Secretariat we trust in Almighty God and put our best steps forward for Guyana’s football.

Franklin Wilson
Presidential Candidate for GFF Elections”