GFF approves staggered elections
--only three executives to be elected next year
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
August 30, 2002
The Guyana Football Federation has made two amendments to its constitution.
The first amendment staggers the election of office bearers and the second deals with appointment of the general secretary.
It was announced at a press conference held at Ocean View International Hotel on Tuesday that the amendment of Articles 13 and 14 of the GFF's constitution was to facilitate "continuity."
The articles in question deal with the election of office bearers.
Colin Klass, GFF president, confirmed that the amendment was passed by more than a two thirds majority at an extraordinary meeting of the general council held more than two months ago.
The meeting was attended by all the sub associations and affiliates of the GFF.
The amendment gives way to a staggered electoral process which will see three office bearers up for election at the next election.
The other three positions will be elected after two years. "It is not strange to football but may be strange to Guyana. We are trying to have a staggered situation.
"Instead of having an entire executive wiped out, three members will be elected in one year and two years later we would elect the other three positions. This means that at anyone time you will have continued knowledge," Klass explained.
Klass reasoned that it was all in an effort to push football development.
"Over the years FIFA president Havalange and more recently Mr. Blatter have been emphasising the need for some form of continuity." Klass explained that in the Canadian and USA Soccer Federations there is a position within the executive titled Past President.
"Its immediate past president of the Federation sits on the executive until a newer past president is elected and he ceases to be the past president.
"This is done in order to effect continuity. The past president can share useful information with the others to ensure that the system works smoothly," Klass said.
Klass stated that in CONCACAF and the Caribbean Football Union (CFU) executives are not all elected at the same time. "For example you may have the president, a vice president and a member facing elections in 2002. The remaining executive may face election in 2004. As a result of that you will find in CONCACAF and CFU that there will be persons who are knowledgeable enough about the operations all of the time."
Klass explained that the situation does not exist in FIFA since there is only a president elected in that organisation. The other members are selected based on their positions in their confederations.
He said that many of the sub-associations have recognised the value of this amendment and are attempting to institute the necessary changes in their constitutions.
Asked by Stabroek Sport if it was an attempt to cling to power Klass said that it was never a consideration or concern.
"My continuity depends on the support of the affiliates. If the affiliates don't want you then why should you go on? All we are trying to do is to bring ourself in line with CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA," he stated.
"In addition. the position of general secretary which used to be an elected post will now be an appointed position," Klass said.