Status of GFL executive still unclear
- Matthias, Johnson, Campbell asbent from meeting with GFF/general council
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
September 5, 2002
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) met with the general council of the Georgetown Football League Tuesday night in an effort to resolve the issue of the removal of the GFL’s Millennium Executive.
The Millennium Executive, headed by Christopher Matthias, was removed from office through a no-confidence motion by the general council following allegations of financial impropriety against treasurer Duane Campbell. Campbell has denied the allegations.
Matthias had written the GFF objecting to the removal of his executive on the grounds that the removal did not follow the constitutional requirements of the GFL.
“This meeting was not called in an attempt to protect, defend or re-instate any individual or team.
It was primarily called because of a request made by the Millennium Executive, objecting to the conclusion of the meeting of August 14. The objection was that the meeting did not follow procedural methods and also varied from the constitution. As a consequence the GFF is mandated to act,” GFF president Colin Klass said.
The GFF had requested a meeting with the general council after it deemed an Interim Management Commi-ttee, which replaced the Millennium Executive, un-constitutional after just two weeks in office.
“Clubs were advised that we are basically back to square one where the previous executive is in place,” Klass told Stabroek Sport.
However in a surprising twist, three members of the Millenium Executive including Campbell, were absent from the meeting held at the Georgetown Football Club’s (GFC) pavilion.
Matthias, who is at present overseas, general secretary Raol Johnson, who recently resigned as secretary of Western Tigers and Campbell were not present at Tuesday’s meeting casting doubts about their willingness to return to the body.
In addition, outspoken Thomas ‘Tommy’ Orderson, the third vice president declared that he no longer has the desire to be a part of the slate.
Orderson and the second vice president Frank `English’ Parris were the only two executives at the meeting.
At the meeting the clubs declared that they did not want the Millennium Executive to return to their posts even though their removal was unconstitutional.
“Some members of the M.E have resigned and neither the president nor secretary were present at the meeting. As a result we advised the clubs that under the circumstance they would have to write the general secretary (Raol Johnson) and copy it to the GFF so that the constitution could be upheld,” Klass said.
The GFF advised that a minimum of six clubs was needed to write the general secretary of the GFL requesting a meeting which would kick start the process to return football in Georgetown to normalcy.
The advice was accepted by chairman of the Interim Management Committee Dr. George Norton.
Should the executive fail to meet the general council (as is anticipated) the GFF would call an emergency meeting of the general council.
At that meeting the existing executive could be voted out and replaced by new office bearers. Klass disclosed that the IMC was deemed illegal since it was not voted in by a two thirds majority.
Klass said the constitution of the Caribbean Footbll Union (CFU) was used to arrive at a solution.
“We scrutinised the GFL’s and GFF’s constitution and found that they were quite silent on the matter of the vote of no confidence and the majority needed.
However, while going through the CFU’s constitution it was clear in terms of what is the prerequisite for voting procedures and what items ought to be covered by a two thirds majority.
It is so categorically clear that we concluded that that was the way to go,” Klass said.
“GFF’s modus operandi is to ensure that football is managed properly at every level. Our message at the meeting was that we are here to ensure that everything is done properly and in order.”
The GFF boss pointed out that football in the city should return to normalcy within the month once the clubs act soon.
“With the speed that I have seen the clubs responding, I can say that within the month football in Georgetown will be back to normal.”
Meanwhile, Chairman of the now defunct Interim Management Committee Dr. Norton said he was satisfied with the process by which his committee was deemed unconstitutional but urged that the GFL’s constitution be amended.
“I’m satisfied with the decision made by the GFF simply because there must be some rules by which we are guided.” Dr. Norton said that as far as he understood the GFL’s constitution made no provisions for dealing with such an issue as that which developed on August 14.
“It leaves a clear case for amendment of the GFL’s constitution,” Norton said.
“You have to constantly review the constitution. I’m hoping that we have all learnt something and will make the necessary adjustments. The reality of the situation is that football must not be played just for the sake of playing football. There must be some structure by which the sport is governed,” Norton said.
“If in this part of the life span of football in Georgetown an adjustment needs to be made. Let us do it. Let us make the adjustment before we play and have to stop probably for a much longer period.”
Touching on the issue of writing to a General Secretary who in reality does not exist, Norton said that it was just a matter of following the rules. “It is clearly stated in the CFU constitution,” he said.