Basketball confusion continues…
GABA expels secretary, treasurer… money still not accounted for
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
November 22, 2003
GEORGETOWN Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), yesterday, announced it expelled secretary Perry Woolford and treasurer Eon Andrews with a unanimous decision taken at an emergency meeting Thursday last.
The expulsion was done in accordance with Section 4 Article 9 of GABA’s constitution after Woolford and Andrews were found guilty of dishonesty by the assembly, comprising GABA president Raffel Douglas, vice-president Michael Singh and representatives of affiliated clubs.
The investigation is ongoing and when completed, the findings would be made public, the GABA stated.
Some sections of the media had earlier stated that the two were expelled but it was not until Thursday that the decision was taken.
Following the expulsion, GABA named Scorpions coach Duane Fowler as secretary and Ryad Boyce as treasurer.
The GABA disclosed that the two estranged officials had not reported to the body and they had not returned the association’s property, which includes stationery, thus it had already secured the services of an advertising agency to design a new GABA letterhead.
When Chronicle Sport contacted Woolford for a comment, he chuckled to know that they were expelled and had not been notified of the decision.
Woolford said the decision is void since GABA’s constitution has not been amended and it is the secretary’s job to convene meetings.
The official pointed out that the Executive of GABA comprises himself, Andrews, Douglas and Singh and not other persons as have been named by the president.
Woolford also noted that Merle Jordan’s presence on the investigation committee could not be proper because she was also under investigation for another matter.
He further stated that a unanimous decision could not have been taken since neither himself nor Andrews was given a hearing and that GABA had no affiliated clubs or players for the 2003-2004 period.
“GABA has neither club nor player affiliated to it since they - even after repeated letters which I wrote to them - have not registered for the year 2003-2004. Their affiliation ended in July 2003,” Woolford claimed.
Meanwhile, a press conference was hosted by Woolford and Andrews earlier in the day from which Douglas and his wife, Fowler and Vijay Panday were asked to leave.
Woolford said it was a meeting at which the presence of the president was not needed, but Douglas told Chronicle Sport that he was invited to the press conference.
The expelled officials’ conference dealt mainly with the clarification of issues raised by Douglas at a previous press conference.
Asked about the debt incurred in St Lucia, Woolford said that he could not comment on it because the documents produced by Douglas from the Harbour Lights Inn and the president’s associate Didus Feddy were being reviewed by his lawyer.
Woolford claimed a number of discrepancies were discovered and the findings would be released at a later date.