Douglas challenges Mc Pherson's authority to install interim body
- plans to resign as GABA head
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
June 7, 2004
President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Associa-tion (GABA) Raffel Douglas will not be seeking re-election when that body holds its elections for office bearers in a matter of weeks.
In an exclusive interview with Stabroek Sports the president said that he made the decision with a heavy heart due to his love for the game and after discussions with his family and friends.
He said that the current state of the sport should be of major concern to all basketball lovers, players, administrators as well as the Ministry of Sport and the National Sports Commission (NSC).
In addition, the president said that recent unsavory events have left him bitterly disappointed and angry. But, he said, he felt that he could only do so much under the circumstances.
Douglas said he had received two recent correspondences sent to him by Colonel (Ret.) Godwin Mc Pherson, president of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and the other by expelled former secretary of the GABA Perry Woolford.
Perry Woolford
The latter correspondence was of major concern to Douglas since according to him it was signed by Woolford who alleged to be the secretary of the GABA even though he has been expelled.
The letter was copied to Mc Pherson and former treasurer of the GABA Eon Andrews (also expelled).
The letter to Douglas stipulated that if Woolford and Andrews were not re-admitted into the GABA by 12th June, then the GABF will install an interim committee.
Douglas told Stabroek Sports that as far as he is concerned no interim body can be set up once the GABA is still functioning.
The president said that apart from that, neither Woolford nor Mc Pherson has the moral or legal authority to install such a committee.
According to Douglas, Woolford and Andrews were given adequate reasons for their expulsion from the GABA and enough time to offer explanations for their actions. He added that as far as he was aware, the former secretary still has not dealt with the issue of monies owed to the hotel in St. Lucia nor has he settled the debt incurred with Caribbean Star Airlines.
With respect to Mc Pherson, Douglas declared that the federation's president is standing on `shaky' ground since he is holding on to power illegally as elections for that body have not been held in years. He added that these matters have been in the public domain for a long time and that it was very strange that at this point in time these actions are being taken.
Douglas said that even though he will not seek re-election, he still has the interest of basketball and the players at heart and will soon take certain action that will bring the situation to its logical conclusion.
The president said that he does not want to disclose his next steps to resolve the matter but hinted that it may take the form of legal action.