Breach of Election Conduct of the GFF Constitution: (letter continued)

Dec 04, 2019 Sports

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…Mr. Marco Leal, who is the Chief Officer of Member Association of Concacaf / FIFA, used his Office to mislead the Football Fraternity of Guyana once again. Our media leaves much to be desired to allow such a person to mislead them by his response to the media houses, questioning the hosting of normal mandated elections via Extraordinary Congress (Emergency), instead of the prescribed Ordinary Congress for due elections every four (4) years. I am sure that this does not reflect the will of Concacaf and FIFA to mislead a Football (Soccer) Nation.
I will look forward to Concacaf and FIFA issuing an official statement on this matter. Except for a few, our media operatives lack knowledge and should research prior to any engagement. You must be prepared to ask the hard questions and know the answers.
Mr. Leal direct response to the media and I quote “We (Concacaf) usually recommend that elections be held at extraordinary congresses because the agenda are usually smaller and more focus can be paid to the election process,” Leal concluded. In my 40 plus years in the sport, it is the first time I heard of Concacaf and FIFA advising its members to make a constitution procedural change without recommending an amendment to the constitution, including that of CFU, Concacaf and FIFA. This is a breach of the GFF constitution to host a constitutionally mandated General Election under Extraordinary Congress without more than fifty percent of the
Members to make such a request in writing, or without a reason by the Executive Committee for an Emergency Congress. This process takes away and rob the members of their constitution rights, since the GFF, CFU, CONCACAF and FIFA Statues (constitution) was not amended to accommodate such change for mandated elections from Ordinary to Extraordinary Congress, nullifying the prescribed agenda to conduct Constitution Mandated Elections under Ordinary Congress.
Elections cover a four (4) years period and a lot has to be discuss and all the Members have an opportunity to form the agenda items through the mandated agenda under Ordinary Congress, which covered all aspects of the sport going forward, as against Extra Ordinary (Emergency) Congress the agenda only reflect the will of who called the Extra Ordinary (Emergency) Congress and in this case it was the Federation (GFF) who called the Extraordinary (Emergency) Congress and formed the agenda to suit their interest and not the interest of all.
So if it is true, as mentioned by Mr. Leal that Concacaf is recommending that elections be held under Extraordinary (Emergency) Congress, is a sad day for the sport in Concacaf, as any time a member could solicit support of their colleagues (Member Association) and decide that after two Months they don’t like the direction of the sport and call an Extraordinary (Emergency) Congress and form the agenda of Elections only to outs a member or the entire executives. Just think about the message Mr. Leal sending to the Fraternity.
There is a lot of issues to be discuss at the Congress level, especially within the Referee’s Fraternity and suspended and dismissals of officials that the agenda did not cover and left for a third 3rd Congress which in itself is unconstitutional, with individuals serving provisional suspension and dismissal by the Executive and have not been ratified by Congress. Provisional Suspensions only lasted for three (3) months and not exceeding six (6) months when Ordinary Congress is due, failing, the suspension is dismissed immediately. Yet still officials are serving over 10 months.
A significant omission which is missing from the Agenda is the Audited Financial Report for the previous year and the Appointment of Auditors for the GFF. I take it that financial accountability is not required prior to the Selection/Election of Executives of the GFF. What a calamity.
Mr. Marco Leal responsibility at the congress was merely (observer) to overlook the conduct of the elections on behalf of Concacaf and FIFA, while the elections is mandated by the constitution of the federation (GFF) to be conducted by secret ballot and in accordance with the Electoral Code of the Federation and shall (MUST) be organised and supervised by the Electoral Committee of the Federation (GFF).
I will refute Mr. Leal, the Concacaf and FIFA representative here to observe the election as Chief Officer of Members Association. Mr. Leal failed to follow and respect that there are mandated criteria to be observed before an Extraordinary Congress can be call and convened, his explanation that provision is being made under Extraordinary Congress is correct and can be call at any time by the Executive of the Federation (GFF), but no reason was given for such election under Extraordinary Congress.
Mr. Clinton Urling made a few comments regarding the Extra Ordinary Congress and the reduction of the life of the incumbent by Seven (7) Months and Mr. Marco Leal refute it by saying and I quote, “This was also confirmed as inaccurate that since the current GFF ExCo was first elected in November 11th, 2015, it meant that their mandate would have ended on Monday November 11th, 2019,” End of quote. This too is totally wrong and misleading by Mr. Leal, as the Chief Officer of Concacaf Members Association. The mandate of the Executives ends on May 31, 2019 according the Constitution and not on the date elections was last held.
What Mr. Urling was on record saying, is that the Constitution mandate of the Ordinary Congress shall be held every year on or before 31st May and since the election was held on November 11, 2015, rather than robbing the Mr. Forde led administration of their full time in office by seven (7) months, they should go on and regularize the constituted mandate and hold Elections under the constitution mandated date for Ordinary Congress on or before May 31, 2020 instead of November 2019. (letter to be continued)
Collin “BL” Aaron
Former FIFA MA’S Referee Instructor / Assessor

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