Latest update March 26th, 2026 7:55 AM
World aquatics threatens to suspend GASA over failure to approve new Constitution
…GASA issued 30-day notice
By Rawle Toney
Kaieteur Sports – The Guyana Amateur Swimming Association (GASA) is once again under scrutiny, this time from the sport’s global governing body, World Aquatics, which has issued a stern warning over the Association’s failure to formally adopt its revised constitution.
World Aquatics Executive Director Brent J. Nowicki.
In a letter dated October 31, 2025, addressed to GASA President Yolema Phillips, World Aquatics Executive Director Brent J. Nowicki expressed concern that the version of the constitution reviewed and approved by the international body has not yet been ratified by GASA’s General Assembly.
According to World Aquatics, while the proposed text of GASA’s new constitution meets its governance standards and membership requirements, the failure to adopt it formally places the Association in breach of its membership obligations under the World Aquatics Constitution.
The letter further cautions that non-compliance within 30 days of the correspondence could lead to severe repercussions, including suspension of GASA’s World Aquatics membership rights, loss of eligibility for World Aquatics funding and development support, and restrictions on participation in international competitions sanctioned by World Aquatics.
GASA President Yolema Phillips
“Member Federations are required to maintain statutes consistent with World Aquatics rules and principles of good governance,” Nowicki emphasised.
He added, “failure to approve and implement the revised constitution within 30 days may constitute a breach of membership obligations.”
The development comes at a time when GASA’s administrative and governance practices have already drawn local and regional criticism.
Both the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) have previously withdrawn recognition from the Association, citing financial irregularities, constitutional violations, and a general lack of transparency.
World Aquatics’ latest communication signals a growing impatience with GASA’s internal stalemate and could have far-reaching implications for Guyana’s swimmers, who depend on international membership for eligibility at major meets, including the World Championships and the Olympic Games.
The letter concluded with an appeal for urgent compliance, offering technical and procedural support to help finalize the adoption process.
As the clock ticks on the 30-day deadline, GASA’s executive now faces mounting pressure to convene its General Assembly and bring its constitution in line with international governance standards, or risk plunging Guyana’s swimming fraternity into deeper administrative uncertainty.
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- Director Brent J. Nowicki, GASA President Yolema Phillips, Guyana Amateur, Swimming Association, World Aquatics
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