Put Off

The much anticipated Annual General Meeting of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation is now set for Saturday, October 20, at 10:00 am at Football House, Murray’s Road.{{more}}

This is the second postponement after the initial September 29 date, and the most recent October 6.

Acting General Secretary of the SVGFF Earl Bennett told SEARCHLIGHT last Tuesday that the meeting was postponed because the auditors needed more time to prepare the audited financial reports.

He said that this was in keeping with Section 10: 3 of the revised constitution of the Federation, which allows for 21 days notice of the AGM.

He said it was prudent to defer the meeting when it was certain that the pertinent documents would not have been ready for the October 6 date.

Bennett said that while the 21 day period was not still satisfied, the October 20 date will be maintained.

He disclosed that the other documents, such as nomination forms, are available.

“We are craving the indulgence of the affiliates, and assure them that they will be ready before the meeting’, Bennett explained.

“There’s nothing sinister in the delay”, he added.

Bennett said that he was in contact with the auditors who asked for two more weeks to get the statements ready.

The upcoming elections have been hotly debated across St. Vincent and the Grenadines, with President St. Clair Leacock seeking to lead the executive for the second consecutive four-year term, and his third straight term at the helm.

The outgoing executive was elected in September 2003 with a four year mandate, the first such arrangement under the revised constitution.

Leacock returned to the top post in 2001, almost twenty years after occupying the prime seat.

In what has turned out to be a presidential race, Leacock has as his main challenger thus far, Ashley Caine.

With the cauldrons of the elections exercise boiling, others entering the fray will be known soon as campaigning gets going.

Bennett indicated to SEARCHLIGHT his willingness to serve on any new executive, but declined to say which post he is interested in.

Apart from the post of President, there are the positions of First, Second and Third Vice President.

The posts Assistant Secretary of Operations and Administration are expected to be appointed ones under amendments made recently to the constitution.

The job of the General Secretary continues to be one of appointment, and is a full time nerve centre of the executive’s operations.

The constitution also makes provisions for five committee members.(RT)