SVGFF’s elections deferred by unfinished business

Affiliates of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) will have to wait until early 2024 to elect a new Executive to serve the sport for the next four years.

The much anticipated election was expected to take place sometime in the latter part of this month.

However, a mandate of Football’s world governing body- FIFA, has instructed the current executive that it has to first get some constitutional matters adopted, before elections are convened.

A letter addressed to General Secretary of the SVGFF – Devron Poyer, dated October 19, 2023, from FIFA’s Chief Member Associations Officer – Kenny Jean Marie, gave a background to the set guidelines.

According to Jean Marie, “A visit by FIFA/Concacaf representatives to Kingstown from 28 January 2023 to 2 February 2023 took place to discuss the statutes revision process… During this visit, FIFA, Concacaf and SVGFF agreed that elections for a new Executive Committee will not take place until the new (FIFA compliant) Statutes of the SVGFF are approved by its General Meeting”.

Jean Marie’s letter thus provided the pathway to be taken, for the all- important exercise to be conducted in accordance with the new statutes.

“FIFA expects the SVGFF to adopt new statutes and electoral code which are in line with FIFA and Concacaf’s requirements before the end of 2023… In addition, subject to the adoption of the new regulatory framework (new statutes and electoral code), we expect that an electoral process will be initiated and that SVGFF Executive Committee elections, based on the new regulatory framework, will take place in early 2024”, the FIFA correspondence outlined.

The last elections of the SVGFF took place on Saturday, November 23, 2019.

Elected then were Carl Dickson – President; Otashie Spring – First Vice President; Wayne Grant – Second Vice President; and Dwight Roberts – Third Vice President.

On his election, Dickson appointed Michael John and Geshelle Peters as his two committee members.

At a later date, affiliates elected Yosiah Dascent, Dwight Baptiste, Rosalo Mc Kie and James Browne as the other committee members.

Whenever the date for the next elections of the SVGFF is confirmed, one could the largest pool of persons seeking to be president.

Already declaring their intent and wooing affiliates are the incumbent – Carl Dickson; along with former presidents – Venold Coombs and Marvin Fraser; as well as Wayne Grant, Kenson Stoddard and Renson Haynes.