The Guyana Police Force Football Club (Police FC) is questioning the circumstances surrounding it ineligibility to participate in the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) Extraordinary Congress, slated for December 9, 2023.
The GFF Electoral Committee, in a correspondence to the media on December 2, highlighted that four members- Police FC, West Demerara Football Association, Western Tigers FC and Santos FC- are determined not to be in good standing.
The Electoral Committee said: “Please note that Article 15.1 (b) provides that the Member must have had an election of its decision-making body at least every four years. As such, although the respective entity rules or Constitutions may provide for elections every two years, the GFF Statute would allow a party to be in good standing once their election was held within the previous four years. However, that was not the sole determining factor.”
Police FC, via a letter issued to General Secretary of the GFF Ian Alves on December 5, said it is “very unfortunate” that they only became aware of this latest development through a media report.
Police FC highlighted in its letter, signed by president, Senior Superintendent Jermaine Johnson: “As is known, Article 15(1)(b) of Guyana Football Federation Statutes, provides that members of the Guyana Football Federation must ensure the election of its decision-making bodies at least every four years. On the 1st April, 2020 the current executive body of the Police FC was appointed.”
In stating its case that it is complaint, Police FC said that the position of the Electoral Committee is “unfounded and wholly false” and “is a deliberate attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Guyana Police Force as a whole.”
“It is noteworthy, that the Guyana Police Force was established on the 1st July, 1839, by the Constitution of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana and is guided by the Police Act, Chapter 16:01.
As a disciplinary organisation, the Commissioner of Police reserves and exercises the right to appoint the President, who appoints the other officers for the various sporting disciplines, including football with the approval from the Force’s Executive Leadership Team,” Police FC stated in the letter.
Senior Superintendent Johnson further explained that this has been a practice for years, without objection from any governing sport body, including the Guyana Football Federation.
“This abrupt attempt to challenge the Commissioner’s authority to appoint decision making bodies to manage the various sporting disciplines, is to challenge the Constitutional Office of the Commissioner of Police.
It is noteworthy, that the Guyana Football Federation contravened Article 14.1 (b) of the Guyana Football Federation Statues, when it failed to notify and invite the Police FC an Elite Club to the General Congress 2022.”
The letter continued: “Alarmingly, the Electoral Committee of the Federation, has neglected to publish the full list of eligibility criteria, thus breaching Article 7.3 of the Electoral Code of Guyana Football Federation with impunity.
In an effort to continue the development of football in Guyana, the Executive Body of Police FC and the Commissioner of Police are looking forward to a swift and amicable solution to the aforementioned issues.”
The incumbent Wayne Forde will be up against former president (ag) Franklin Wilson at the upcoming congress.
Wilson, reacting to members not being in good standing, said it is an attempt to hijack the process.
