Dear Editor,
While it’s definitely not my intention for this letter to be construed as an attack on the character of anyone, nevertheless it remains my firm and humble opinion, that ahead of the Guyana Football Federation’s Ordinary Congress and the election of office bearers, (GFF’s mandate ends on April 19, 2013), the Georgetown Football Association (GFA) should convene an emergency General Council meeting to deal specifically with choosing candidates for the respective positions to be contested within the GFF executive. And as a matter of fact, this should be done by all associations and affiliates of the GFF. Only clubs in good standing with their respective association should be allowed to deliberate, and at the conclusion a common consensus would be arrived at in relation to the candidate or candidates to be nominated or seconded.
Editor, this now brings me to a pertinent point: a specific executive/club has indicated that Secretary of the GFA, Christopher Matthias, is the GFA’s preferred nominee for the GFF presidency. I find this to be alarming, since the individual over the last two years has been and continues to be subordinate to the GFA’s president, Vernon Burnett. With two assistant secretary positions to be contested in the GFF elections, wouldn’t it have been more prudent for Mr Matthias to contest one of these, allowing the GFA to support a worthwhile individual for the presidency? Has it dawned on anyone that should Mr Matthias accede to the presidency, Mr Burnett would become his subordinate? Does this conform to protocol norms?
Finally, in the run-up to the elections which will entail extensive campaigning, Mr Matthias may be called upon to address general councils of different associations on short notice. Would this affect his work as Secretary of the GFA? Would he step down in pursuit of his presidential aspirations, should the race become close? What would be more interesting is if Mr Matthias received overwhelming support for another position. Would he accept, or would he indicate an interest in the presidency only? Nevertheless, best of luck to him in his endeavours.
Yours faithfully,
Lester Sealey
