Over the past few years the disciplines of football and cricket have been affected by court injunctions. Now, that baton has been passed to athletics.
Yesterday, an injunction was filed in the High Court against newly elected president of the Athletics Association of Guyana (AAG), Aubrey Hutson and seven other executive members of the AAG by his predecessor, Colin Boyce who contends that the electoral process was flawed.
Boyce, who was beaten by Hutson in a straight fight for the presidency of the AAG, losing by two votes to six, at the AAG’s annual general meeting last month (January 20), filed the injunction which states that the elections were unconstitutional, unlawful, illegal, ultra vires, null, void and of no effect.
The former president of the association contends that three clubs, Bedford, Royal Youth Movement and Rising Star were not in good standing with the AAG and should not have been allowed to vote.
During an interview with Stabroek Sport yesterday, Hutson who will have to appear in court for a hearing on February 12, stated that the High Court injunction filed against him and seven other executives of the AAG by Boyce is head scratching and negative for the sport.
“To me it is not good for the sport. We are putting athletics in the public domain in a negative way,” said Hutson.
“When Mr. Boyce would have sat at the elections and presided over the AGM, he seated the delegates based on their position and their good standing, he congratulated the new executives and shook our hands and even made a speech at the meeting congratulating us so why this now?” Hutson questioned.
“It’s beyond baffling. He is going to affect every single athlete in this country negatively by this action.”
The businessman, who owns Office Machine Electronic Lab, (OMEL) said that he wanted to resign when he received the legal papers because he was not willing to “drag his good name through the courts” but said that the AAG needs him to be their president.
“I don’t need the AAG. I think the AAG needs me and if that is the way it is so be it. I spoke with the clubs and I told them I do not plan on dragging my good name through the courts and I will resign but they all said `please stay we need you.’”
Hutson added:“So if we have to have elections now or elections down the road, whatever the action is, the clubs are throwing their support behind me, based on the clubs that I have spoken to so far and I feel very comfortable if we should have to have another election.”
He continued “We had a meeting and a dinner with all the coaches from the clubs which I sponsored and the outpouring of support then for the actions that I am taking to move athletics forward was heartening. They all said that they are appreciative of the actions and they all said that it was long time coming.”
When quizzed on the reason he thinks Boyce has taken to the courts, Hutson said: “I honestly don’t know why this action was taken. The Mr. Boyce I knew I am seeing a totally different person. I honestly thought that he had athletics at heart. There is no way that this action in the court can positively affect athletics.”
Hutson also highlighted that all calendar events including tomorrow’s cross country will run off until the court prevents the executive from sanctioning meets.
