After last holding elections in 2017, the Guyana Chess Federation (GCF) is set to elect office bearers on July 21 at Olympic House, Lililendaal while a new constitution is expected to be tabled along with a five-year plan.
Speaking exclusively to Stabroek Sport, executive of the current federation, Frankie Farley, explained that the new constitution has to be ratified by the General Assembly.
The vice-president of the GCF stated that he is in support of a new constitution since the old one was “vague” and filled with ambiguity in certain clauses especially as it relates to membership.”
The executive was unable to confirm the procedure as it relates to the ratification of the constitution or the elections coming first, saying that there is still some clarity needed on the issues.
Farley chaired an “Annual General Meeting Committee” along with Loris Nathoo and Davion Mars and they proposed a number of changes to be made relating to the election of office bearers.
Should the elections be held after the passing of the new constitution, it would mean the financial members of the GCF under 18 years of age, will be unable to vote and the establishment of a voters’ list.
The document presented by the committee stated “since it [the old process for elections] did not exclude children from the voting process it could result in manipulation of young impressionable minds to vote for particular candidates without the benefit if considering a wider set of issues that usually develops with age and achieving adulthood.”
The document further posed another option of having the list of registered and fully paid members be submitted with a closing date and agreed on with at least six weeks’ notice.
In the new constitution, elections will be held bi-annually with Article 10 b (iv) stating: “the purpose of the Annual National Conference shall be: in each alternate year, to elect members of the executive federation.
Farley was in support of the term limit extended to two years saying “based on the developmental plan and the implementation, it has to do with those factors as we try to merit it along that line.”
Farley, who had been tipped to run for the presidency said he was still “thoughtful of it” with him still needing “to establish a team and see where this is going.”
Incumbent President, James Bond also told Stabroek Sport that he intends to seek re-election.
Candidate Master, Wendell Meusa had also thrown his hat in the ring for the job but has since reconsidered that move but has come out criticizing both of the potential candidates, stating that they offer nothing to chess since taking office, thus he will abstain from voting at the elections.
Meusa had opted out of the current National Championships which he won last year because of the GCF not hosting elections.
Farley clarified that the body could not have hosted elections because “there are a lot of issues we are trying to resolve and I think the Olympiad had coincide with that period of time and there are a lot of other issues which I prefer to discuss face to face…based on my understanding from the treasurer, Davion Mars they are in a position to do that [produce financial records].”
Additionally, there is a submission for a five year plan by the current executives to which will look to target the growth of chess.
At the meeting, “a submission of a five-year plan will be made which will mirror the integration of chess into schools with the old on written for the 10 regions…the whole idea is to go into the school system in the regional structure so that took some time over the years to collaborate with the Ministry of Education and a few other stake holders. Along with that there is a lot of youth groups under the police in a lot of communities, in the prison systems and organizations,” Farley said.
