Constitutional reform has often been touted by our local political aristocracy, especially at election time as part of the attempt to woo the electorate and consequently, as well as rather unfortunately, it is also the belief of the gullible.
The allure of a third term is rooted in political conquest and eventual self-aggrandizement. In sport, the same reality and narrative exists. The Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) immediately springs to mind from an empirical standpoint regarding its leadership’s political existence, which has persisted over a period of more than two decades.
The Guyana Football Federation (GFF) – the local governing entity of association football – is currently embarking on the process of constitutional reform. A missive from this august institution disclosed the aforementioned intent which it informs, will be facilitated by the FIFA and regional confederation, CONCACAF.
FIFA had officially communicated to the GFF, its intention to undertake the revision of its statutes, with the objective of ensuring compliance with the mandatory requirements contained in the edicts and regulations of the world body and CONCACAF.
A joint FIFA/CONCACAF delegation comprising FIFA Member Association Manager Sofia Malizia and One Concacaf Manager Howard McIntosh, visited Guyana days prior, to commence and administer the process, a procedure that is expected to feature consultations with members of the GFF and other football stakeholders. The GFF also appointed a ‘Statutes Revision Committee’ to participate in the process, though the composition of the aforesaid body remains a mystery.
Kenny Jean-Marie, Chief Member Associations Officer of FIFA, in a letter dated May 3 to the GFF, stated, “In this context, we wish to underline that we see a need to continue with the revision of the GFF statutes. One of FIFA’s primary objectives is that all its member associations must comply with their obligations as provided for in the FIFA Statutes. In this respect, GFF as a member of FIFA must ensure that its statutes fully comply with the mandatory requirements contained in the Statutes and Regulations of FIFA and Concacaf.”
Many questions immediately emanate from this desired objective. At the forefront of these queries and probes, however, is an important and relevant question. Will the current administration be seeking a provision for the implementation of a possible third term?
If so, what would be the reason(s) for such a quest? Isn’t eight years more than sufficient for the holder of the federation’s high office, or are we in the process of creating another GOA hegemony? It should be pointed out that interestingly, the GOA head honcho has served as a legal advisor of the GFF. Mere coincidence, do we ask?
Similarly, will an increase in the tenure of each term also be considered, shifting the limit from four to a possible five years? Would the GFF General Council support such provisions? And if so, why would such a reality be supported? Similarly, are these best practices of the world governing body?
Are all members of the current administration supportive of such a possible motive? Moreover, and if an actual possibility, why would the leadership of the current administration seek such a venture? One wonders if the COVID-19 pandemic will be pressed into service as a tool to argue the case for a third term.
In the dark alleys of our football fraternity, word has it that with the GFF elections constitutionally penciled for 2023, the candidates for the football throne have already been anointed. Aubrey ‘Shanghai’ Major of the Kashif and Shanghai syndicate is seen as a potential candidate, as well as current GFF executive committee member, Dion Inniss.
President Wayne Forde is touted as the next General Secretary, a move many interpret as an effort to remain influential in the football fraternity.
Notwithstanding, a public decree on the non-possibility of a third term should be declared by the current leadership of the association’s discipline. Anything less can be viewed as intentionally deceptive, and blatantly misleading.
Therefore, any effort to introduce a possible third term by the current administration should be immediately rebuked and lambasted, and equally seen as nothing short of a clandestine, calculated, intentional, and back door approach to political tyranny and dictatorship under the guise of constitutional reform, especially in a sport that has been historically plagued by this disease.
Colin Klass would certainly be proud to see a possible modern-day return or rendition of his lengthy tenure. Any other possible explanation concerning reasons and rationales for a third term or extension of term limits may be rooted in our local political and civil culture. Time and time again, we have seen examples (Kalam Juman Yassin at the GOA and Colin Klass of the GFF come to mind) of heads of political and civic organisation who seem to regard their positions and tenures as their personal fiefdom and seem loathe to ‘pass the baton’.
In Guyana, better should be expected from our leaders, who tend to become engrossed and infatuated with power, privilege and benefits. International trips and five-star hotels with their attendant pampering, are an attractive, and definitely addictive lifestyle. After all, power is not innocent, and political clout, especially for the new age ‘wannabes’, is proverbial oxygen.
