GCF elections adjourned until Tuesday
Despite the continued call for the Guyana Cycling Federation (GCF) to host elections, when the Annual General Meeting was called yesterday, a 25 minutes delay was greeted with much skepticism and the event was eventually adjourned for one week.
Originally set for 15.00 hours at the Olympic House, Liliendaal, the meeting was convened at 15.45 hours with the constitution stipulating just a 20-minute grace period, a point brought up by former acting treasurer, William Howard. President of the GCF and chairman of the meeting, Horace Borrowes then signalled a vote to see if the 20-odd in attendance wanted to continue or adjourn the meeting to which the latter was agreed on.
A representative from Linden Bauxite Flyers reiterated the urgency of the floor to hold the elections but opined that they were acting in conflict by urging for it to be rescheduled.
A number of other issues were raised with the mechanisms of the federation. Firstly, Burrowes appointed Mark Branford as Returning Officer while expressing the need for clubs that fit the eligibility requirements but was met with opposition.
The floor then challenged the notice of the meeting which was said to be 28 days and published, a criteria that Borrowes said was fulfilled. Club members then asked for the notice “written” to them 14 days prior but acknowledged that e-mails were sent.
However, an argument ensued over the e-mails and whether they could be considered as written notice. The president supported the notion that e-mails had been the accepted medium and said that it constituted written notice but the floor aggressively argued for physical copies in black and white.
Borrowes expressed the view that the clubs who are in good financial standing will be eligible by the council.
When the floor asked who the council members were Borrowes, noted that it consisted of him, Joseph Briton and Maria Leaung who were described by the president as “the only functioning members of the council remaining.”
The back and forth continued with vice-president, Paul Choo-Wee-Nam expressing that Briton was not a member to which the meeting was adjourned at that point. When tempers continued to flair, Howard then questioned the president on the financial reports which was expected to be circulated but wasn’t. Borrowes responded by claiming that he was expecting to ask the meeting to offer it at the next meeting., noting that the body did not have financial records for the previous administration.
When persons decided to walk out of the meeting, Enzo Mathews, a top cyclist, pleaded with those in attendance to put aside their differences in an effort to find a solution with the interest of the cyclists at heart.