Simone Forbes wins netball’s VP shoot-out
“I am excited that I still have a seat around the table because I still have a lot to contribute ... .”
FORMER SUNSHINE Girls captain, Simone Forbes, was elected first vice-president of Netball Jamaica (NJ) at yesterday’s annual general meeting (AGM) which was held at the Jamaica Conference Centre, downtown Kingston.
Forbes, who is rated as one of the best goal attacks to have ever played for the country, defeated Garth Summerville 42-23.
The 40-year-old Forbes, who previously served as a director on the board, expressed delight at her new appointment.
“I am very elated about it,” said Forbes. “I am excited that I still have a seat around the table because I still have a lot to contribute, to offer the sport, and so I am happy that the members saw it fit to elect me for this position,” she said.
Forbes noted that she was not surprised by her margin of victory, because she had a very good campaign team that did some excellent work.
“I had no thought as to what the margin of victory would be but, when I heard the numbers, I wasn’t surprised because I had a good campaign team and so when I heard it I was very happy,” she said.
The position has been vacant since February 2020, after current president, Tricia Robinson, left the post to become head of the organisation.
NEW TREASURER
Karlene Waugh is t he new treasurer of NJ, having defeated Winston De La Haye 42-23.
Waugh said she is looking forward to serving in the sport.
“I am humbled that the members placed their trust in me in this role, and it is a lot of work,” said Waugh.
“They have made a number of demands, which is rightful, and I promised when I put myself up for the position to be transparent, to be accountable and to deliver the results,” she said.
Shaneil May, with 51 votes, Karen Baugh, 49, Shawn Murdock, 46 and Erica Ebanks, 43, were all voted in as directors.
Robinson said that she is looking forward to working with the new directors.
“We are preparing for a number of upcoming assignments and so the directors coming in will have a lot to deal with, and so the hands are most welcomed on deck,” said Robinson.
“It is a group and you will have different dynamics and people will bring different things to the table, but, at the end of the day, netball will benefit from their expertise,” she said.