Tomorrow it is expected that the Football Federation of Belize will be holding its election for a new executive - presumably in the morning at FFB headquarters in Belmopan.
There's only one slate eligible for election - slash - endorsement, but who made that decision?
The slate is led by current FFB President Dr. Bertie Chimilio.
In response, today the Ministry of Sports sent out a release expressing its concerns over the insistence of the FFB to go ahead with the elections tomorrow.
The Ministry says that it appears that the Federation's Statutes haven't been followed. What does this mean? Well for one, they're saying the process to select delegates to vote in the election was illegitimate and there are questions concerning the disqualification of the slate nominated by the BPFLA.
Last night at the MCC Grounds, a splinter of the Belize District Football Association called a meeting that brought together some members of the BPFLA, players, ex-footballers and even the business community. Very notably, the president Hugh Pinnas Staine was not there. But Lionel Welch: Executive Member of the BPFL told the crowd that what's being done is illegal and bad for the sport of football:
Lionel Welch: Executive Member - BPFL
"What they propose to do at the meeting on Saturday only to have an endorsement of Dr. Chimilio and his slate and we are saying that should not happen. What they have done is to say 'listen the slate that was put in, those members that were propose by the BPFL are not to be allowed to go to elections' because they say there needs to be a secondary and there was no secondary, we are saying that the statutes which is supreme is saying a candidate only needs to be propose by a member which BPFL has done. It was just yesterday that FFB sent us a letter saying that the meeting will still go on Saturday and that only the persons nominated by them will be endorse by the congress. We don't even know if they were properly nominated of seconded, you cannot get any information from FFB what so ever. What we are saying to FFB is this - revoke that decision that disallow the candidates, the other candidates Mr. Chuc, the slate to go to elections and also in a letter that we wrote to them, we demand that under the statuettes that there should be an arbitration tribunal and we also pointed out to them that they cannot make that decision to disallow the candidates because that would be conflict of interest. How can they be the ones that are running and then make a decision to disbar other members, that is not correct."
Minister of Sports, John Saldivar, had written to the FFB for them to conduct elections at the District level, in conformity with the FFB statutes and in a democratic manner before proceeding with the election of the FFB Executive. In addition The National Sports Council had also written the FFB urging the Federation to conduct all its elections in conformity with its statutes. But from what we understand, those who have been nominated are to present themselves at nine tomorrow at the FFB headquarters where they expect an election - slash - endorsement to be held.
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