By Paul A. Reid, Staff ReporterWESTERN BUREAU: THE ELECTION of former national team manager and president of the Clarendon Football Association (CFA), Crenston Boxhill, over long-time football boss Captain Horace Burrell by five votes, was hailed as "very fair and transparent".
The kudos came from none other than noted American sports attorney, John Collins, the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Associations of Football (CONCACAF) representative overseeing all activities at yesterday's Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) congress at the Starfish Resort in Trelawny.
"I thought the process was very fair. There was no issue really, there were just a couple of questions with respect to the roll call and those were resolved in accordance to the Articles of Association and bylaws. I as the independent person ruled on them and the body accepted them without questions," Collins, a lecturer in law at several universities in Illinois, told The Gleaner.
NO QUESTIONS
He said he had done a number of elections of this type, mostly in the United States and for CONCACAF and felt yesterday's went "extremely fair."
Collins pointed out that yesterday's proceedings had audited and signed ballots and "there were no questions and the process went without a hitch."
The American, who also led a number of sporting bodies in his country, including the Women's Professional Soccer Association from 1999-2000, said the process was "very democratic the people voted, the votes were counted openly and read aloud and there were no disputes or questions and it was very transparent."
Captain Horace Burrell, the outgoing president, also hailed the process, telling reporters it was fair, while accepting defeat.
Burrell, who was challenged for the post for the first time since he replaced Portland attorney-at-law Heron Dale in 1994, was at a loss as to the reason for his defeat at the polls, telling reporters:
"I actually have no idea. I can only conclude that the members have decided that he (Boxhill) is the better of the two candidates to take Jamaica's football to the next level and I wish them all very well."
Linnell McLean, the executive officer in the previous administration, was the only person to retain a seat on the new executive body, which comprises all the persons who had run on Boxhill's ticket.
The Trelawny Football Association president was elected unopposed as second vice-president after the incumbent Lincoln 'Happy' Sutherland of St Catherine withdrew from the race.
President of the St James FA George Evans beat incumbent Raymond Anderson 59 votes to 42 for the first vice-president position, while Patrick Roberts of KSAFA won the seat of third vice-president after Manchester's Dale Spencer withdrew. Carlton Barclay won the treasurer position after another Burrell man, Alan Morrison, declined to face the voters.
Anthony Hewitt of the St Thomas FA was the only nominee for the post of executive officer.
