| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Karl |
Posted - Jan 04 2004 : 06:22:15 AM
That Election Day
The Analyst
(Dec-30-2003)
I was on holiday but I must inform my readers of what I gather happened on that fateful day when Creston Boxhill defeated Captain Horace Burrell (53:49) for the top Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) post at the Starfish Hotel formally named the Trelawny Beach Hotel.
Boxhill / Burrell
Getting this information was very difficult as it took weeks to compile the sequence of events after getting small portions of unimportant information, or so they thought, from persons present. Here goes.
The Captain stayed at the Starfish Hotel with his Executive body. Accommodations were provided for the delegates of the JFF at Pebbles Resorts Hotel. Creston Boxhill and his delegates stayed at the Holiday Inn in Montego Bay.
Most of the delegates that stayed at the Pebbles Resorts Hotel arrived on time. A few KSAFA delegates arrived in the morning. Persons of note include big FIFA World Cup Referee Peter Prendergast; JFF Chairman of the Technical Committee Howard McIntosh of Workers Bank fame and Kenneth Black of Black Brothers was also present with his entourage.
However, the biggest shock of the morning was when Creston Boxhill led 50 (out of 104) delegates through the gates of the Starfish Hotel. They arrived in a convoy from Montego Bay’s Holiday Inn (it is illegal to travel in a convoy). Never in the history of the JFF election has anything as shocking ever happened. The Captain and his supporters suddenly became worried men.
The delegates took their seats soon thereafter and the Captain went to work trying to sure up last minute support. He spent a long time with the KSAFA contingent who were all dressed in similar polo shirts except Carlton ‘Spanner’ Dennis. Trelawny was also dressed in similar shirts. The Captain kept muttering “return the Head, keep the Head of the JFF the same, the rest is not so important” as he shook some of the KSAFA delegate’s hand. The KSAFA contingent, except 3, had refused to attend a meeting with the Captain the Thursday before. The KSAFA delegates were smoking no peace pipe.
Leading up to the elections The Captain refused a compromise by claiming he would not work with Boxhill or Carlton Barclay although he would work with Patrick Roberts. Roberts, however, offered to withdraw from the race and act as facilitator and support the Captain for the top JFF post, Boxhill for 1st Vice President since he was also nominated for it, and the rest of Boxhill’s team for the other elected posts – The Captain refused. When the Captain finally decided to talk to the Boxhill team during election week, Boxhill’s team declared that it was too late they had already made their manifesto public - the time for talking had expired.
Let us return to November 21 - At 10:20 a.m. the meeting was called to order and the women’s football team President Elaine Walker Brown said prayers, after which the Agenda flowed quickly. Everyone wanted normal business to end as quickly as possible and get to the meat of the matter, that is the election. The Chairman of the Finance Committee, Allen Morrison, who was also running for Treasurer, came across very well. The Treasurer’s report was not examined carefully as not many questions were asked from the floor.
Lunch was not taken, as no one was hungry.
When the Captain came to speak he said he knew that nobody wanted a long speech to thunderous applause by the delegates. It must be noted that the captain acknowledged that changes would be made at the JFF and said that if he were re-elected and if Jamaica qualified for the World Cup in 2006, all delegates (all 104) would travel to the World Cup. The response from the delegates - utter silence. This Captain then showed a video of his exploit under his watch – same one shown on TVJ as advertisement.
The FIFA Representative John “I do not see the reason why he is here” Collins was introduced as the person to oversee the election, and right away two protest was lodged.
1. Creston Boxhill produced a letter from the General Secretary of the Manchester Football Association stating that the Office Administrator was not a delegate and, as such, was not eligible to vote. The President of the Manchester Football Association Dale Spencer said the letter was unfortunate and his delegates are in order. John Collins of FIFA ruled that the Administrator could vote.
2. The ‘booty’ Hewitt from St. Thomas had submitted a list of the St. Thomas delegates to the JFF the Friday before the election, but the St. Thomas Football Association under the signature of eight (8) Directors submitted another list. Collins of FIFA ruled that the 8 Directors’ signatures carried more weight than the 1 President’s signature (no veto power available).
The Captain’s team had rolled two dice Tim Glaser not one as you suggested he would and he won on both counts. This was a huge setback for Boxhill’s team.
Horace Reid in his professional manner read the delegate’s names, which they acknowledged (Roll Call), with KSAFA, who was placed at the back of the room, names being last on the list.
Voting ran smoothly under Collins’ watchful eyes, and then the count.
Initially Boxhill ran up a huge lead, possibly because KSAFA voted last and were counted first. 5 times the votes were tied, with Captain playing catch-up until each contestant had 40 votes. Captain took the lead for the first time by two votes. Carlton “Spanner” Dennis shouted “Soup”, flashed his fingers and made that sound made by racing enthusiasts whilst urging their horses on. However, Boxhill fought back and assumed the lead and never looked back. Carlton Barclay could sit no more as Boxhill reached the 50 mark. At 52 for Boxhill, the shout went up (especially because one vote had already been spoilt), and reached a crescendo at 53.
Captain Horace Burrell was the loser of the JFF’s top post for a second time.
Burrell was gracious in defeat and left soon after his speech. As he was striding out, head held high, Carlton Dennis (The Captain’s most ardent supporter) joined him.
The brave Raymond Anderson decided to test the electorate by going to the polls and was easily beaten by George Evans, 59:42.
The other delegates on The Captain’s team saw the folly of contesting the election and wisely conceded. There was thunderous applause from the delegates each time a Burrell team member withdrew from the race; thus ending the Conference after Boxhill’s acceptance speech.
A word to the wise - Future aspirants for JFF positions must, as in general elections in Jamaica, please get KSAFA and the West on your side and victory will be yours.
Captain you made a grave error.
The general mood of the delegates was that the Captain did well and is the best person for the top JFF post, but without his entourage. However, he stuck with them and like a good Captain he went down with his Ship.
From: website - 'Wray and Nephew Premier League' |
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