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Buckley ousts Richards in landslide PAJ victory Vaughn Davis
Monday, July 28, 2008
BYRON Buckley yesterday secured 136 media votes to wipe out rival Desmond Richards in the race for Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) president.
Making his first address as president, Buckley committed himself to ensuring that his tenure was successful in the eyes of the membership.
Veteran photographer Headley 'Delmar' Samuels (left) hugs new Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) President Byron Buckley after Buckley's win at the PAJ, St Andrew headquarters yesterday. Buckley secured 136 votes to win the presidency over Desmond Richards. (Photo:Naphtali Junior)
"I commit myself to ensure that my team will do a good, sterling job in our 12 months," he said.
Buckley also pledged to reactivate closed chapters of the PAJ that had developed in the island, as well as to place special focus on providing training programmes to address the various needs of media practitioners across the island.
Despite lengthy delays in the PAJ annual general meeting, which saw the election beginning at 3:15 pm instead of the scheduled 1:30 pm, the registered PAJ members, most of whom had already declared their support for Buckley via "Buckley for President" T-shirts, cast their votes through secret ballot. And after the votes were tallied it was declared that Buckley had received 136 votes to Richards' 12.
Buckley's slate of candidates to form the executive of the PAJ were then ushered in en-bloc even though there were other nominations. Veteran journalist Fae Ellington was selected as first vice-president and Executive Editor in charge of Publications for the Observer, Vernon Davidson, was selected as second vice president.
Naomi Francis of Nationwide News Network was selected as secretary, Irvine Forbes of CVM Television was names assistant secretary and Milton Walker of Radio Jamaica Ltd was selected as treasurer of the PAJ.
Forming Buckley's board of directors were Daraine Luton and Janet Silvera of the Gleaner ; Dara Smith of CVM Television and journalist O Roger Hutchinson.
Earlier, Richards, who had led the PAJ for the last three years, tackled the issue of allegations of electioneering on the part of Buckley's campaign team.
"Some of us are not here of our own accord. you are welcome to vote. But vote not for one day, vote for the sustainability of the organisation. If you feel that Byron is the person who can sustain the PAJ then go ahead," he said.
"The day that we set a precedent that we are for sale will be a day we live to regret. What I want to do is preserve the integrity of the organisation."
For his part, Buckley commended Richards on his tenure as PAJ president, crediting the journalist with giving his executive a firm foundation on which to build
Buckley ousts Richards in landslide PAJ victory Vaughn Davis
Monday, July 28, 2008
BYRON Buckley yesterday secured 136 media votes to wipe out rival Desmond Richards in the race for Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) president.
Making his first address as president, Buckley committed himself to ensuring that his tenure was successful in the eyes of the membership.
Veteran photographer Headley 'Delmar' Samuels (left) hugs new Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) President Byron Buckley after Buckley's win at the PAJ, St Andrew headquarters yesterday. Buckley secured 136 votes to win the presidency over Desmond Richards. (Photo:Naphtali Junior) "I commit myself to ensure that my team will do a good, sterling job in our 12 months," he said.
Buckley also pledged to reactivate closed chapters of the PAJ that had developed in the island, as well as to place special focus on providing training programmes to address the various needs of media practitioners across the island.
Despite lengthy delays in the PAJ annual general meeting, which saw the election beginning at 3:15 pm instead of the scheduled 1:30 pm, the registered PAJ members, most of whom had already declared their support for Buckley via "Buckley for President" T-shirts, cast their votes through secret ballot. And after the votes were tallied it was declared that Buckley had received 136 votes to Richards' 12.
Buckley's slate of candidates to form the executive of the PAJ were then ushered in en-bloc even though there were other nominations. Veteran journalist Fae Ellington was selected as first vice-president and Executive Editor in charge of Publications for the Observer, Vernon Davidson, was selected as second vice president.
Naomi Francis of Nationwide News Network was selected as secretary, Irvine Forbes of CVM Television was names assistant secretary and Milton Walker of Radio Jamaica Ltd was selected as treasurer of the PAJ.
Forming Buckley's board of directors were Daraine Luton and Janet Silvera of the Gleaner ; Dara Smith of CVM Television and journalist O Roger Hutchinson.
Earlier, Richards, who had led the PAJ for the last three years, tackled the issue of allegations of electioneering on the part of Buckley's campaign team.
"Some of us are not here of our own accord. you are welcome to vote. But vote not for one day, vote for the sustainability of the organisation. If you feel that Byron is the person who can sustain the PAJ then go ahead," he said.
"The day that we set a precedent that we are for sale will be a day we live to regret. What I want to do is preserve the integrity of the organisation."
For his part, Buckley commended Richards on his tenure as PAJ president, crediting the journalist with giving his executive a firm foundation on which to build