JAVA boss quits

After less than a year

in office, Steve Brown has resigned as president of the Jamaica Volleyball Association (JaVA) effective immediately. Brown, a deputy superintendent of police, was elected president in October 2013.

Major Warrenton Dixon, a member of JaVA?s management committee and immediate JaVA past president, confirmed that Brown tendered his resignation letter last week, saying he would step down effective Monday, September 29, 2014. Dixon also confirmed that Brown had indicated from as early as July this year that he was contemplating stepping down as president. Calls to Brown?s telephone yesterday went unanswered.

A new president will be elected at the next annual general meeting set for October 13. Under JaVA?s constitution, until then, the association?s general secretary, Tracy-Ann Bonner, will be in charge. Bonner was voted in last October, but has been serving volleyball at the club and national level for several years. Nominees are currently being sought for the vacated post. Dixon explained, however, that nominations can be taken from the floor during the AGM.

During his tenure as president, Brown led Jamaica to the World Championship Qualification Tournament in Toronto, Canada, in May. It was the closest Jamaica?s women had ever come to qualifying for volleyball?s world championships.

Jamaica had recruited several overseas-based players, including Brianna Lakman, Simone and Gillian Asque, and Tahleia Bishop, the grand-daughter of former Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop. However, after defeating the US Virgin Islands, the first time Jamaica had ever won a match at this stage of the competition, the ladies lost to Canada and Mexico and failed to qualify for the FIVB World Championships that were held in Italy last month.