Lothian: Changes coming to TTJ constitution

President of Table Tennis Jamaica (TTJ), Godfrey Lothian, says major changes will be made to the constitution if he is re-elected to the position at the association's annual general meeting (AGM) next February.

According to Lothian one of these proposed changes is the division of the island into five confederations. There will be a Kingston and St Andrew confed, an eastern confed which will have St Thomas, Portland and St Mary, a western confed consisting of St Ann, Trelawny, St James, Hanover and Westmoreland; South Central - Manchester, St Catherine, St Elizabeth and Clarendon and finally a Portmore confed.

"Portmore will be a confed by itself, because we want to look closely at the development of Portmore," he told The Gleaner.

The other changes include extending the term in office from two to four years, adding a third vice president to the executive, changing the TTJ council to a board of directors and changing the association's financial year to bring it in line with the country's.

"There will be a new constitution that we will vote on at the February 9, 2019 AGM. We are going for a four-year term instead of two (years), in keeping with the Olympic cycle," he told The Gleaner.

New confederations

He said a third vice president would oversee rural development and the newly proposed confederations. There are the two vice presidents now, one is responsible for tournaments and competitions and the other for infrastructure development, marketing and promotion.

Renaming the TTJ council to a board of directors is also big on Lothian's agenda. But although there will be a name change, the amount of persons on the board will remain at 16. He also intends to start their financial year in April instead of January.

"The (TTJ) financial year now starts on the first of January and ends on December 31 but we want it to start the first of April and end on March 31, in keeping with the fiscal year of the government

Lothian has served three terms as president and despite rumours of discontent among some of his usual supporters, he is confident of returning for a fourth term.

"I have put in the work and I am seeking re-election. Even in the church, people turn against the pastor ... So I am not afraid (of anyone who will seek to unseat him)," he said.