The show must go on - JAAA preparing for AGM in spite of spike in COVID-19 cases
Published:Saturday | September 12, 2020 | 12:07 AMAkino Ming/Staff Reporter
The hierarchy of the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) is to meet in the coming weeks to formulate a plan to hold its annual general meeting (AGM) in November amid the recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
This year’s AGM holds significance as a new president will be elected because Dr Warren Blake is set to demit office after two terms.
The Government’s COVID-19 protocols will prevent members of the JAAA from congregating to vote for various positions.
Blake and his colleagues are trying to find ways to solve that problem.
“We have to look to see how we can hold those elections without violating the rules,” he said. “The JAAA’s constitution has a slight problem where if a person runs for president and he is not successful on the floor, I can be nominated for first vice president. So we have to plan for the best way that we can do it.”
General Secretary Garth Gayle is the only person who has indicated an interest in becoming president so far. But prospective candidates still have time, as nominations will not be officially opened until the end of October.
“The thing is that we might not have an election if there are no challengers because the last time (in 2016) the entire administration returned unopposed, so there was no need for an election. But we have to put things in place because the elections are really due.”
The AGM is set for the end of November.
Blake became president of the JAAA after the sudden death of Howard Aris in 2011.