Berbice Football Association questions GFF’s installation of interim committee

By Michelangelo Jacobus

Documents obtained by Guyana Times Sport indicate that the Berbice Football Association (BFA) has raised concerns about the Guyana Football Federation’s (GFF’s) decision to install an Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee football administration in the county while seeking clarification on the basis and process used for the intervention.
The development stems from a May 18, 2026 correspondence in which the GFF informed affiliated clubs that an Interim Management Committee had been established for Berbice. According to the Federation, Sean McDonald was appointed chairman of the committee, while Shauna Hutson and Quason Liverpool were named members.
The GFF stated that the IMC assumed responsibility for the daily operations and administration of football in Berbice from May 18 and would remain in place for a minimum period of one year. The Federation said the measure forms part of its commitment to strengthening football administration and ensuring the continued development and effective management of the sport in the region.
The move follows an earlier notice issued by the Federation on November 25, 2025, informing clubs that the GFF Council had decided to install an IMC under Article 51 of the GFF Statutes. In that correspondence, the Federation said the BFA had been unable to demonstrate that it possessed a functioning, duly elected executive committee capable of administering the Association’s affairs.
The GFF further stated that the BFA had failed to submit required administrative, financial and statutory documents, including executive committee meeting minutes, activity reports, financial statements and a Member Association Financial Assistance Programme (MFAP) report. According to the Federation, those deficiencies affected the integrity of football activities in Berbice and necessitated intervention to ensure stability and continuity.
The Federation said the IMC would be responsible for administering the Association’s affairs, reviewing governance structures, regularising administrative processes and organising elections for a new executive committee at an appropriate time.
However, correspondence dated May 19, 2026, and obtained by Guyana Times Sport shows that the BFA formally objected to the installation of the IMC and requested clarification on several aspects of the decision.
Among the concerns raised were the statutory basis for the committee’s appointment, the process used to determine its minimum one-year duration, whether any reports or assessments informed the decision and the extent of consultations conducted with clubs and stakeholders before implementation.
The correspondence also contends that the Federation has continued to engage with BFA officials through football administration activities, development programmes and Congress participation. It notes that one of the BFA’s Vice Presidents currently serves on the GFF Executive Committee, while another Vice President recently participated in a GFF training programme.
The document further argues that the Federation has continued to recognise football activities conducted in Berbice, including club participation, competitions and Congress representation, and questions whether those actions are consistent with the assertion that the Association lacks a functioning executive structure.
The correspondence additionally references previous disagreements between the BFA and the GFF regarding the Member Association Financial Assistance Programme and the reassignment of a FIFA Goal Project that had originally been earmarked for the development of an artificial turf facility on land leased to the BFA through a partnership involving the GFF and the New Amsterdam Town Council.
The BFA also noted that in 2024 the Association reportedly had only three remaining executive members after a series of resignations, but no interim body was installed during that period.
Contacted for comment by Guyana Times Sport, GFF President Wayne Forde defended the Federation’s decision and said the matter followed an extended period of engagement with the Berbice Association.
“The Guyana Football Federation does not ordinarily externalise or publicly discuss its confidential administrative engagements with Member Associations. Matters relating to governance, compliance, and oversight are generally addressed through the Federation’s established internal processes and in accordance with the relevant statutes and regulations governing football in Guyana,” Forde said.
He added that the decision to appoint the IMC “was not taken lightly” and followed what he described as a prolonged period of engagement concerning governance and compliance issues.
According to Forde, the Federation identified “significant failures to satisfy fundamental constitutional and statutory obligations, including obligations relating to administration, accountability, record-keeping, and reporting”.
Forde said the Federation engaged the Association through the appropriate channels and provided multiple opportunities for outstanding matters to be addressed but maintained that the required level of compliance was not achieved despite repeated requests and reasonable timelines.
“The GFF Council subsequently reviewed the matter and, having considered the circumstances, exercised its authority under the applicable statutory provisions to install an Interim Management Committee. This action was taken in accordance with the Federation’s governance framework and established procedures, with the objective of protecting the interests of clubs, players, officials, and the wider football community in Berbice,” Forde told this publication.
He said the appointment of the IMC is intended to restore good governance, ensure compliance with statutory obligations, strengthen accountability mechanisms and facilitate a stable pathway toward the normalisation of the Association’s affairs.
Forde further stated that the Federation remains committed to transparency, accountability and good governance, principles which he said are required under the GFF Statutes as well as the regulatory frameworks of FIFA; the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF); and the Caribbean Football Union.
“The Federation expects all Member Associations to honour their constitutional and statutory obligations and will continue to apply its governance standards consistently and fairly across the football ecosystem,” the GFF President added.
In its correspondence, the BFA requested clarification on the legal basis for the intervention, access to any reports or findings that informed the decision and details regarding consultations and the committee’s mandate. The Association also indicated that further review may be pursued through the appropriate channels if its concerns remain unresolved.