by EZRA STUART
AN EXECUTIVE COUNCIL member says the ratification of Canadian Joyce Stewart as general secretary designate of the Barbados Football Association (BFA) should be immediately red-carded.
In an exclusive SUN on SATURDAY story, it was reported that Stewart was successful in her application for the vacant post following Chris Graham’s hasty resignation on September 6 and the BFA executive council’s rejection of his subsequent request to be reinstated.
Stewart, a senior executive with over 30 years’ experience, was interviewed by a specially selected group of BFA council members via the social network, Skype while in her homeland. She will now require a work permit before starting her duties.
And at a BFA council meeting last Wednesday, Stewart, a former vice-president of the Ontario Soccer Association was given the nod over former general secretary and experienced FIFA match commissioner Patrick Beckles, and a number of other local candidates.
But a BFA?council member, who attended that meeting, told NATIONSPORT yesterday that even though he was part of the ratification process, he now has a heavy heart as the decision was a slap in the face for the Barbadian applicants.
“In retrospect, with the unemployment situation in Barbados, a Barbadian should have been given the job,” he said, asking not to be identified.
He added that among the applicants, there were some extremely capable people with knowledge of football in Barbados, who could make a significant contribution, if given the opportunity, to assist with its administration.
“You had a former Member of Parliament, a national youth football captain, who is also a qualified coach, guys with university degrees who were managing directors of companies, an experienced journalist and a past general secretary, who is respected throughout the football world by high-ranking FIFA and CONCACAF officials,” he said.
“If the world governing body can see it fit to utilize the skills of Beckles not only as a commissioner, but also as a consultant, security officer and a course administrator, why should Barbados, a minnow in the football world, be turning its back on this individual, who has such an impressive profile?” he asked.
Beckles, a Harrisonian, served as the BFA’s general secretary between 1995 and 2000 and was administrative officer from December 1998 to December 2007.
Not only has he been a FIFA/CONCACAF and CFU match commissioner in international matches and tournaments since 2003, he has also conducted mentorship and training of match commissioners in the Caribbean, North America, Central America and South America.
The widely travelled Beckles has also been a FIFA Member Association Services (MAS) consultant in performance programmes where he has assessed the needs of national associations and conducted administration and management courses in St Lucia, St Vincent and Puerto Rico.
