Chris Samuda Returns as JOA President

Incumbent Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) President Christopher Samuda brushed aside the challenge of Allan Beckford to win a second term as head of the apex sport body in Jamaica.

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Samuda defeated his challenger 40-10 at an extraordinary Annual General Meeting on Saturday at Knutsford Court Hotel in Kingston.

However, there were a number of changes to the executive body, as well as the board of directors.

The was the historic election of Jackie Cowan of the Jamaica Volleyball Association, who defeated incumbent first vice-president Nelson Stokes 29-21 to become the first female to hold the post.

Robert Scott, general secretary of the Jamaica Rowing Federation, who served as a director in the previous administration, blew away long-standing administrator Ian Forbes 33-17 for the post of second vice-president.

Nichole Case of the Jamaica Badminton Association was returned unopposed as treasurer, while Fabian Stewart and Gary Peart were newly elected members of the board of directors. They will be accompanied by Laurel Smith, Yvonne Kong and Raymond Anderson, who returned as directors, as Forbes, Rhonda Hutson and John Isaacs lost out.

The audited financial statements were absent from the AGM, but Samuda sought to quell any concerns, noting that they would be presented at another AGM set for later this year.

“The constitution allows us to hold elections without audited financials,” he said. “Whatever is said about audited financials I think it is scaremongering, we have our audit in train and we will present them at our AGM later this year and I can tell you the figures are looking absolutely good, better than 2019.”

Samuda added: “We are exceptionally proud in terms of our records. We have brought a corporate structure to the Jamaica Olympic Association, financial governance that has got the commendation from the International Olympic Committee, so we continue in that vein, we will deepen our member engagement.”