Injunction granted preventing JFF election on Sunday

The upcoming general election of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) which was scheduled for Sunday will not take place.

Supreme Court Judge Andrea Thomas today granted an injunction to Beach Soccer Jamaica, barring the holding of the election, which will remain in effect until February 9.

When the parties return to court after the injunction expires, there will be a hearing regarding the entities allowed to vote in the election.

President of Beach Soccer Jamaica, Patricia Garel, had filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking an order to compel the JFF to allow Beach Soccer to participate in the upcoming election of officers as the entity representing beach football in Jamaica.

Attorney-at-law Hugh Wildman, who King's Counsel Valerie Neita Robertson instructed, made the application for Beach Soccer.

Garel contends in the application which was filed this week that in 2022 the respondent, JFF, promulgated a new constitution and article 12 stipulates that Beach Soccer Jamaica is one of the affiliates under pillar 3 of the constitution.

By virtue of that promulgation under article 12, Beach Soccer became a member of the JFF and was so treated.

Subsequent to the promulgation of the constitution, Garel said recognition was given to Beach Soccer when the respondent invited Beach Soccer to send three representatives to the congress on September 24 last year, which is reflected in the minutes of the JFF.

Since the convening of that congress, the respondent has always treated the applicant as the recognised entity representing beach football in Jamaica, Garel said.

She further stated that she has always been the president of Beach Soccer Jamaica, which has been recognised by Beach Soccer Worldwide, an affiliate of FIFA.

She said she has been in communication with the JFF concerning Beach Soccer's participation in the upcoming election.

However, she disclosed that she was informed that another body subsequently created in October last year, under the name Beach Football Association of Jamaica, Co-chaired by a vice president of JFF, Bruce Gaynor, and another director of JFF, Patrick Malcolm, was given recognition by the JFF to represent beach football in Jamaica and to have voting rights.

Attorneys-at-law Hugh Wildman and Duke Foot represent the applicant, while the JFF is represented by Kaysian Kennedy-Sherman of the law firm Townsend, Whyte & Porter.

-Barbara Gayle

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