Jamaica Elects Christopher Samuda

(ATR) The Jamaica Olympic Association has its first new president in decades with the election of former secretary general Christopher Samuda on June 27.

Samuda, 56, was chosen to lead the JOA with 20 out of a possible 36 votes over contender and former JOA vice president Vishu Tolan. The election was held at the JOA headquarters in Kingston.

The new president replaces Mike Fennell who has led the JOA since 1989. Fennell is confident the association is in good hands under Samuda’s leadership.

"A very solid foundation has been laid," Fennell told The Gleaner. "I will be leaving and I will comment on various aspects, and I will leave somebody else to then take it to the next level.

"I will be meeting with the winner immediately afterwards to further plan the transfer of leadership, so we are going for a seamless transition," he continued.

The election of Samuda brings the other members of his ballot to the JOA leadership. Chris Stokes and Garth Gayle are first and second vice presidents, respectively. Alan Beckford is now secretary general and Nicole Chase is treasurer.

The four directors are Raymond Andersen, Laurel Smith, Robert Scott and Yvonne King.

Samuda is now president of both the Jamaica Olympic and Paralympic Associations. He campaigned on a platform to institute better governance and ethics practices within the organization.

"Strong ethics and a culture of fair play, an unqualified love, passion and commitment to sport and sport development and a strong corporate approach and practice which my professional practice and my experience in the corporate world, particularly as president of the Caribbean Confederation of Credit Unions and my chairmanship of private and public bodies have inculcated in me," Samuda told the Jamaica Observer.

Written by Kevin Nutley

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