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Discord in Seychelles Volleyball Federation? |05 September 2019

Thirteen team representatives from the Seychelles Volleyball Federation, which represents more than one third of the members legible to vote, have decided to organise an extraordinary general meeting to address issues pertaining to the legal standing of the local volleyball body and to avoid the possibility of the federation being struck off the list of the Registrar of Association.

The extraordinary general meeting (EGM), to be held in the presence of representatives of the Office of the Registrar, the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Association (Socga) and the National Sports Council (NSC),is scheduled to take place at 9.30am on Saturday September 14, 2019 at the Sports Training Centre, Stad Popiler car park, Victoria.

In a letter addressed to the Office of the Registrar dated August 26, 2019, the team representatives noted that the 13 members decided to call the meeting following the failure on the part of the Seychelles Volleyball Federation’s executive committee in setting a date for the EGM within the timeframe, fixed at the special meeting which was held on August 17, 2019 at Maison Football.

The letter, addressed to Registrar General Wendy Pierre makes reference to the special meeting held in the presence of the president of the Seychelles Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association (Socga) Antonio Gopal, principal secretary for youth and sports Fabian Palmyre, chief executive officer of the National Sports Council (NSC) Jean Larue as well as the executive committee (EC) members of SVF, the Registrar General and some of its employees, in which it was agreed that the EC would fix a date for the EGM, but by August 23, 2019  a date was yet to be fixed.        

It further states that failure to fix a date has resulted in the SVF’s EC being deemed as non-compliant to the Registrar of Association and therefore not legal to operate as per a letter sent to all members by the Registrar on August 23, 2019.

Indeed, a copy of the letter dated August 23, 2019 sent to SVF chairman Ronald Wong by the Registrar of Associations makes reference to the special meeting held on Saturday August 17, 2019 and suggests that the Registrar of Associations requested documents and information to satisfy the federation’s compliance with the Registration of Associations Act.

The letter, signed by Mrs Pierre, continues to state that failure to call an EGM within the shortest delay indicates that chairman Wong had no intention to organise the meeting and questions “whether you were trying to mislead the Registrar”.

It goes to state that the chairman’s conduct is greatly concerning as he has continuously failed to comply with the Registrar’s requests for documentation in regards to “how and where the key members including chairman and secretary were appointed” concluding that “the EC of the SVF has no proper legal standing” and that it needs a properly constituted EC.

“Please note that given this complete breakdown in communications your refusal to meet with your own members and your continuous failure to comply, this is raising serious concerns as to whether there are any practice happening which you do not want to disclose. We are also of the opinion that this is raising question of risks which may be existing, which as we explained it is problematic not only to the SVF, but for the whole NPO sector and therefore the Seychelles, given that we are only assessed by the Eastern Southern African Anti-Money Laundering Group. The assessment so far has resulted in Seychelles being non-compliant in regards to the NPO sector and such conduct by yourself is not helping us to be compliant,” the letter says, advising the federation to at the EGM address the Registrar’s issues of concern so the SVF can be put into legal compliance as soon as possible.

Aside from the legality of the federation, such issues raise questions as to how the federation is managed and whether there is discord between the members of the federation and the EC. Confusingly, a circular memo dated August 3, 2019 from chairman Wong details that volleyball matches will be postponed on September 6 due to the EGM to be held that day.

Furthermore, it begs the questions as to how a federation deemed to have no proper legal standing can organise matches and open the transfer window for second division teams as if it’s business as usual.

On Tuesday and yesterday, Seychelles NATION contacted the Office of the Registrar as to which EGM it will consider as official but could not get in touch with Mrs Pierre.

Coincidentally, this newspaper received a copy of an email Mrs Pierre sent yesterday to all SVF members.

The email reads: “To members of the volleyball federation. Please note that I have received two notices in relation to upcoming EGM of the Seychelles Volleyball Federation, which I have enclosed.

“We have gone through your Constitution and it would appear that there needs to be a 14 days’ notice before an EGM can be held. We are therefore unable to comprehend the notice to have the meeting this Friday September 6, 2019 as it does not appear to be in compliance with your Constitution. This notice was delivered to my office on August 29, 2019, though it’s dated August 26, 2019.

“Given that we have your Constitution and we have the other notice of the meeting for September 14, 2019, delivered to my Office on August 30, 2019 we confirm our attendance at this EGM, to be held on September 14, 2019 at 9.30am at the NSC Training Centre.

“It is important that once and for all matters of compliance are taken seriously by your federation and we expect that this delay will give all members enough time to organise themselves to be present at this meeting and to be able to address the issues as we have brought forward pertaining to the status of the federation. It is in the best interest of the whole federation as an association to have all its members present to ensure the legal standing and continuation of this federation as a registered association.”

Sports NATION will keep you updated on this matter.

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