Samuda looks set for another term as JOA boss

THE IMMINENT elections of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) looks destined to be ceremonial.

Information obtained indicates that incumbent JOA President Christopher Samuda and sitting Honourary Treasurer Nichole Case are unopposed, while members of Samuda’s slate, whose positions are being contested, have received overwhelming support.

Samuda’s slate includes incumbents First Vice-President Jacqueline Cowan and Second Vice-President Robert Scott, sitting directors Gary Peart and Laurel Smith, as well as newcomers Nicole Grant Brown, president of the Jamaica Amateur Gymnastics Association, Karen Anderson, president of Squash Jamaica, and Anthony ‘Billy’ Wilmot, president of the Jamaica Surfing Association. The slate has garnered 98 per cent of the nominations received, with each member receiving nominations from more than 80 per cent of the member associations and federations.

Cowan, who is president of the Jamaica Volleyball Association and a member of a commission of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has as her opponent Raymond Anderson, former vice-president of the Jamaica Football Federation (JFF), who occupied that position in successive presidencies of the JFF and was, in his bid to elevate himself, defeated last year by Michael Ricketts in the association’s presidential elections. Anderson is not with an association.

Ian Forbes of the Jamaica Administrative Athletics Association returns once more in a bid for the office of second vice-president, as in the last JOA elections in 2021, he was soundly beaten by Scott; and when he defaulted to contest a director’s position, he again lost.

Anderson and Forbes have only been nominated by two associations, while a nomination was received from one of those associations for Osayimwese Osagboro, a retired teacher and president of the Jamaica Wrestling Association.

The elections will be held on August 13.