The T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) Annual General Meeting (AGM), which will have on its agenda the elections of officers including a new president, will take place on February 27.
The confirmation was given on Saturday at an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) which was called to amend articles 13.5 and 13.6 to make it legal for the AGM to be held virtually after several clubs raised concerns that the present constitution did not make provisions for a virtual meeting because of the process which includes secret ballots when voting on issues.
The meeting was first scheduled for January 30 but members pointed to articles 14.2.4: 'Voting shall be by secret ballot' and any requirements to amend the constitution if elections can take place virtually during the current coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic which has affected sports in all forms and fashion.
However, a review of the constitution shown that in addition to the secret ballot process that is required, the constitution also prohibits electronic meetings for AGMs.
Upon legal advice from attorney Ricardo Williams, the TTCF meeting which had one item on its agenda started at 3 pm and concluded at 5.10 pm. At the meeting from the 51 members that were present only 47 had voting rights, in which 34 voted to amend articles 13.5 and 13.6, while 13 voted against.
The motion is as follows: "Be it resolved that the following new articles Article 13.5 and Article 13.6 are added to allow for the staging and/or conducting of Annual General Meeting: Article 13.5 - Annual General Meetings may be held by electronic means at the discretion of the Council and Article 13.6 - All articles relevant to an Annual General Meeting shall apply as if it were a face-to-face meeting."
Also, part of the resolution was that, that the Annual General Meeting be rescheduled for February 27.
Incumbent president Joseph Roberts told Guardia Media Sports that: "The meeting was very democratic. There were those who felt that the meeting should not happen and there was no need to amend the constitution, while there were others who felt the amendment was necessary and in the end, everyone was given the opportunity to express their feeling and the vote demonstrated that."
A few days before the meeting Desmond Roberts, manager of T&T's Olympic cyclist Teniel Campbell had said, in regards to the T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF), he will not support a virtual annual general meeting (AGM) and election which is scheduled for February 27.
Roberts, a contestant for the position of Vice President Racing on Rowena Williams' slate for Saturday's AGM, said he intends to make his position known at the EGM.
Roberts explained that a virtual election will be a difficult one to pull off.
Before the meeting to told Guardian Media Sports that: "I would prefer to have a regular meeting where people can come to an area, and after following the COVID-19 protocols, they can do their voting there."
However, at the EGM Roberts did not make any contribution for or against the motion when it was tabled.
Roberts (Joseph), who took over the leadership of the organisation following the resignation of Larry Romany in December 2019, said that the EGM was also served as a good test for Saturday's AGM in many ways and now we know what we need and have to do to manage and execute such a big meeting that involve the majority of your membership on a digital platform.
Roberts will be challenged for the leadership of the organisation by his racing secretary Rowena Williams. There will be ten positions that will be contested at the AGM.