Less than a week after Eardley Martin, President of the SVG Volleyball Association, said he was “unfazed” (as reported in THE VINCENTIAN of January 19, 2024) by a move to have him removed, he has bowed to that pressure.
That pressure, mounted by two clubs- Gremlins and Country Roots, had reached a level to which Martin eventually had one response, i.e. to resign.
As a consequence, a new Executive could be elected as early as Monday, January 29, 2024.
This follows on a letter from the Gremlins Club and signed by Nikita Campbell, which summoned clubs to a meeting at the St. Vincent Grammar School from 5pm, with the main aim to elect persons to administer the sport for the next four years.
According to Campbell’s letter dated Monday, January 22, 2024, “I have taken it upon myself to assist in establishing a way forward for the sport… I am therefore writing to extend a cordial invitation to the members of the General Volleyball Body to attend a general meeting for the purpose of electing a new executive”.
However, hours after in a letter he made public, last Friday night, January, 20, 2024, Martin gave the basis for his sudden resignation.
“As much as I love the sport of Volleyball, I do have a life outside of Volleyball and do not have the luxury to be back and forth with Gremlins (Nikita Campbell) and Country Roots (Alicia Glasgow)”, he bemoaned.
Prior to Martin’s resignation, his Executive was threadbare, with only two other members staying the course.
At Monday’s Meeting, apart from the elections, the agenda as outlined by Campbell, also includes presentation of the executive positions and their responsibilities, the nomination and acceptance of candidates, as well as addressed by candidates if they so desire.
Emphasising the importance of people’s participation, Campbell’s letter of invitation advanced, “We believe that a strong and dedicated executive team is crucial to achieving our goals. Therefore, we are excited to gather all members of the General Volleyball Body to participate in this important democratic process”.
Martin had returned to the helm of the sport in February, 2022.