T&T Cycling Federation (TTCF) President Joseph Roberts will be challenged by former president Rowena Williams for the position of president when the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Officers of the organisation takes place virtually on January 30.
Speaking to Guardian Media Sports on Tuesday Roberts, pointed out that the work he did during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic last year, will speak for itself.
Williams is the current Racing Secretary of the TTCF, after serving as president of the sport in 2010 and 2014. She has been the only female president the discipline which has been in existence for the last 70 years.
Roberts on the other hand is a former vice president of the cycling federation who took over from Larry Romany who resigned in 2019. During his tenure, he started the virtual cycling platform which staged the 20KM Virtual Cycling Time Trial event that took place at the studio of Indoor Cycling Works on Mucurapo Road.
Nominations to serve four-year terms of office have been submitted for all ten positions which comprise - president, general secretary, three vice presidents, racing secretary and assistant racing secretary, assistant general secretary, treasurer and public relations officer (PRO).
Roberts was also responsible for key changes in the cycling federation's constitution to ensure better management of the sport.
The sport's membership will decide on who they want to manage their affairs, but according to Roberts what will be important is for the clubs and members to choose the best person to operationalise and implement on the aspirations going forward.
"It will be about delivery. How can we be transparent in what we do and whether we can deliver an ambitious vision for 2021 and beyond," Roberts explained? The cycling president, along with his executive, has just formulated a three-year strategic plan to take them through this year's expected turbulent period.
The plan, which was done with the help of a conducted SWOT Analysis that outlined the organisation's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, is expected to treat with disenchantment within the federation. Guardian Media learnt that because of this disenchantment, there are many members who will not be contesting the elections.
Apart from the presidency which will be contested by two nominees, the other two positions that will see a two-way contest are the assistant racing secretary position which will see incumbent David Francis being challenged by Maria Toppin-Lopez and the vice president of racing, will also be a two-way fight between Joel Browne and Desmond Roberts. The incumbent is Gregory D'andrade, who will not be seeking re-election.
Joseph Baptiste is set to be returned as a vice president unopposed, while Jacquelin Corbin will not be seeking re-election as general secretary after serving the sport in various positions for many decades. Also, not seeking another term in office is the vice president of finance Ian Cole. Claire-Ann Lewis is expected to be the new vice president of finance unopposed.
However, Roberts, a former basketball coach, sees this as an opportunity to look closer at the organisation and its structure, and how to achieve one of its mandate of delivering goods and services to its members and clubs, saying people maybe be disenchanted from not having cycling last year, due to the COVID-19.
He said: "Part of the strategy for me being the leader of the organisation, if I am given an opportunity, notwithstanding people may be coming from different places, but in leadership, one of the first things you need to have is some kind of retreat. And immediately after the election, if under my stewardship, is to have a retreat with all the executives, and roll out what we have discussed with regards to the strategic plan."
Roberts, the former basketball player and administrator, wants to conduct some assessments that would enable his athletes to contest some regional tournaments, despite the COVID19 pandemic.