THE President of the World Taekwondo Solomon Islands Philip Afu has slammed the Solomon Islands Taekwondo Federation (SITF) Executive members who were elected recently as unconstitutionally elected.
The SITF-affiliated Taekwondo clubs in Honiara on Sunday 27 October elected the new executive based on the SITF Constitution that was passed in 2023.
The story of the newly elected SITF Executive members was published in Solomon Star on Thursday 31 October.
But Afu said the new SITF Executive election conducted on Sunday 27 October was outrageous as it was not carried out in compliance with the original constitution that SITF had since 1995.
He said according to the original constitution of SITF, the election of a new executive must include consent and votes from all the SITF associations in the country and this includes all the associations from the five provinces that SITF operates in apart from Honiara.
Afu claimed the new SITF Constitution which Master Joses Dudley stated to have been passed in 2023 was created by Master Dudley to suit the interests of few, including himself.
“I don’t know how did he come up with his own constitution.
“He invented this constitution with few people within SITF because when it comes to electing a new executive, all the associations within the federation must be involved and not only few affiliated clubs within the Honiara association as it was the case on Sunday 27 October.
The election of the new executive on Sunday 27 October was not right and it sounded fishy to me. It must be benefits that they are after,” Afu added.
Afu said the original constitution is the appropriate one and should be followed and therefore called on the National Sports Council (NSC) to ensure that SITF holds a new election for its executive based on this original constitution.
He said a three-month notice must be issued about the election to allow all associations of SITF, including those in the provinces, are made aware of it and therefore ensure their participation.
“The executive must be removed because their appointments are not right as per the original constitution, which all SITF associations know of and should adhere to.
“Their appointments are unconstitutional and only serve their own interests. The NSC should be made aware of this and must take appropriate action to deal with it.”
The sport of Taekwondo has reached five provinces, apart from Honiara. These provinces are Western, Isabel, Central Islands, Guadalcanal, Makira-Ulawa.
Taekwondo was introduced in the country in the early 90s and the formation of the original constitution eventuated in 1995.
By IAN LADDS OSO
Solomon Star, Honiara
