Christopher Livingstone Samuda is the new president of the Jamaica Olympic Association (JOA) after defeating Vishwanauth Tolan 20-16 at the Voting General Meeting last night at the offices of the association.

Samuda, an attorney-at-law and president of Jamaica Paralympic Association, replaced Mike Fennell, who retired from the post after 40 years at the helm.

Samuda, who was the secretary general of the previous administration, but now the most powerful sports leader in the country, thanked Fennell but indicated that there would be changes.

“The election is over and I am pleased to announce that I got the vote of confidence for the office. It’s a new dawn, but we will build on the institutional integrity for which the JOA is known,” said Samuda.

“There will be changes in the interest of sports, but those changes will be seamless. I want to publicly thank the honourable Mike Fennell for the years of service that he has given to the Olympic movement.

“The sterling quality of character that he displayed, the quality of leadership he displayed, also the unwavering interest in the development of the Olympic movement, not only in Jamaica, but regionally and internationally,” he added.

Samuda, flanked by fellow attorneys-at-law Laurel Smith and Ian Wilkinson, also thanked the board members and federations that voted for and against him.

“The movement is now unified. We will move towards our goals as a team and we will ensure that the Olympic movement not only grows meteorically in Jamaica, but is an exemplar to other Olympic movements in the region and globally,” added Samuda, who is also the president of the Jamaica Disability Cricket Federation (JDCF).

Samuda is a founding partner in the law firm, Samuda & Johnson. He is the chairman of the board of directors of the Creative Production & Training Centre Limited (CPTC), a Government-owned film and production institution which was established over 25 years ago. He is also the chairman of the Board of Governors of the Media Technology Institute.

Samuda holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB Degree) with Upper Second Class Honours from the University of the West Indies and a Certificate of Legal Education from the Norman Manley Law School. He was admitted to practice at the Jamaica Bar in 1986.

The new president, as stated in his manifesto, has promised the development of the JOA properties into multi-purpose facilities, revenue centres with office space for federation members.

The offices of the JOA are located on Cunningham Avenue just above the National Stadium and Samuda believes an Olympic sport museum and a sport research centre would also add value to the property.

The Wolmer’s Boys’ School past student points to his outstanding commitment to teamwork and team success, coupled with his competences in sport governance and administration and sport law as invaluable assets which would make him leader of the JOA.

“I just want to thank Jamaica for the support that they have given the Olympic movement thus far. I trust that under my leadership I will not only continue to enjoy that support but they, the public, will give me a critical assessment as to how we can move the Olympic movement to higher heights,” Samuda concluded.

Up to press time last night the results for the rest of the positions were yet to be confirmed but the Jamaica Observer understands that Samuda’s entire slate was successful in the voting, wih Jamaica Bobsleigh Federation president Christopher Stokes as first vice-president and Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association General Secretary as second vice-president. Alan Beckford, vice-president of the Jamaica Triathlon Association won the vote for secretary general, and Nichole Case was voted the treasurer.

Raymond Anderson of the Jamaica Football Federation; Laurel Smith, secretary general of Jamaica Fencing; Robert Scott, secretary general of the Jamaica Rowing Federation; and Yvonne Kong, of the JOA, complete the slate of directors.

The mission of the JOA is to develop, promote and protect the Olympic Movement in Jamaica and to ensure that athletes from Jamaica attend the Olympic Games. Jamaica first participated at the Olympic Games in 1948, and has competed in every Summer Olympic Games since.