The Jamaica Squash Association returned most of its executive unopposed at its recently held annual general meeting (AGM) at its base at the Liguanea Club in New Kingston. Three members of the executive did not seek re-election and were replaced at the end of the open voting section of the AGM.

Prior to voting, the members approved three resolutions which were presented by President Karen Anderson who chaired the meeting. The approval of the resolutions mean that the association will begin the process of becoming a charitable entity, which it expects to complete by the middle of next year. The association will change its name to Jamaica Squash Limited, trading as Jamaica Squash after achieving charitable status. The plan is to have the constitution strengthened and improved to make it more effective and aligned with its new status.

The returned executive members are Karen Anderson, president; Joey Levy, vice-president; Deanne Pryce, treasurer; Gillian Binnie, secretary; Douglas Beckford, Nathlee Boreland, and Tahjia Lumley, directors. The first-time directors who were elected are Imani Duncan Pryce, Loya Lambie, and Melissa Lie-Yen.

President Anderson was upbeat about the outcome of the AGM and looks forward to the increasing visibility of the sport.

“We are looking to grow the sport. One of the areas that we fell down, which was part of my manifesto, was growth and development and getting the sport more known and more eyes on the sport and more people with racquets in hand. And so that will be a major thrust for us going into next year — it’s really [about] growing the sport and getting it into schools and identifying some talents for our national programme.”

She said that the major highlights for the just-completed year included hosting a successful senior Caribbean Area Squash Association (CASA) Championship in the post-novel coronavirus pandemic; Chris Binnie winning his 10th regional title on home soil; the All Jamaica championship with Julian Morrison winning his first national title and Mary Mahfood winning her second title; introducing the sport to one primary school; and improving the governance operations of the association.