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The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) failed to satisfy Article 27.3 of its constitution as it relates to holding an AGM while many of the voting delegates are in contravention of Article 10.2.
But, according to a football insider, the elections are expected to take place regardless from 2 pm on Sunday November 29 at the Hasely Crawford Stadium’s VIP room.
(Copyright TTFA Media)
“Everything seems to be in order,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I don’t foresee any issues. Or should I say there are no issues unless somebody raises an issue tomorrow…
“People are of the view that they want the election to take place and it is really for the members to decide.”
This evening, FIFA observers met with members of the TTFA’s electoral committee and secretariat, which is headed by interim general secretary Paula Chester-Cumberbatch, and the prognosis is said to be good for hopes of a football election.
Whether or not all five candidates—Selby Browne, David John-Williams, Ramesh Ramdhan, Clynt Taylor and incumbent Raymond Tim Kee—play along is another matter although, thus far, the delegates have expressed their desire to face the polls.
According to Article 27.3, which stipulates the steps that should precede an AGM, the TTFA is responsible for providing delegates with: the agenda, the activity report, the financial statements, the independent external auditors’ report, and the minutes of the last general meeting as well as any other relevant documents.
These should have been sent out 14 days before the AGM. But, on Thursday night, Tim Kee could not even assure I95.5 FM that the relevant documents would be ready on the day of the elections.
(Copyright AFP 2015)
Worse, the delegates, according to Article 10.2, are required to fulfil a checklist of criteria to be eligible to vote, which includes: a legally valid constitution, a copy of the minutes of its last General Meeting or constitutional meeting and a copy of its audited financial statements for the previous financial year.
Less than half of the 47 delegates expected to vote tomorrow—the players and coaches associations are both defunct—meet those standards while they were advised by the electoral committee that there was an 18 month transitionary period before they had to comply.
FIFA apparently disagreed.
“FIFA’s position is that you must comply,” said the source. “But you have to take into consideration that it is an 18 month transitional period and all parties could not have reasonably complied (between July and November).
“We tried to tell people to comply as best as possible with 10.2… It is impossible for people to comply with all those things in such a short space of time.”
FIFA, as an observer, apparently decided not to intervene. But the TTFA will hope that all five presidential candidates play along to avoid confusion tomorrow or in the aftermath of the possible result.
(Courtesy Chevaughn Christopher/Wired868)
TTFA presidential candidates: Selby Browne, David John-Williams, Ramesh Ramdhan, Clynt Taylor and Raymond Tim Kee;
TTFA vice-presidential candidates: Joanne Salazar, Ewing Davis, Allan Warner (John-Williams’ slate), John Sabga (Ramdhan’s slate), Colin Murray, Keston Nancoo and Kamau Bandele (Tim Kee’s slate).
Editor’s Note: Click HERE to read more about who can vote at the TTFA elections.
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Lasana Liburd is the managing director and chief editor at Wired868.com and a journalist with over 20 years experience at several Trinidad and Tobago and international publications including Play the Game, World Soccer, UK Guardian and the Trinidad Express.
and the corruption and vote rigging continues
..Yes..
Good question Nigel Myers. Once there is a quorum then yes.
Will we have same-day election results?
..You are on the page of the only serious football journalist. The rest are reporters. Abandon all hope..
Lol
Given the relative importance of this election, I had hoped for more editorial commentary in the dailies on the backgrounds and perceived strengths and weaknesses of each candidate vying for each office. I am sure there are “good” candidates vying for “lesser” offices but the paucity of in-depth editorial commentary is disappointing..
The mainstream media cares even less for sport than politicians.
..I understand all that Earl. However, on the ground I am hearing of votes ‘for the devil we know”. Add that to some new board members who prolongated the life of the old regime and we may have a renewed maladministration. Come what may, FC Santa Rosa will be voting for a new dispensation. Sigh..
Amazing…
Gordon Pierre, wey yuh? To be fair, you have to say that this is the kind of journalism you were calling for last night. No anti-TimKee sentiments, just pure straight-from-the-hip description of the reality.
Lasana, you have moved quickly to remove the looming threat to your reputation as a disinterested journalist.
But I still want TimKee to go!
Keith, Rome was not in one day built. Even the mighty Hercules needed more than one day to clean the Augean stables. I don’t think we can hope to get rid of all the muck in one fell sweep.
I say let’s make sure and unburden ourselves of TimKee and with continued – or renewed – vigilance thereafter, all things may well be possible.
..Let’s also remember that there will also be vice-presidential and board member elections. When I look at some of the nominees I see a direct link back to the ancien regime. Indeed, I question their very quality..
I was thinking the same thing…and not just on the incumbent’s slate either…disappointing to say the least.
Well, I doubt very much that an entire slate will get in. So I’m very curious as to what combination might win and what it would mean for football in the long run.
For me, that is the issue. I heard my old QRC teammate Selby Browne say on the radio yesterday morning that for precisely that reason he did not put up a slate. Selby seems to me to be full of sound and fury but, on that point, I am in full agreement.
..Correct. But even the list of zonal nominees includes people who promoted and protected the bull shit..
Maybe some people want to atone. Lol. I don’t know.
After Warner fell, I was stunned to see Richard Groden and Lennox Watson stand up for football during their short stint.
So I don’t have a closed mind on it. But of course one has to keep his wits about him.
Thursday night on I-95.5fm I heard the 4 presidential candidates present (Ramesh Ramdan wasnt there) ALL agree that despite the requisite protocols not having been followed the elections should go on so if they willingly participate it would be highly unethical to turn around and query the result AFTER the results are known IMHO… BUT Lasana does the new constitution address grounds for Presedential results being declared null & void?
No. It just says what should be done. Fingers crossed.
Brian, Think back to the general elections on September 7. We get an extra hour to vote, we encourage our supporters to go out and vote and then, when we lose, we turn around and say the extra hour was ultra vires the Constitution. This is Trinidad, man! Don’t talk ethics as if that word has any meaning when a whole lot is at stake.
Yes. It can get very sticky..
In the end it’s not what the TTFA Constitution says, it’s what FIFA says, because FIFA was very clear as to what needed to take place. If a losing candidate chooses to challenge, it would be very difficult for FIFA to:
a) Not entertain the appeal
b) Not rule in favor of having elections take place all over again.
The latter point being the case since it’s the very Electoral Committee of the outgoing TTFA ExCo who misled the member associations as to the need to comply.
It’s a farce before it even started.
???
That’s a touch harsh. But they will need some luck to ensure that none of the defeated candidates file an appeal.
If they participate, they shouldn’t complain if they lose. If half the delegates aren’t eligible to be represented, there is no way that you can consider the election to be representative of the people.
Stupidity of the highest order:
““Everything seems to be in order,” said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. “I don’t foresee any issues. Or should I say there are no issues unless somebody raises an issue tomorrow…”
Actually you’re right Kendall Tull. An election that can feasibly be overturned is a farce.
The saving grace is that it will be the right people voting. They just have eligibility issues I guess.
That’s one way to look at it anyway.
And easily overturned at that. They should make all parties sign an agreement to that effect to forestall that possibility. Even then, I’m not certain that it couldn’t be challenged.
The people of T&T know about valid amnesties, Kendall. What we have to hope for once the agreement is signed is that we get a judge of the calibre of Clebert Brooks to preside over the trial…and we good to go!
This body needs to be revamp. Pity that FIFA is so corrupted itself that it can’t monitor such organisations. Let’s hope under the current sports minister that the TTFA and the Boxing Board be held accountable for any actions that seem untoward
Oversight will probably continue to be an issue. Not probably yes.
But at least we need to get the machine working properly again.