We had to take Dick! TTOC offers curt Thema response and vows to “resist potential distractions”

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) reiterated today that it had “no choice but to include Ms Marisa Dick in the TeamTTO Rio 2016 delegation.”

However, the local Olympic body was mostly tight-lipped about the nine questions tabled by the legal team of Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Thema Williams, which were raised at a midweek media conference.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Thema Williams (centre) is flanked by (from left) Tots and Tumblers gymnastics club owner Annette Telfer and attorneys Keith Scotland, Dr Emir Crowne and Reza Ramjohn at a press conference on 27 April 2016 at the Virtus Chambers in Port of Spain. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Thema Williams (centre) is flanked by (from left) Tots and Tumblers gymnastics club owner Annette Telfer and attorneys Keith Scotland, Dr Emir Crowne and Reza Ramjohn at a press conference on 27 April 2016 at the Virtus Chambers in Port of Spain.
(Courtesy Wired868)

Williams has a TT$11.3 million lawsuit against the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) and its present and past officials David Marquez, Akil Wattley and Ricardo and Donna Lue Shue for her controversial de-accreditation from the Rio Olympic Test Event on 16 April 2016.

The TTGF replaced Williams with Dick on the eve of the competition and the Canada-born gymnast went on to represent Trinidad and Tobago at the Rio Olympics.

High court matter notwithstanding, Williams’ legal team, which is headed by Martin Daly, SC, and Keith Scotland, felt the TTOC owed it to the gymnast and the country to give details on what investigations were done between 16 April 2016 and 2 May 2016 when the body agreed to take Dick to the Olympics.

“What investigations did they conduct into the Gymnastics Federation’s withdrawal of Thema from the Rio Test Event and from the Rio Olympics before they decided to ratify an athlete to replace Thema?

“On the basis of what information and received from whom did they make their decision to ratify?

“[…] Before ratifying another athlete to take Thema’s place, did they consider and apply their stated principles to ‘preserve human dignity’ and their own recognition that: ‘any form of discrimination with regard to country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic movement’?”

Photo: TTOC president Brian Lewis (right) and TTOC executive member and NAAA president Ephraim Serrette. (Courtesy NAAA)
Photo: TTOC president Brian Lewis (right) and TTOC executive member and NAAA president Ephraim Serrette.
(Courtesy NAAA)

The TTOC games management committee which made the call comprised secretary general Annette Knott, Ian Hypolite, Dr Terrence Ali and Diane Henderson.

On 26 April 2017, Williams said that the TTOC never contacted her to hear her side of the story—even up until this date.

The TTOC, which is led by president Brian Lewis, said it continues to follow Williams’ legal matter closely. However, in a media statement, the body vowed not to be distracted by it.

“As an independent body, the TTOC must continue to resist pressures including those of a political, legal, religious and economic nature that would potentially distract from its larger responsibility to all athletes in Trinidad and Tobago,” said the TTOC statement. “The TTOC takes its role to develop and protect the Olympic Movement and Sport throughout Trinidad and Tobago seriously, and therefore cannot offer any further comment on the on-going matter involving Ms Thema Williams and the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF).”


Instead, the Olympic body backed its own games management committee for adhering to its process, which meant confirming Dick’s eligibility and determining whether the qualification process had been followed as far as the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) was concerned.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago's Marisa Dick performs on the balance beam at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 7 August 2016. (Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago’s Marisa Dick performs on the balance beam at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on 7 August 2016.
(Courtesy Sean Morrison/Wired868)

Since Dick passed both tests, the TTOC said it felt bound to select her “after two days of intense discussion, and the consideration of submissions by several entities including FIG, the TTGF, and legal advice.”

At the time of ratifying Dick, Lewis told the media that the TTOC intended to invoke Clause 13 of its constitution “to determine whether the TTGF had infringed the TTOC Constitution, the Olympic Charter and the International Olympic Committee’s Code of Ethics in respect of their duty to be fair.”

Twelve months later, the TTOC still has not moved against the local gymnastics body or even initiated internal proceedings. However, the Olympic committee blamed its inaction on the ongoing legal fight between Williams and the TTGF.

“The lawsuit subsequently filed by Ms Williams tied the hands of the TTOC with regards to Clause 13,” stated the TTOC, “as the matter was now considered ‘sub judice’ and thus prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.”

The TTOC statement repeated Lewis’ stance that the local body intended to make Olympic selection more transparent in the future.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago international gymnast Thema Williams. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago international gymnast Thema Williams.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868)

“At this time, the TTOC would like to underscore its commitment to improve sports governance in Trinidad and Tobago,” stated the TTOC. “The TTOC also affirms that the public has a vested interest in the selection of athletes to represent Trinidad and Tobago.

“As such it is committed to making the selection criteria for athletes seeking to represent TeamTTO in various sports available on the TTOC website, and on the websites of various sporting organisations.”

Williams and her legal team had hoped such transparency would have started with the TTOC explaining in detail what led to their decision on 2 May 2016. And Daly did not hide his dissatisfaction with the Olympic body’s release.

“Our initial reaction is that the TTOC has committed credibility suicide,” Daly told Wired868. “But we will respond more fully in due course.”

For now, the TTOC’s response to its Dick selection is, arguably, summarised in four words: “Because. She. Was. Eligible.”

(Full TTOC statement)

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis. (Copyright TTOC)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis.
(Copyright TTOC)

The Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) acknowledges the continued public interest in the on-going court matter between Ms Thema Williams and the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF). This follows the decision of its Games Management Committee (GMC) to confirm Ms Marisa Dick as the named Gymnastics representative to be included in the Team Trinidad and Tobago (TeamTTO) Delegation for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The TTOC maintains that the process of the GMC was respectfully followed including:

1)  Confirmation of the eligibility of the athlete

2)  Confirmation of the qualification process of the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG)

As was stated previously, in its submission, FIG spoke to the legality of the selection of the named athlete, and noted that the name change of the TTGF representative from Thema Williams to Marisa Dick was made in accord with its regulations.

The decision of the GMC that the TTOC had no choice but to include Ms Marisa Dick in the TeamTTO Rio 2016 delegation was made after two days of intense discussion, and the consideration of submissions by several entities including FIG, the TTGF, and legal advice.

Photo: Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Marisa Dick (centre) was accompanied by five police officers at the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) press conference on 20 April 2016 at the Chamber of Commerce in Westmoorings. (Courtesy Wired868)
Photo: Trinidad and Tobago gymnast Marisa Dick (centre) was accompanied by five police officers at the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF) press conference on 20 April 2016 at the Chamber of Commerce in Westmoorings.
(Courtesy Wired868)

In light of the ethical issues raised during the selection process, the TTOC made the decision to invoke its authority under Clause 13 of its constitution to determine whether the TTGF had infringed the TTOC Constitution, the Olympic Charter and the International Olympic Committee’s Code of Ethics in respect of their duty to be fair.

The lawsuit subsequently filed by Ms Williams tied the hands of the TTOC with regards to Clause 13, as the matter was now considered “sub judice” and thus prohibited from public discussion elsewhere.

At this time, the TTOC would like to underscore its commitment to improve sports governance in Trinidad and Tobago. The TTOC also affirms that the public has a vested interest in the selection of athletes to represent Trinidad and Tobago. As such it is committed to making the selection criteria for athletes seeking to represent TeamTTO in various sports available on the TTOC website, and on the websites of various sporting organisations.

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee, Mr. Brian Lewis recently stated, “It is my belief that the modern sport organisation, which is still a member-based, non-profit and even volunteer-based operation, has to strike that balance between non-profit and operating in the business-space, modern environment.”

As such the TTOC acknowledges the potentially significant legal implications and consequences of all its decisions.

As an independent body, the TTOC must continue to resist pressures including those of a political, legal, religious and economic nature that would potentially distract from its larger responsibility to all athletes in Trinidad and Tobago. The TTOC takes its role to develop and protect the Olympic Movement and Sport throughout Trinidad and Tobago seriously, and therefore cannot offer any further comment on the on-going matter involving Ms Thema Williams and the Trinidad and Tobago Gymnastics Federation (TTGF).

Photo: President Brian Lewis (third from right) poses with the new TTOC executive at the TTOC headquarters on 20 April 2017. (Courtesy TTOC)
Photo: President Brian Lewis (third from right) poses with the new TTOC executive at the TTOC headquarters on 20 April 2017.
(Courtesy TTOC)

TTOC executive committee: Brian Lewis (president); Dr Terry Ali, Diane Henderson, Ephraim Serrette (vice-presidents); Annette Knott (secretary general); Nadine Khan (assistant secretary general); Curtis Nero (treasurer); Wendell Constantine, Reyah Richardson, Giselle La Ronde-West (executive members), Dave Williams and Racquel Moses (trustees).

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About Lasana Liburd

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.

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75 comments

  1. Not sure what point you’re trying to make, Lasana. Cause I said earlier that TTOC would sometimes say we’re only taking A qualifiers, for example, where an NSO wants to carry A and B qualifiers. So I think the bit about the beep test echoes that. TTOC works out qualifying criteria with NSOs, largely based on its goals. So sometimes too, you will find in the year before the Olympics they’ll say no to B qualifiers, but three years before the Olympics they’ll say yes to B qualifiers.
    Cause three years before they’re still giving room for development and one year before they’re focusing on potential finalists and medalists and B qualifiers aren’t that.
    But the fact that he talks about it not being unprecedented to overrule an NSO and due diligence and whatnot, speaks volumes about the position TTOC adopted to let Marisa go.
    That overrule thing really isn’t what I suspect you’re sensing it is. It is really applicable to not meeting criteria. It really doesn’t mean to just decide to not let an athlete go. Or an official for that matter. Can you imagine that in the football context? TTFA picks a coach and TTOC says nah, we’re not taking that coach, come again. Or the coach picks their team and TTOC says drop this player and take this one instead? That would be absolute madness. Once criteria are met, athletes go. What criteria did Marisa not meet?

    • Chabeth, I’m not sure what you’re trying to find. All I did was look for quotes from brian lewis on what they will consider for selection before the fact.
      Why do you assume I’m trying to look for points to suit me?

    • Cause we’re having a discussion and we have opposing viewpoints so I thought the quotes were meant to boost your side of the debate. Didn’t realize you were just presenting quotes in isolation. Apologies. No scene. ?

    • I just looked for a story before the TTOC decision to get some clues as to what Brian Lewis and company were thinking at the time. That’s all.
      I specifically said there were pros and cons in there. But cool.

    • Btw, the story points to how TTOC would move in case of a single athlete sport and a team athlete sport.

    • Ok. Missed that distinction in the article. Only saw the bit about the games committee’s process. But truth be told I don’t need the distinction. It won’t change my opinion on the matter. Maybe ppl expected a different outcome based on the as long as ppl understand ttoc has the final say type statements that Brian made. Idk.
      But I don’t think ttoc could have rejected Marisa and I don’t need more of an explanation that what they have offered. You seem to do. Which is fine. We just disagree. No biggie.
      (And again, the lack of legal action against ttoc and the fact that daly et al have said they have no intention of filing suit again ttoc says a lot to me about ttoc’s culpability. But maybe I’m reading too much into the decision not to go after the organization with the final say. Who knows?)

  2. Brian Lewis: “We have sent back selections (from NSOs) in the past on the basis that it didn’t meet the agreed criteria,” said Lewis, “which might have been beep test (fitness) scores or what have you…

    “There may be reasons why a NOC may not take up a place if it feels the sporting body isn’t properly prepared and so on.”

  3. Nigel and Chabeth, this was from a story just before the TTOC made its choice:
    “The NOCs have the exclusive authority for the representation of their respective countries at the Olympic Games and at the regional, continental or world multi-sports competitions patronised by the IOC…”

    The TTOC president explained that it would not be unprecedented for the local body to overrule a National Sporting Organisation (NSO), although they traditionally always strive for a collaborative approach.

    “We have the right to designate and identify players,” Lewis told Wired868. “While we respect the autonomy of the respective sporting association, we have our own due diligence.

    “This is the first time gymnastics has reached this far and they will not be accustomed to what the Olympic Committee can do in this process.

    “They may not be unaware of rule 27 but it is an unambiguous rule in terms of what we can do. There is no argument there as far as we are concerned.”

  4. The message that is sent through this is quite clearly “do as as you please within Trinidad and Tobago; rules, ethics; good sporting principles; contracts; they hold no worth and matter not within our land. HOWEVER; make sure that you abide by all governing rules and policies once you step foot on international soil”.

    Welcome to TTO – our lawless twin island republic. I expected more of TTOC. I hoped for more.

  5. TTOC Constitution Article 17 (Selection of Teams): a) The executive shall decide on the numerical strength and composition of the representative teams. The composition of the teams shall be determined from the nominations made by affiliated members of the Committee, the Executive reserving to itself the right to veto any nomination. Nominations shall comprise the names of competitors in order of merit and the names of officials and their particular functions.
    b) Competitors must comply with the standards laid down by the Olympic Committee or the International Governing Body of the particular sport.

  6. I really can’t see how the TTOC are at fault here. If we agree that the TTOC should have overruled the Gymnsastcs Federation then we agree that when somebody like Ricardo Lue Shue is in charge of the TTOC, they could then be allowed to overrule ANY sporting organisations recommendations as to who should go to the Olympics., once they find a reason to say the selection process is flawed. So the names you listed on the executive would somehow have more knowledge than those in charge of managing each sportng organisation. They should theoretically be able to put their friends and family on the hockey team or football teams etc. Following this logic through, we also agree that Carmona should be able to appoint whoever he wants at the many swearing ins at Presidents house because he has to ratify every recommendation for whatever position it is. The rules are in place for a reason, for when ppl like Trump assume power. Thus, the TTOC has said it is the rules that they are going to address to prevent this happening in the future. I really cant see the guilt here, We know the TTGF are the villians here, why we trying to pass the blame?

  7. Or was it that they allowed themselves to be bullied by the FIG again who had clear associations with members of the TTGF. Never called Thema. NEVER. And can quote from its supposed by laws now after the fact. What about when those same by laws and ideals were being clearly compromised by the allowing of the TTGF to get its way through favouritism and boldface dishonesty? And if they did attempt to right the wrong why can’t they come out publicly and say what those attempts were. If need be clear the organisation’s name. This is the perfect opportunity. If not then for God sake… Hush!

  8. The TTOC Constitution Article 17 (Selection of Teams): a) The executive shall decide on the numerical strength and composition of the representative teams. The composition of the teams shall be determined from the nominations made by affiliated members of the Committee, the Executive reserving to itself the right to veto any nomination. Nominations shall comprise the names of competitors in order of merit and the names of officials and their particular functions.
    b) Competitors must comply with the standards laid down by the Olympic Committee or the International Governing Body of the particular sport.

  9. I am no lawyer but I think the TTOC’s hands were tied. They could not have replaced Marissa with Thema……..and the suggestion that some have made of simply sending no one would have probably resulted in the TTOC being taken to court by Marisa’s people.

    • The fact that they breached their own contract in how the replaced Thema. They followed NONE of their protocols. None. And that is why the TTOC is now after that fact making moves to ensure that all sporting bodies make public their selection processes via the TTOC.

    • Surely the grounds are well known by now Nigel. In short, the TTGF took something earned by Thema Williams and gave it to Marisa Dick in extremely suspicious circumstances.
      The TTOC allowed Marisa to keep that prize that should have been Thema’s.
      If the TTOC’s charter says it has exclusive jurisdiction over who goes and doesn’t and the TTGF falls under the TTOC, then how strong could their case for Dick have been?

    • Yes but the TTOC decides based on the recommendation of the specific sports body and the fact that the althlete has achieved the particular qualifying standard.

      Don’t get me wrong, I do not agree with what the TTGF did, I am simply saying that once the decision was made and the International Body stated that the change was made “legitimately” according to their rules and regulations then the TTOC had no legal grounds to change athletes.

    • Abeo Jackson they are changing rules based on their learnings from this incident.

      I still do not believe that the TTOC had legal grounds for changing athletes.

      As i said at the start, I am not a legal professional so I wait on the sidelines to see how this plays itself out!

    • They are not legally bound to take an athlete!

    • Nigel, it is the TTOC’s team. According to the TTOC charter, they have exclusive jurisdiction. The reason would have to be that Marisa’s replacement of Thema violated the Olympic charter for fair play.
      If the TTOC was to decide to go that way of course.

    • You say “would have probably resulted”. But that doesn’t necessarily mean the TTGF had a strong case. And, if that was why they sent Marisa, then Thema’s attorneys asked the TTOC to say so.
      If the TTOC has exclusive jurisdiction on selection, then it was ultimately their call and their responsibility.

    • Yes but what would have been their grounds for refusing to send Marisa?

    • Not sure people understand the implications of allowing TTOC to overrule the decisions made by NSOs. That really isn’t the culture in which we operate. TTOC has teams, tells NSOs about them and ask for the names of their athletes by a certain deadlines. The only criteria TTOC ever sets is something like we’re only taking A qualifiers, not B qualifiers (where that criteria is applicable to the sport) Advocating for TTOC to reject the teams selected by NSOs is very dangerous territory. Never know who will be the decision makers in TTOC.

    • Imagine a DJW-type as TTOC president.

    • And I’m not sure exclusive jurisdiction means what you’re suggesting it means, Lasana. I’ve always understood that to more mean who’s in charge of the team. So if the football team goes to the Olympics, the TTFA has nothing to do with the team, it’s TTOC who decides everything related to the team. Just like for the world cup, TTOC has nothing to do with the team, and the TTFA decides everything. I’m really not sure “exclusive jurisdiction” extends to team selection.

    • Chabeth and Nigel, the TTOC Constitution Article 17 (Selection of Teams): a) The executive shall decide on the numerical strength and composition of the representative teams. The composition of the teams shall be determined from the nominations made by affiliated members of the Committee, the Executive reserving to itself the right to veto any nomination. Nominations shall comprise the names of competitors in order of merit and the names of officials and their particular functions.
      b) Competitors must comply with the standards laid down by the Olympic Committee or the International Governing Body of the particular sport.

    • How do you view that Chabeth? The TTOC’s constitution says it has the right to veto any nomination. So you must get the qualifying standard to be considered but they can then choose whether to take you or not.
      I’d like to believe the TTOC executive knows what is in their constitution. So they could have decided not to take Dick if they wanted.

    • Well if they have the right to veto, then they have the right to veto. I think the right to veto without qualification is dangerous. But the way it’s written with the bit after suggests to me that the spirit of it wasn’t to deny athletes a spot on the Olympic team. But that’s a different discussion.
      In any case, I would be curious to know when they’ve ever used it to override athlete nominations by an NSO. It’s not the TTOC way to get into conflict with NSOs.
      But I would guess that using veto power in circumstances where you do not have irrefutable evidence that the athlete is at fault and where the international governing body says her selection is fine, would constitute an abuse of power.

    • Plenty guesswork though. Too bad everyone didn’t get same protection from “abuse of power.”
      Veto power is veto power. And Justice Seepersad gets the gravity of this case. Even if everyone doesn’t.

    • Not sure that people don’t get the gravity of the situation just because they disagree with others about what TTOC could have done.
      And all Justice Seepersad’s ruling basically said was that it’s ridiculous for a body/entity to decide that all conflict must be resolved internally. Which is ridiculous. And doesn’t happen anywhere else. Because if you have a conflict at your job you don’t complain, have the matter resolved in a way that you don’t like and then told you have no other means for recourse.
      But I would still be curious to know when TTOC had exercised veto power to remove athletes from a team. Do you know of any instances?

    • And you can veto things in a way that’s punitive to the wrong people and that’s abuse.

    • Many bodies have arbitration clauses. But you can see the level of independence. The SSFL has a list of arbitrators and the parties can actually pick from that list.
      The TTGF had nothing written down and was just too shady.
      I agree that you shouldn’t abuse veto. But I don’t get how you can have veto and say your hands were tied.
      Just say you wanted to send Dick and give your reasons.

    • Chabeth, I don’t say that the TTOC doesn’t get the gravity of the situation because I disagreed with their decision. In fact I didn’t say whether I disagreed or not.
      However the TTOC release said Marisa qualified as far as the FIG was concerned so they sent her.
      And I’m saying THAT explanation is extremely simplistic and makes a mockery of a complex situation.

    • I don’t think “wanted” is the right word regarding sending Marisa. Lol.
      With veto your hands would be tied if that veto would be abuse.
      And if TTOC was wrong for not using their veto, why isn’t Thema suing TTOC? Especially as TTOC has “exclusive jurisdiction” of the team. Surely Martin Daly SC and company have reviewed the TTOC constitution, no? And TTOC is the one who made the final decision. So if TTOC is so wrong for how they acted, why aren’t they party to the lawsuit?

    • The TTOC exercised its power Chabeth. But it is the TTGF who are accused of colluding and conspiring to deny Thema. I’m guessing that is why they are focusing on the TTGF.
      But who knows. Maybe there is information from that two week spell when the TTOC and TTGF were deliberating that might very well open the TTOC up to a lawsuit too.
      Suppose the issue is only that the information on the TTOC isn’t available at present?
      I’m not accusing the TTOC of any malicious behaviour. But I’m saying that there isn’t enough information to make a pronouncement on their behaviour either way.
      All we know is they had the power to select or not select Marisa. And that they never asked Thema about what happened to her in Rio. And they never contacted her period.
      So, sadly, the athlete-centred approach didn’t extend to Thema.

    • Lasana Liburd , I would add that it is more than an “athlete centered approach”. They ARE the governing body. They are the ones directly aligned with the IOC. They ARE the national reps at the IOC. They are the final say in protecting our national interests!

    • Remember one thing Chabeth. The TTOC couldn’t send Thema to Rio even if they wanted to. The TTGF made sure of that.
      So the TTOC didn’t deny Thema the chance to go to the Olympics. Maybe that would explain why they aren’t being sued too.

    • Right. And I understand all of that. So what people who continue to be critical of ttoc’s decision wanted was that ttoc punish Marisa even when nobody has any evidence that she did anything wrong and open ttoc up to a lawsuit? Since the FIG said everything was ok?

    • I believe the question was for the TTOC to explain its decision and weigh it alongside their own charter and constitution. That’s all.

    • Lasana Liburd, I understand your comment about veto power but I don’t think that the intention was for the TTOC to veto without good reason.

      Whilst what happened didn’t look right, didn’t smell right and wasn’t right. Marisa went to a qualifying tournament and qualified for the Olympics.

      There was no justifiable legal reason for the TTOC to override the recommendation of the TTGF.

      Now whether they have given a poor response to the question asked by Thema’s lawyers are a totally different discussion (IMHO).

    • You were going good until you said “no justifiable reason” Nigel Noel. That is your opinion but not fact.
      The TTOC decision could have gone either way. There were many eloquent reasons why Marisa Dick should not have gone too.
      Just because the status quo makes a decision doesn’t mean it is the only justifiable one.
      They had two choices. They made one. My main problem is the suggestion that they had no choice at all. That’s just yellow.

    • I never stated it as a fact and you left out the word “legal”.

    • Well you said there WAS no justifiable legal reason. That sounds much closer to fact than opinion. And you don’t know what legal advice they got. None of us do.
      Any lawyer will tell you their clients don’t always take their guidance at all.
      He got legal advice. Doesn’t mean he took it. And we don’t know what legal options were laid out to him. Again, we would better understand if we knew those answers.
      You think we have no right to know them? The TTOC isn’t a private company.

    • I never said we have no right no know and i assume that most (if not all) of the comments on this thread are opinions.

    • It was a question I asked you Nigel Noel. Do you think the TTOC should tell us? Ought there to be a moral obligation?

    • Yes they should and if i am not mistaken when the whole issue was playing out last year they did issue a statement (but i could be wrong)

    • They gave a press statement which we published. Just like they gave a release yesterday. Surely you’d agree that neither statement answered much.

    • I cant remember the specifics of the statement back then but i believe they said something to the effect that they had no choice.

      Also i agreed previously that the recent statement didnt answer any pertinent questions.

    • I have reread the release and in my opinion the TTOC made the correct decision………if they had not chosen Marisa Dick the TTOC would be facing a lawsuit which could have negatively affected our ability to provide funding for athletes for future Olympic Games.

  10. “Credibility suicide?”
    People who vex with TTOC won’t be un-vex with TTOC regardless of what it says. And ppl who have a more understanding position to TTOC will continue to have a more understanding position regardless.

  11. We As citizens expect that bodies like TTOC, JLSC, JCC etc will safeguard our national interests. We expect that these bodies will act with thought, integrity and due process while exercising proper diligence in all their activities. This will sometimes require them to avail themselves of proper advice – legal or otherwise. As a country we are losing confidence in governance – in every national entity, because “we not seeing it happen “. Far too often is vaps and ill-conceived ideas and posturing taking the place of leadership, integrity and morality. This, just like the JCC and JLSC matters is a legal and moral issue. We got all wrong! How come we can’t run simple affairs.

    Let’s stop making excuses for these leaders and instead require that they step up or out! We turning 55 this year! The colonial boss can’t help anymore – “we is big people now”.

  12. The Title…. Lol
    Doh do me that nah

  13. they just wanted a dick so bad….

  14. I’m just about to say the same thing. They could have said it another way

  15. Man I can’t help but laugh at the title.

  16. “Our initial reaction is that the TTOC has committed credibility suicide,” Martin Daly SC told Wired868. “But we will respond more fully in due course.”

  17. Would you say that headline is pregnant with possible meanings? I guess we just have to wait and see who in the end will be left holding the baby…

  18. “Because. She. Was. Eligible.” aka “It. Was. Her. Or. Nothing. We. Don’t. Care. Who. Go. We. Not. Giving. Up. The. Spot.”
    Federations apparently DO control the TTOC.

  19. Hope the headline didn’t distract too much from the actual news in this case…

  20. If yuh see dem ducking! De TTOC ducking, ducking, ducking!

    I’d really hoped that by now someone would accept someone would belatedly take a mea culpa on this. Seems like they forced unwanted (Marisa) Dick on us and didn’t anticipate that Ms Thema would be the one with the balls to stand up to them!

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