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“[…] We must serve to lead, and respect the wishes of the membership… To prevent calling [the EGM], or to delay it, can cause some to perceive that it is not the desire of those in authority to listen or adhere to the views of who they represent…”
The following Letter to the Editor on the upcoming Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) EGM—which is being challenged by an injunction from TTFA president William Wallace—was submitted to Wired868 by Commissioner of Police Gary Griffith:
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
Anytime one thinks that the present football catastrophe in Trinidad and Tobago cannot get worse, some action is taken to prove otherwise.
At a time when we are on the brink of possibly being blacklisted and banned from all international football as well as a loss of all funding by Fifa, due to the decision by United TTFA to proceed via the local court in the present impasse—[although] I pleaded weeks ago, what is needed is not confrontation and battles in court, but dialogue and communication.
I was then indeed pleased to hear that we were going that way, when the normalisation committee proposed to host a meeting with all [47 delegates] to decide the direction and decision in this issue, which can make or break our football.
The reason why the voice, views and decision of the members/clubs are mandatory in this matter, is that the delegates of these clubs represent those who would be affected the most and the actual major stakeholders—that being the tens of thousands of footballers in this country.
The administrators of football—be it the United TTFA, normalisation committee or whoever—simply represent them at board room meetings, and make decisions based on what they direct. And hence their views, via these delegates, should be the catalyst towards the direction of where this goes.
(Copyright Daniel Prentice/Wired868)
The United TTFA, normalisation committee or whoever, should be doing nothing other than adhering to the directive of these major stakeholders.
It is on this backdrop that I am deeply disappointed to hear that an injunction has now been filed to prevent these same members from having their views and voices heard via the planned Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on 15 September 2020—based on the premise that the normalisation committee should not have the authority to call such a meeting.
If this is the case, so be it. But then I would humbly ask and expect that those with such authority to now do so, with that being the United TTFA.
We must serve to lead, and respect the wishes of the membership, whereby over 30 of the 47 delegates have asked for such a meeting. (Editor’s Note: 25 from the 47 delegates requested the meeting—although the validity of three signatories has been questioned.)
To prevent calling such a meeting, or to delay it, can cause some to perceive that it is not the desire of those in authority to listen or adhere to the views of who they represent.
(Copyright Allan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)
[There is] also a perception of a deliberate delay to ensure that 16 September passes, that being the Fifa deadline, and a decision is made to have us possibly suspended.
Failure of this meeting to be held—which can be of value to ensure that we make the correct and popular decision by the rightful stakeholders—could not only mean suspension from all regional and international football, but possibly cut off of Fifa funding with immediate effect.
[Ramifications] would include the coaches not being paid and this too would just add to further crippling our football development.
Again, let good sense prevail and let us not hide behind or use that local court date to decide our fate.
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“And where have we established what the stakeholders want?”
A point that many who speak on behalf of the “people” seem to miss…
They also conveniently forget that mere months ago these stakeholders gave United TTFA a mandate that was interrupted without the permission of the same said stakeholders… How could any person with an inkling of sense accept such uncivilised actions???
And finally aren’t the members of united TTFA stakeholders as well??? Where in this fella’s mind does he reconcile his absolute selfish blabbering with that FACT???
Another stupid self serving comment… Pick your category… Stupid or Corrupted….
Age old advice to this wannabe local confucious:
“engage your brain, before you put mouth on gear”
And where have we established what the stakeholders want? Motor Mouth, have you commissioned Solutions by Simulation or Noble Philip’s people or someone else to do a poll?
Look, mister, hush yuh mouth and let people think you ent have no horse in dis race, nah! Although it might be too late fuh dat arready. Wired done publish a few pictures that let de cyat out de bag.
“And where have we established what the stakeholders want?”
A point that many who speak on behalf of the “people” seem to miss…
They also conveniently forget that mere months ago these stakeholders gave United TTFA a mandate that was interrupted without the permission of the same said stakeholders… How could any person with an inkling of sense accept such uncivilised actions???
And finally aren’t the members of united TTFA stakeholders as well??? Where in this fella’s mind does he reconcile his absolute selfish blabbering with that FACT???