Dr Sandra Camps: Why settle debt for Latapy but not Ollie Camps?

The following letter was sent to Wired868 by Dr Sandra Camps, the daughter of former Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF) president Oliver Camps:

Photo: TTFF president Oliver Camps.
Photo: TTFF president Oliver Camps.

Dear Sir/Madam,

My name is Dr Sandra Camps, daughter of Oliver Camps. I have in my possession a copy of a letter dated November 16th, 2015 given to me by the TTFA to present to the court.

In the letter a commitment was made by the TTFA in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport to settle the debt to Mr Wilhelmus Rijsbergen by December 14th, 2015. Based on this commitment, an extension was granted by the court to January 21st, 2016.


Unfortunately, neither the TTFA nor the Ministry of Sport has lived up to that commitment and as a result my 84 year old father is getting closer and closer to losing his home and every other asset he possesses to pay a debt owed by the TTFA/Ministry of Sport.

What is blatantly unfair is that the letter making the commitment to settle the matter with Mr Wilhelmus Rijsbergen was dated November 16th, 2015. However, four days later on November 20th, 2015, the Ministry of Sport committed to pay Russell Latapy at least $200,000 USD for coaching the national team for the period 2009-2011, which was at least two years after Mr Rijsbergen’s tenure as national football coach.

Photo: Former Holland 1974 and 1974 World Cup star and Trinidad and Tobago coach Wim Rijsbergen.
Photo: Former Holland 1974 and 1974 World Cup star and Trinidad and Tobago coach Wim Rijsbergen.

The Ministry has also committed to paying a balance of at least $300,000 USD to Mr Latapy yet claims they have no money to pay Mr Rijsbergen, whose debt was owed years before Mr Latapy’s.

How could this injustice be allowed to persist when my aging father is about to lose all that he has worked for over a lifetime?

Kind Regards,

Dr Sandra Camps.

Photo: A letter of comfort from then Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee to his predecessor Oliver Camps. (Courtesy Dr Sharon Camps)
Photo: A letter of comfort from then Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee to his predecessor Oliver Camps.
(Courtesy Dr Sharon Camps)

Editor’s Note: Oliver Camps resigned as TTFF president in 2011, after FIFA opened an investigation into his role in the Mohamed Bin Hammam bribery scandal which preceded the 2011 FIFA presidential election.

An affidavit by then TTFF general secretary, Richard Groden, claimed that Camps and then FIFA vice president Jack Warner pressured him into giving false evidence to FIFA investigators on the matter.


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52 comments

  1. His daughter, Dr Sandra Camps, has a stake in some of the properties that he will lose.
    She was very interested in doing an interview with me last week.
    But I think she was tipped off that I won’t be offering PR. Because she has gone very cold on that score.
    She can just use the mainstream media who almost never do their homework. Steups.
    You mean no paper or journalist she spoke to could get to the bottom of why he stands to lose his assets and how his assets managed to be tied into the TTFA’s business?
    That wasn’t a red flag that more than the mortar is in the pestle?
    And they have Warner looking like a concerned citizen. It is almost hilarious. Jack must be laughing his head off.

  2. He shouldn’t get a black cent from the TTFA or anyone else. I noticed that suddenly we are talking about his house and other properties. How can we be talking bail out with no clear idea of his holdings?

  3. Lasana Liburd – I agree – madness. Unbelievable suggestion coming from the Minister of Sports. Maybe the TTFA should use his unfortunate situation to cut a deal with him. Come to his aid only if he agrees to “sing like a bird” on JW and say where and how the money gone.

  4. That story and headline doesn’t really make sense. And Camps wants TTFA to give from their subvention? Which already isn’t enough to run football?
    And with hundreds of creditors waiting to be paid since even before 2001 World Youth Cup while her dad was in charge?
    I really have to do a commentary on this when I can find the time.

    • Look I just going and make a general statement to cover everybody-artistes, athletes, etc. We all know these ppl contribute to building the nation. If they declared all their income and declared all their assets, great for BIR. But it should never be taken for granted that the country would provide for you. Let us give them the tools of financial management, provide them with good health and pension plans for their protection, teach them how to build and manage their brand-themselves-and possibly provide them with back up plan-education, side business.

    • That isn’t the issue here. The issue is Oliver Camps was party to possible criminal action.
      He refused a High Court order to provide information or take legal action against Jack Warner to force him to provide the accounts. He did so even at the risk of contempt of court.
      How can he be party to the defrauding of the country of unknown millions and then ask us to bail him out?

    • Not disagreeing…but it also highlights the need to address the issue for legitimate cases where state assistance is needed. Did Sparrow ever get his medical bill paid? I remember the situation Marvin Lee, Keron Cummings etc-we need to assist them to put measures in place to protect their future health, well-being, and earnings.

    • Marvin Lee was actually injured while playing for Trinidad and Tobago without insurance.
      Oliver Camps was president at the time. And Oliver Camps is a director at Maritime. Sigh.

    • Oh…did not know that..irony of ironies-they have good medicals lol. On the plus side, you can’t accuse him of nepotism there lol (or maybe he just didn’t get thru lol)

  5. last time i know about T&T football ent Mr Camps was Jack warner yes man he and lot of the old guards of T&T football spoil our football all these years in management

  6. To date he has not accepted that he schemed the nation and football community of funds to aid their development and the development of the nation as a whole.He and AJW struck down anyone who dared seek to question anything…..football was their fiefdom and everyone their plaything.

  7. He never much as apologize for his “sins”. Until he comes clean and spill the beans he gets no sympathy from me.

  8. I never revel in another man’s misfortune .. You know that lasana.. This has me torn if I’m honest. He is an old man but in life when you make your bed you have to lay in it.. I’m not happy he is in this situation at all but I certainly will not lose sleep over it.

  9. Kelvin Jack, what are your thoughts?

  10. When Oliver Camps and Richard Groden refused a High Court order to sue Jack Warner for missing millions: http://wired868.com/2012/03/05/camps-and-groden-served-for-contempt/

  11. Folks as far as I am concerned Camps is no news and he ain’t innocent. His complicity and attempts at cover up speak volumes.He outsmarted himself…..just as AJW.

  12. I don’t see how he could be an ‘innocent bystander’ to the massive fraud taking place since he had fiduciary responsibilities as the President.

  13. Rose-Marie Ingrid Lemessy-Forde – innocent bystander? Hahahahahahaha to infinity.

  14. I just looked at the letter of comfort and it looks like it’s not worth the paper it was printed on since there appears to have been no “collaboration with the ministry of sport”. I kinda sorry for Camps because of his age but that’s about it. He wasn’t always an old man. All the years he spent at the TTFF with Jack Warner he would have been privy to a lot of unethical practices. He was either an innocent bystander or a willing participant. Neither is acceptable to me for a person in a leadership position especially in a public organization.

  15. But if one should carefully analyse the letter,she stated clearly that”An extension was granted to January 21st. 2016″… Is it January 21st as yet??? My comment is based on the letter written,it has nothing to do with Mr. Latapy, how did Mr. Latapy come into this??? Just my opinion

  16. Sorry….Talk to Jack.

  17. Dr. Sandra Camps seems to be only interested in securing an inheritance after her parents die. In the mean time her father, whom she described as a trusting fool, continues to protect Jack Warner and refuses to file a lawsuit against Jack. No doubt, Jack will defend himself pointing out that Mr. Camps was an adult, signing those documents and was not under any duress when he did so, and no doubt, expected to reap huge rewards from his dealings.

    While I do feel sorry for her, she should not expect the taxpayer to foot his bill? He presided over the theft of millions and the siphoning of funds into Warner’s accounts.

  18. Sandra has absolutely no feeling for a hurt,battered,bruised and abused nation…..Speaks volumes of her value system and patriotism. Father first …..to hell with everyone else.

  19. Gerard, he set up the TTFF as a sole trader under instructions from Warner. Well that is the story as to why he did it.
    That was allegedly done so they could do what they wanted with the money without having to worry about auditors or oversight.
    So he would be suing himself.
    It appears that the guarantee came from Tim Kee who claimed to be speaking on behalf of the government.
    There was no signature from the Sport Minister and the Sportt Company did not have a board in place in time.
    So he was given an empty promise by the looks of it.

  20. I must admit I feel sorry for Mr. Camps if he was really duped into putting his life savings at risk in this way because of a misplaced belief in his ‘friend’. Of course he should have known better, but then so should all of us also eh…remember his ‘friend’ was elected a Member of Parliament and even acted as Prime Minister of our country. Were we not as misguided as Mr. Camps? Unless he has evidence to support his belief of a government guarantee (in which case he ought to take action against the government), he should sue JW and/or the TTFA for any losses incurred.

  21. It seems that she may have a claim before the courts. Take the TTFA and Min of Sport to court, as he (Camps) was acting as their agent and not in his personal capacity when the former coach was hired.

    Why is this a continuous problem, where the TTFA hires persons and then cannot pay them, despite earnings from games?

    Where are their audited accounts?
    This shady organisation should be disbanded or thoroughly cleansed.

  22. My empathy for anyone associated with TTFF or Jack Warner is non-existent. You make your bed then lie in it.

  23. Dr. Sandra Camp can’t be serious. Not one penny from the gov’t or the TTFA should be spent on O. Camp. He deserves to lose his house and the only shirt on his back. Him and his partner in crime, J, were fingers of the same hand. Sandra should be reaching out to his old partner in crime for help, not the gov’t or TTFA. Smh

  24. The man endorsed and signed away T&T Footballers money to his “friend”.

  25. I fully endorse Mr. Brooks’ comments, and wish to add that Sandra Camps lack an appreciation for the value, impact, and influence Mr. Latapy had, (on the field) and continue to have (off the field), i.e. building the brand of Trinidad and Tobago in Europe. Mr. Latapy has earned every cent due and payable to him which remain outstanding. There appears to be a gap in Sandra Camps social and classical education, hence her gulf for what Mr. Latapy has accomplish for Trinidad and Tobago for 30 years.

  26. Lol @ Debbie comment,but true,can’t take all this doom and gloom now!

  27. I fully endorse Mr. Brooks’ comments, and wish to add that Sharon Camps lack an appreciation for the value, impact, and influence Mr. Latapy had, (on the field) and continue to have (off the field), i.e. building the brand of Trinidad and Tobago in Europe. Mr. Latapy has earned every cent due and payable to him which remain outstanding. There appears to be a gap in Sharon Camps social and classical education, hence her gulf for what Mr. Latapy has accomplish for Trinidad and Tobago for 30 years.

  28. Sandra is my friend and as far as I know she is his only daughter

  29. Thought uncle Jack would have his back .

  30. Who?? Jack Warner little lackey? Steups!

  31. How many daughters does he have?

  32. I don’t have time to waste with Camps.

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