No quorum again; TTFA delegates snub second extraordinary meeting

For the second time in two weeks, the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) failed to reach a quorum for its extraordinary general meeting at Naparima College, San Fernando, which was meant to authorise its financial report so it could be forwarded to FIFA.

It means the TTFA will now hold a second meeting in 14 days and, this time, the football body will be allowed to make decisions—outside of a constitutional amendment or change to its board of directors—even if a quorum is not reached.

Photo: TTFA president and W Connection founder David John-Williams.
Photo: TTFA president and W Connection founder David John-Williams.

The local football body initially scheduled this meeting on Saturday 15 July but failed to give sufficient notice to its delegates, which rendered the assembly as illegitimate. Only 23 of 49 TTFA delegates showed up then, which was two short of the 25 needed for a quorum.

This time, TTFA general secretary Azaad Khan did his duties efficiently as delegates were properly informed of the extraordinary general meeting. The response was an even smaller turnout, as just 14 delegates showed up at Naparima College.

Wired868 was informed that just three from 10 Pro League clubs and two from eight National Super League teams turned up. Among the other absentees were representatives from Northern, Eastern Counties and Tobago FAs while the Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), Futsal, Beach Soccer and TTYSO bodies stayed away.

“This sends a clear picture of who is the true cause of the problem,” said one disappointed official, who attended the aborted meeting and spoke on condition of anonymity. “Our financials is a very important matter and you want to know, you want to hear, you want to contribute [on something like this]…

“We need to look at some sort of rigid criteria to ensure that we have the right type of representation and people who have the vision for football. If these people are not interested, why don’t they step aside and let someone else with an understanding of the business of football get a chance?”

Photo: FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy reacts to action during his team's 1-0 win over Marabella Family Crisis Centre in 2015/16 CNG National Super League action. (Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868
Photo: FC Santa Rosa coach Keith Look Loy reacts to action during his team’s 1-0 win over Marabella Family Crisis Centre in 2015/16 CNG National Super League action.
(Courtesy Allan V Crane/Wired868

The delegates who did turn up included representatives from Morvant Caledonia United, FC Santa Rosa, Veteran Footballers Association, Referees Association and the Eastern Central and Southern FAs.

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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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71 comments

  1. …If I am to understand clearly WIRED report that it had no quorum at the second meeting and therefore no decisions were made…..then the members of the TTFA have violated the TTFA Constitution according to article 24 (3)…….unless the agenda had an item that would required the amendment of the constitution….

    • Keith, do you mind posting the specific clause you’re referencing?

    • Article 24 — 3 A quorum is not required for the second meeting of the General Meeting unless any item on the agenda proposes the amendment of the Constitution, the election of a member of the Board of Directors, the dismissal of a member of a body of TTFA, the expulsion of a Member or the dissolution of TTFA.

    • Thank you.. I have said before that I don’t believe the leadership knows their constitution well. This may well be the case, but will await further updates.

    • ..as far as I am aware the Constitution was not to be amended, there were no election to take place and no one was to be disciplined……so the meeting had all right to take place…..

    • …..It will be good if some can outline what was the agenda items…

    • Keith, they decided that the first extraordinary meeting they held was illegitimate. So that made yesterday their first legal meeting.
      So they have to wait another 14 days again.

    • Article 24 Quorum of the General Meeting

      1 Decisions passed by the General Meeting shall only be valid if a majority (more than 50%) of the delegates representing the Members eligible to vote are present.

      2 If a quorum is not achieved thirty (30) minutes after the scheduled start of the General Meeting, the General Meeting shall be reconvened fourteen (14) days later at the same place or at a venue notified by the General Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date.

      3 A quorum is not required for the second meeting of the General Meeting unless any item on the agenda proposes the amendment of the Constitution, the election of a member of the Board of Directors, the dismissal of a member of a body of TTFA, the expulsion of a Member or the dissolution of TTFA…Article 21 is very clear..no one or no group has the authority to to cancel or postponed a meeting called or set by the AGM…….I think the TTFA has found it self in a very serious situation and may well need legal advise since any decision made in a third meeting can be demed eultra virus to the constitution….

    • But check the bit when it spoke to how much notice ought to be given before a meeting. That was where the TTFA erred.

    • Article 29 Extraordinary General Meeting — (3) The Members shall be notified of the place, date and agenda at least 10 days before the date of an Extraordinary General Meeting.

    • That’s the one Keith. They didn’t fulfil that.

  2. Article 24 Quorum of the General Meeting

    1 Decisions passed by the General Meeting shall only be valid if a majority (more than 50%) of the delegates representing the Members eligible to vote are present.

    2 If a quorum is not achieved thirty (30) minutes after the scheduled start of the General Meeting, the General Meeting shall be reconvened fourteen (14) days later at the same place or at a venue notified by the General Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting date.

    3 A quorum is not required for the second meeting of the General Meeting unless any item on the agenda proposes the amendment of the Constitution, the election of a member of the Board of Directors, the dismissal of a member of a body of TTFA, the expulsion of a Member or the dissolution of TTFA.

  3. If the info is not sent to ppl, I heard about d meeting 9:00pm while drinking with friends.

  4. I imagine it’s either the meeting location was a turn off for most delegates or they realize they bounced their head by electing a dictatorial president and do not wish to be used to approve any financial statements so that he can access FIFA funding, supposedly to repeat a cycle of spending without proper plan, priority and accountability. In a situation of repeat failure to secure a quorum to hold a special AGM, the dignified thing to do is resign because it is clear evidence that the current TTFA hierarchy has lost it’s mandate to run the organization. I am willing to bet if a special AGM is called to elect a new president, almost all delegates will turn out – even if it is held in Chacachacare!
    Also, I won’t be surprised if there is a legal challenge to the legitimacy of last November’s AGM, at which some attending delegates might have voted under bogus pretense. There is a possibility that more might be forthcoming in that regard.
    I also think that the TTFA president might have proven what an idiot of monumental proportion (imp) he is by his recent delusion of being elected CFU president. That, too, might have caused him to suffer loss of respect and confidence among even his previously supportive TTFA delegates, hence their lack of enthusiasm to attend the special AGM.
    Will be interesting to see how it all plays out.

  5. I believe that DJW may have to be high handed in some areas to bring back some order into local football. For example, from time to time I have had the opportunity to observe some of the principals of the arm of TTFA in the counties of the rising sun, and it’s only “JACKASSES’ where some persons seem to have a stranglehold on football in the eastern counties, and have effectively choked football in Sangre Grande to death. I hope that in the short to medium term DJW can implement policy and strategy to revolutionize the way football is administered in TnT, a daunting task, as traditionally, the football administrator has demonstrated a self serving disposition, with no real love for the sport, but only for the spoils of office, and the automatic subventions. .

  6. Because DJW is a tyrant with delusions of grandeur. We been there done that.

  7. ..Excellent question and point. I have NO idea..

  8. So not all Board Members present and representatives or delegates failed to attend. Keith do you know if this was failed Meeting was Minuted at all? Because some persons may have indicated to the General Secretary why they would be absent or “excused” and this should have been read out to the attendees. Also if a Board Member misses a number of Meetings they are to be removed and cannot attend subsequent Meetings. I wonder if this is being tracked. I remember at an AGM a couple of years ago when a Delegate was asked to not speak and to leave the Meeting as a result of recorded non-attendance. Que cera cera!

  9. And Jamaal what you stated is the biggest issue to sport/club development. Most clubs are one man shows [by choice or circumstance]…in football AND in cricket. The real goal is getting NSO’s to support the ‘common ground’ for sharedownership/community/clubdevelopment/buninesssense/work/potentialprofits.

    • They are one man shows due to the facts the industry is still ran by first generation owners. So a lot of times it’s still seen as mine and until that passes and the best in a particular role are granted the opportunity to take the institutions to the next level. These are some obstacles we will continue to face and I say this as if we go back to other organizations international in the early days this did happen also however I think we have the prove and knowledge beforehand so this isn’t an excuse

  10. if you check the clubs if you move one person or family out its chances of survival is minimal. Not just because the live wires wants to be dictators in most cases in the absence of people participating in doing the needful in their own affairs

  11. Part of the problem is that in most cases clubs send steel bands have been run by a specific live wire who easily becomes chief Cook and bottle washer . A Rudolph Charles in the case of Caledonia a yours truly.
    The growth from I man do as I say and let no dog bark ….to let’s have shura (mutual consultation ) on this matter ….is now taking shape not just in sport and culture but in many organisations.
    So while it’s important to have live wires and leading activists the rank and file must recognize their roles as well.
    There is a dynamic between the oppressor and the oppressed that gives the one constant dominion over the other.
    Thus some will turn the other cheek or sing we shall overcome to the oppressor. ..while others will prefer to go as far as putting their lives on the line to fight oppression.
    Consequently we come to understand that ” the people MUST have a say in how their affairs are run”.

  12. Remember those group projects when it’s a group of 8 and we were all excited and bursting with ideas. 2 weeks later we end up with 3 persons missing 2 that only talks and 1 month down the road one man is doing all the work and on the day people want to say what should have been done better. Smh as I understand after the next failed meeting the board can call the shots right? So then the complaints before should not have been.

  13. Give credit where credit is due. The TTFA at least making much more effort than in the past and sticking to their planned consultations. In a sense it really is damned if you do, damned it you don’t 🙁

  14. Effectively, as I understand it, the TTFA decided that the last meeting was a failure and tried to follow all the right steps for this one.
    So it was though the meeting two weeks ago never happened.

  15. ….First I have no knowledge what so ever of the TTFA Constitution. however, having been involved in Sport Administration for the last 20 years….I want to agree with Paula because if the AGM which is the most powerful meeting of all organizations the world over, has set that date then no one can change that mandate so something seems not right…..I would love to know what’s the next step…. .

  16. Were all the Board Members present? Is it that they did or could not ensure their Representatives attend? This Special General Meeting was a continuation of the Nov 30th AGM.

  17. Keith or Jameson JR Rigues, do you have the notice for the second extraordinary meeting? Paula Chester-Cumberbatch is curious to see the wording.

  18. Hello Lasana, do you have a copy of the Notice sent to Members informing of this Special General Meeting? I would like to see its wording or structure. If the first Meeting was unconstitutionally called this second one should not have been merely considered a reconvened Meeting with the assumption, as you stated, that if the next or third one fails to have a Quorum….. Remember such Meetings are to be staged based on a defined process. Also Members do not attend by “vaps” as there is a registry of expected attendees. Something seems wrong in that the Board is made up of 13 Representatives. Are you saying that the Board Members did or could not ensure their Representatives attend? Also the hosting of this Special General Meeting was an agreement taken at the Annual General Meeting on November 30th which should have been referenced in the Notice as it wasn’t just a Meeting called by the TTFA Board, it was a continuation of the AGM. So this second Notice should have nullified the first etc. Thanks, Paula.

  19. They advertised the Secretary General position. Saw it on Caribbean Jobs.

  20. ..Essentially, delegates represent their own viewpoint. My experience at zonal level is that they don’t report back to their constituency..

  21. This behaviour is nothing new and not only in footbal…I will repeat…I’ve seen it happen at other associations/groups, but cancel a function for lack of volunteers and everyone up in arms

  22. Trevor Bridglalsingh made a good point. If this is what happens at TTFA level, I shudder to think of what meetings are like at zonal level.
    And if so, are these delegates even really representing the wishes of their membership?

  23. ..Right now I am at the consultation on club licensing that follows the failed general meeting. I will say this for now and reserve the right to further comment. The absenteeism is no statement of lack of confidence in the current administration. It is much more a statement of the fact that football administrators are much more prepared to play football than to work on its development. Of the twenty-eight representatives of the combined Pro League and Super League only FIVE are present. AT A DISCUSSION ON CLUB LICENSING! Development is hard work. Football people must decide if they just want football competitions or they want football development..

  24. The message is that is being sent is that we are all not really interested in T&T football but we like to be called ‘delegates’. Somehow I feel if Mr. Khan call that meeting (with due notice) another 100 times they still won’t get a quorum. However if he put in the agenda that there will be a performance by Machel Montano and a free all inclusive bar avaliable to the delegates then everybody and their aunty will show up….and we wonder what’s wrong with T&T Sport? Smh

  25. I would much rather they deliver that message in person by turning up eh. As it is, I’m just not show what the message is.

    • Trevor Br9dglalsingh

      Keith the strategy of the Board has to derived from persons who know about development and the difference between development and competition. Are there people on the Board who are capable of putting together a policy for development at all levels of football in the country. It requires different strategies for the various levels as well as a national policy framework and some understanding of a national football philosophy.
      BTW the credibility of delegates is only valid if they have sought the views of the bodies they represent,they also have a duty to give that representation to the governing body.

    • Keith, this note from Trevor:
      “Keith the strategy of the Board has to be derived from persons who know about development and the difference between development and competition. Are there people on the Board who are capable of putting together a policy for development at all levels of football in the country. It requires different strategies for the various levels as well as a national policy framework and some understanding of a national football philosophy.
      BTW the credibility of delegates is only valid if they have sought the views of the bodies they represent,they also have a duty to give that representation to the governing body.”

    • ..Sadly, not one member of the TTFA technical committee was present for the discussion on club licensing, a fact which I pointed out and joked it was the president’s business to sort out..

      • The anonymous person may have let their passion get the better of them, forgetting that most of the persons administrating these Clubs continue to do so for the love of the sport. They have expended a lot more resources over the years than have seen tangible returns. All for the love of the sport and the development of the youth of T&T. Their efforts should be applauded, not disrespected.

        Can a footballer make any real progress without having represented a Club/team?
        You can’t run a league without the Clubs. They are therefore a very integral component

        If we are looking at building our leagues to improve the standard and quality of our football in order for our youths to be more competitive internationally, wouldn’t it stand to reason that a strong Club will be better able to consistently support/produce better players?

        Yet, what systems are in place to help strengthen and regulate these Clubs?
        Aside from the courses provided by TTOC, more may be needed. A properly governed club can work towards improving investor confidence.

        Sport is an Industry [most of us seem to forget that]. However, due to the financial situation of most F.C.s, they are unable to properly structure themselves administratively so as to take advantage of or even create downstream opportunities for revenue generation. I’m not sure any bank will offer a loan to run a football club.

        You may say get volunteers but most competent, qualified persons want to be paid for their services.
        Many times you have persons “trying a ting” just to lend a hand. Is that anyway to run a business?

        I am actually very interested in joining the discussion on the issue of club licensing and apologize for my absence on behalf of WASA F.C.

        The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few!!!

  26. The people are sending a message! The message is clear… There is no confidence in TTFA’s leadership. It’s time for a no-confidence vote to begin the process of replacing the leader.

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