TTFA members rule DJW’s vice-presidents were illegally appointed; Downer explains

“[The] appointment [of the two TTFA vice-presidents] were broadcast throughout the media and even on the official website of the TTFA, and appeared in the roll call list for the meeting […] when, in fact the, appointment of these two ‘vice-presidents’ was not in keeping with the dictates of the present Constitution of the TTFA.

“[…] I proceeded to move the following motion: ‘Whereas the selection of 2 Vice-Presidents for the TTFA at the last Board Meeting was not done in keeping with the Constitution of the TTFA, be it resolved that the AGM now directs the Board of Directors to now proceed to elect the three Vice-Presidents, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, separately in keeping with the dictates of the TTFA’s Constitution’.

“This motion was seconded by Mr Clynt Taylor of the Central Football Association (CFA) and unanimously accepted by the delegates present.”

The following statement on the improper election of TTFA president David John-Williams’ two vice-presidents, Richard Quan Chan and Anthony Moore, at a recent board meeting was issued by TTFRA vice-president Osmond Downer, who helped frame the TTFA Constitution:

Photo: TTFA president David John-Williams (left) shows FIFA official Veron Mosengo-Omba around the Home of Football in Couva.
(Courtesy TTFA Media)

Dear fellow delegates to the general meeting of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) and the members of the board of directors (BOD) of the TTFA,

I wish to express great disappointment on two things arising out of the reconvened AGM that took place yesterday morning at the Ato Boldon Stadium in Couva:

First, the apparent non-interest and, indeed, non-commitment, on the part of a large number of the members’ delegates, and also of the majority of the members of the board of directors of the Association;

Second, the shocking lack of knowledge of the up-to-date changes in the Constitution of the Association on the part of the members of the board.

Delegates to the general meetings of the TTFA are elected by their respective members of the TTFA to represent such members at general meetings of the Association.

Such delegates must understand that they are obligated to be present at all such meetings so as to be informed enough to report back to their respective members on matters that affect their members and football in general. If a delegate accepts such an appointment then he/she must undertake to fulfil these obligations and the delegate’s member association must also ensure that these obligations are fulfilled.

Photo: TTFRA vice-president Osmond Downer (right) makes a point to referees president Joseph Taylor.

It is indeed shocking that many general meetings over the last few years have not been able to conduct the important business of the Association because of a lack of quorums for these meetings. Also it is the duty of members of the BOD to attend all such general meetings to give relevant information to delegates.

We have had two reconvened general meetings in February and last Sunday to complete the discussions on the very important item of amendments to the Constitution but we were unable to do so because the Constitution stipulates that a majority of over 50% must be present for such amendments to be considered. Also, at Sunday’s meeting only the President and Vice-President of the Board Members were present at the start, with two other members arriving after the end of the meeting.


At the starting time of the meeting, 9:00am, only five delegates were present, the full two representatives from the TTFRA and full three from the CFA. About four other delegates arrived after the start.

However the meeting, being a reconvened one, was convened and the last item on the Agenda, ‘Any other business’, was dealt with. I moved a motion that the consideration of the remaining proposals to the amendments of the Constitution be dealt with at the Annual General Meeting in November—where, being an election year, nearly everyone will turn out—so as to not waste any more of the precious time of the conscientious delegates.

This motion was passed unanimously I will state here that the records will show that the two delegates of the TTFRA have been present at all the general meetings of years of this session.

Photo: Soca Warriors head coach Dennis Lawrence (far right) poses with TTFA president David John-Williams (second from right), team manager Richard Piper (second from left) and Camara David (far left) in 2018.
(Copyright Alan V Crane/CA-Images/Wired868)

I raised the matter of the selection of two ‘Vice-Presidents’ at the recent meeting of the board of directors and that such appointments were broadcast throughout the media and even on the official website of the TTFA, and appeared in the roll call list for the meeting as ‘two Vice-Presidents’ with the names of the incumbents—when, in fact the, appointment of these two ‘Vice-Presidents’ was not in keeping with the dictates of the present Constitution of the TTFA.

I expressed shock and, indeed, dismay that no board member had brought to the attention of that Board meeting the fact that there was a change in the Constitution concerning the posts of Vice-Presidents in Article 33, proposed by the TTFRA and accepted at the reconvened AGM of 27/01/2019 by a large majority vote.

I referred the meeting to Article 32 of the Constitution regarding ‘Effective dates of Decisions’ which states ‘Decisions passed by the general meeting shall come into effect immediately…’

All the changes made in the Constitution on 27/01/2019 were printed and presented to delegates by the previous General Secretary, Mr Justin Latapy-George, at the reconvened AGM held in February.

The President, Vice-President, and other board members were present at the meeting of 27/01/2019 when these changes were made.

Article 33 of the Constitution dealing with the composition of the BOD stated in the previous Constitution states ‘The Members of the BOD are: 1 President, 3 Vice-Presidents and one member representing each of the named Member Associations’. The amendment accepted at the AGM of 27/01/2019 changed ‘3 Vice-Presidents to 1st Vice-President, 2nd Vice-President, and 3rd Vice-President’—three separate posts.

Photo: TTFA vice-president Ewing Davis does match commissioner duties during 2015/16 CNG National Super League Premiership Division action at the Matura Recreation Ground.
(Courtesy Nicholas Bhajan/Wired868)

I put to the meeting that my information was that at the board meeting nominations for the two posts of ‘2 Vice-Presidents’ were invited and that Mr Selby Browne proposed two names which were seconded and that Mr Keith Look Loy proposed one name which was seconded, and that voting proceeded. And that eventually the first two receiving the most votes were named as the ‘2 Vice-Presidents’.

This was accepted as what was actually done. I put to the meeting that the proper procedure, in keeping with the change in the Constitution, should have been as follows: the election for the three posts of 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Vice-Presidents should have been done separately with each board member having the right to make or second only one nomination for each post and voting done for each post separately.

I even suggested that for the post of 1st Vice-President, the Chairman [David John-Williams] could have put to the meeting that someone propose that Mr Ewing Davis—because of his present standing as the only remaining original Vice-President—be nominated and chosen as the 1st Vice-President, and then proceed to elect the 2nd and 3rd separately.

I proceeded to move the following motion: ‘Whereas the selection of 2 Vice-Presidents for the TTFA at the last board meeting was not done in keeping with the Constitution of the TTFA, be it resolved that the AGM now directs the Board of Directors to now proceed to elect the three Vice-Presidents, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd, separately in keeping with the dictates of the TTFA’s Constitution’.

Photo: TTFA president David John-Williams (left) shares the stage with board members Julia Baptiste (centre) and Keith Look Loy at the presentation of FIFA refereeing badges to local officials on 23 January 2019.
(Copyright TTFA Media)

This motion was seconded by Mr Clynt Taylor of the Central Football Association (CFA) and unanimously accepted by the delegates present.

Members, therefore we remain now with only one named VP, Mr Ewing Davis, but we do not have a 1st, 2nd, and third VP of the TTFA. Also Constitution changes could be considered to encourage greater participation in all general meetings.

Yours in Football,

Osmond O Downer

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9 comments

  1. By hiring his personal truglodites one at a time “each with a vote” (I’m assuming) he is guaranteeing his reelection with “bought votes” with the illegal appts. Setting himself up for reelection…….is this an accurate interpretation of the situation? Again the problem remains who can we go to for an audit or an investigation into illegal practices to have this fool removed???? Richard Quan Chan was another guy I rated back in the day…..he associating with that man? Quan Chan…Clarkie… Sancho ….. Is everyone in Trinidad corrupt now…. what the actual f**k is going on???

  2. Ent Gasparillo eh too far from Couva? Why we doh send somebody to borrow dem people buck for ah lil bit to see if we could change things around?

  3. Not saying Downer is right or wrong but he never knew what was wrong when he was there with his motley crew…..time is ah hell of a thing yes

  4. Well this is the same way Papa Dock use to operate in Haiti eh so my dictator president will continue if finally put a stop to it Them really good yes

  5. What are we saying? Was the meeting chaired by old or new General Secretary? Was there a quorum? Did General Secretary not know the Constitution? If so, it’s pretty laughable and grossly incompetent. SMH

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