http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-04-08/buxo%E2%80%99s-boxing-ghostsBuxo’s boxing ghosts
Published:
Monday, April 8, 2013
Anika Gumbs-Sandiford
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Boxu Potts
Five people who have never worked at Yan’s Sporting Academy in Arima are said to be owed outstanding salaries amounting close to $300,000. This came to light when a feud erupted between some employees of the academy and the T&T Boxing Board of Control’s special adviser Boxu Potts over non-payment of salaries to administrative staff and football and boxing coaches for the period July-December, 2012.
T&T Guardian investigations found that while retainer agreements showed the five people were on contract for the July-December period, attendance records at the academy indicate otherwise. Copies of the agreements showed some of the terms and conditions listed for the five include a monthly salary of $8,000 and a travelling allowance of $2,000. However, none of them ever reported for work at the academy.
The academy was set up in 2011 under the Unified Promoters Boxing Association, which is owned by Potts’ son Giovanni, who is also a boxing promoter. The Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs funds the initiative. According to documents, the six-month programme was expected to run for four cycles over two years. It caters for children ages nine to 18 and is based at the Larry Gomes Stadium, Arima.
The first cycle of the programme was held from January to June 2011, followed by three other cycles ending in December 2012. The programme is now entering its fifth cycle, but workers are calling for an investigation into operations at the academy. “People must be made to account. Money is just passing through the academy and no questions are being asked. Just like in the Unemployment Relief Programme (URP), a ghost gang also exists in the academy,” a staff member claimed.
Last week, another staff member reported to the Arima police that there had been a threat on her life when she promised to expose the scam two weeks ago. When the T&T Guardian contacted newly appointed head of the academy, Amanda Potts, on Friday to ask why people who had never worked there were listed on the payroll, she asked: “You are calling me from the T&T Guardian and have that information?“
Potts then insisted that the T&T Guardian disclose how we obtained the contracts. Told that the contracts had been sent to the newspaper Potts then replied: “I am not in any position to disclose any information to you. I am not going to get into any discussion with anybody from the T&T Guardian who has nothing to do with the academy whatsoever. I am not going to get into this. I am sorry.”
On why there had been a breach of the agreement on payments to several coaches, Potts said: “I have no comment and please redirect your questions to Mr Potts.” Asked why questions were being referred to her father, Buxo Potts, when she is now the head of the academy, she said: “ Your questions need to be directed to Mr Potts. I am saying I am not having this conversation. Thank you for your call and enjoy the rest of your day.”
But when the T&T Guardian contacted the elder Potts, he hung up the phone when asked to explain how contracts were awarded to people who had never worked at the academy. Sport Minister Anil Roberts did not respond to text messages on the matter.
Where the funds went
Financial documents showed a total of $719,930 was requested to roll out the fourth phase of the social programme, entitled Academic and Talent Identification, which ran from July to December. The documents show the claim for the five people who never worked at the academy was incorporated as part of the funding requested for salaries over the six-month period, which amounted to $402,000.
Since the first phase of the academy began in 2011, documents list the elder Potts as the executive chairman, receiving a monthly salary of $15,000 and a travelling allowance of $3,000. In January Potts’ daughter Amanda replaced him at the helm. Additional funding was also requested for capital outlay set-up for the six-month period amounting to $132,200, including telecommunication services, video and digital cameras, office supplies, advertising and catering services.
Funding was also sought for boxing equipment, which amounted to $185,930.
No pay for coaches
Another bone of contention at the academy is the breach of contracts with some of the coaches who have not been paid their salaries as outlined in their contracts. Under the academy’s budget, which was submitted to the ministry for funding, a head coach is listed to receive a monthly salary of $5,000, while part-time coaches are to be paid $2,500.
However, in some instances, coaches have not been paid for the past year and in other instances they are being short-paid. Among those affected is former WBA World Lightweight title holder Claude Noel. Noel could not be reached for comment. Contacted for comment, assistant football coach Roger Maloney said he was not prepared to discuss the situation and his focus was on saving young people from getting involved in wrong activities.
Asked if he was receiving payments as outlined in his contract, Maloney ducked the question, saying: “The contract stated I was supposed to get $2,500. It was signed in July 2012. “At the end of the day I deal with kids that have the potential to go astray. This is not only a money issue but a humanitarian issue. “They are the important factor at this time.”
Former co-ordinator Carlene Mc Carthy said she is no longer employed at the academy. Asked if she had resigned because of non-payments, she said: “I was told the academy was closing down and my last day for work would be on March 26, so please speak to Ms Amanda Potts.” Told the academy is still in operation, Mc Carthy replied: “That is news to me.”
As to why everyone was refusing to answer questions about the operations of the academy, Mc Carthy said: “We were all instructed that questions must be directed to management. I am no longer employed there.”