Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Football => Topic started by: Flex on October 20, 2014, 05:39:27 PM
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Reform commission for TTFA.
By Shaun Fuentes (TTFA).
Working alongside FIFA and utilizing the Independent Football Reform Commission Report and Recommendations presented to President Raymond Tim Kee and CONCACAF President, Jeff Webb in April 2014, Tim Kee has committed to supporting a constitutional overhaul centered on the principle of “One Club, One Vote” for the national body.
This will be the central focus as this week will mark the culmination of work of the IFRC as FIFA and CONCACAF representatives, Reudi Broennimann, Primo Corvaro, and Marco Leal will join President Tim Kee and selected local representatives to serve on the Constitutional Reform Panel to begin work on the new TTFA Constitution that will be presented to the TTFA Executive Committee, members and stakeholders for national review and ratification.
The ratification process and several other areas of concern cited by FIFA will also result in the delay in TTFA elections until after June 15, 2015. However, regional zone elections will take place as originally scheduled.
“When I came into office two years ago, I vowed to make meaningful change to this FA, first by taking the necessary steps to improve our on the field product and second, by initiating efforts to develop a new structure and governance model for T&T football,” Tim Kee stated.
The origins of the reform effort were born soon after Tim Kee’s election as FA President when he met with FIFA officials, including FIFA President Sepp Blatter, to discuss the way forward for T&T football.
The idea of the Reform Commission was later introduced to and accepted by FIFA representatives during the 2013 CONCACAF Congress in Panama, site of the presentation of the now infamous Simmons Report that detailed the events and activities surrounding the World Cup bribery scandal that took place in Trinidad in 2011.
After convincing FIFA that Trinidad and Tobago possessed enough knowledge and talent to achieve substantive reform, the TTFA President began assembling individuals, such as Shaka Hislop, TTOC President Brian Lewis, and Senator Elton Prescott S.C., to join what would be known as the Independent Football Reform Commission (IRFC).
“I would like to thank members of the IFRC for their tireless effort in producing a document that can be a template for other sporting NGBs and, of course, thank you to FIFA and CONCACAF, particularly FIFA Secretary Jerome Valcke and CONCACAF President and FIFA VP, Jeff Webb, for their supporting role in our efforts to make football a better governed entity that will now have a real chance at operating and serving all of its members and stakeholders directly.” added Tim Kee.
Further details about the members of the Constitutional Review Panel will be forthcoming and a press conference is currently scheduled for Thursday October 23 to cover this and several other major announcements.
N.B: Under the current TTFF/TTFA constitution, officials of the football association are elected by delegate vote with concentrated power held by zonal-dominated Executive Committee.
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so in other wards whoever holds that single vote can be bought or controlled... same old same old... i remember we outlined how it went down but this approach will still lead to bobol and tim kee i doubt will want to lose his power...
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so in other wards whoever holds that single vote can be bought or controlled... same old same old... i remember we outlined how it went down but this approach will still lead to bobol and tim kee i doubt will want to lose his power...
For your education...
Before Jack Warner every club had a vote. The referees association had a vote. Secondary schools league had a vote.
Jack had it changed to only the zonal heads could vote. i.e. 5-6 votes. Easy to buy and sell.
The TTFA vote has been delayed so the changes can be implemented. If Tim Kee really wanted to guarantee power he would hold elections tomorrow
Now tell me how this will be the same if we go back to one club one vote!
Better yet propose a better system.
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FIFA protects TTFA president: Tim Kee gets seven-month extension
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868)
Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president Raymond Tim Kee will hang on to his football portfolio for another seven months at least after FIFA granted the local football body an undemocratic extension without citing any by-law that allowed its decision.
The delay, according to correspondence sent by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke, was primarily to allow the TTFA time to get its statutes in line with FIFA’s.
“The (FIFA Associations) Committee also took note of the weaknesses of the TTFA Statutes and the work carried out by the Independent Reform Committee,” stated Valcke, ”which proposed structural changes of the TTFA which could be in line with the FIFA Standard Statutes.
“Under these circumstances, the Associations Committee decided to provide an extension of the mandate of the current TTFA board until 30 June 2015 in order to revise the statutes in close collaboration with FIFA and CONCACAF and to organise elections accordingly.”
The letter from the FIFA general secretary was dated 25 September 2014 although the TTFA only released it today, just two hours before the Trinidad and Tobago national senior women’s team kicked off a crucial World Cup qualifier against Guatemala.
It did not say why the current statutes, which were in place for two decades, should affect next month’s TTFA election.
The reason for the lengthy postponement of the TTFA election would come as a surprise to the Independent Reform Committee (IRC), headed by Independent senator Elton Prescott, SC, which spent between August 2013 and April 2014 creating a template for a new TTFA constitution.
Former 2006 World Cup player and ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop, who was a member of the IRC, said he had not seen the TTFA’s release. However, he had the impression that FIFA was pleased with their constitutional reforms.
“We recommended certain changes to the TTFA’s constitution,” Hislop told Wired868. “My understanding is they were received by FIFA and met favourably by FIFA. And now it is just a matter of implementation, which we don’t have a direct say on.”
Apart from Prescott and Hislop, the IRC also comprised of former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) president Dinanath Ramnarine, journalist Dr Sheila Rampersad, Trinidad and Tobago Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis and archivist Patrick Raymond.
Now, according to a TTFA release, a new committee called the Constitutional Reform Panel will receive a nine-month mandate to apparently do the same job. The names of the new committee members have not yet been released.
“It would be very interesting to get clarity from the FIFA officials about if the reform committee’s recommendations and the proposed constitution is acceptable to FIFA,” said Lewis.
Lewis revealed that some of their recommendations included term limits and the separation of the governance structure between the elected TTFA officials and the day to day management of the football, which, he felt, should “provide for proper transparency and accountability.”
“The putting together of a reform panel and the utilisation of the report is not on the surface a ringing endorsement of our recommendations,” said Lewis. “In the absence of clarity, I’m not sure whether to feel elated or not about the amount of work we did on the constitution.
“It is not clear if the reform panel is going to go over the same process as the independent reform committee.”
The decision to create a new constitution for local football was initially proposed by the TTFA, rather than FIFA, in April 2013. However, Valcke said the the FIFA Associations Committee now feels it so important that it has overruled the present TTFA bylaws in a bid to keep Tim Kee in charge until it is completed to the governing body’s liking.
At least one member of that FIFA Associations Committee, United States Soccer Federation (USSF) president Sunil Gulati, is no stranger to Phillips or Tim Kee. Gulati is listed as a reference on Phillips’ CV and recommended him to his current position.
“I have known Sheldon for over 20 years when we first worked together on US Cup ’92,” said Gulati, in Phillips’ CV. “He is resourceful and results driven. As the general secretary, the TTFF will certainly benefit from his experience in the game.”
In June, Gulati also cooed about the perceived successes of Tim Kee and Phillips.
“I’ve known Sheldon Phillips for a long time and I met Raymond Tim Kee a couple years ago,” said Gulati, during the 2014 World Cup. “I think the Association is in good hands and it’s (an) exciting time for Concacaf and the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago and the US…
“T&T is making progress… And, clearly with Raymond and Sheldon there, I think you will see a lot of positive changes.”
At the time, the TTFA’s staff was owed salaries while the football body’s headquarters was without a telephone line after being disconnected for non-payment, Tim Kee was in breach of a court order to pay the 2006 “Soca Warriors” and current national players and coaches were grumbling about unpaid match fees.
And, during Tim Kee’s two-year term, he and Phillips stumbled through a series of high-profile gaffes including the Native Spirit Akeem Adams fundraiser, Trinidad and Tobago’s non-participation at the inaugural MLS Caribbean draft, failure to honour agreements with the 2006 World Cup players and former coach Russell Latapy and their decision to send the national women’s team to the ongoing CONCACAF Championship in the United States without accompanying officials and even money to get from the airport to the hotel.
In Tim Kee’s correspondence with Zurich, though, he portrayed himself as an antidote to the controversial era of ex-FIFA vice president Jack Warner. The TTFA president said he was “charged with the awesome and serious task of bringing true reform” to the TTFA and addressing “a multitude of abuses committed by the previous regime.”
Valcke appeared to warm to that theme.
“We are keenly aware of the dire situation and various difficulties faced by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF),” wrote Valcke, “and emanating from the mismanagement of previous administrations.”
In fact, Tim Kee was a vice-president for over a decade under the Warner-led executive while he was voted into power by the same officials that he criticised to FIFA.
During the 2012 football elections, Tim Kee denied that his candidacy was supported by Warner or that the then senior Cabinet member played any role in the sudden and mysterious withdrawal of Colin Murray’s competing bid for the top job. He also later denied rumours that he double-crossed Warner by snubbing the latter’s friend and Eastern Football Association (EFA) official Neville Ferguson and installing Phillips as TTFA general secretary instead.
And, despite his stated mission of ushering football into an era of transparency, the TTFA’s finance committee, which is ostensibly chaired by Tim Kee, has not met once in almost two years while he did not keep his election promise to conduct an immediate financial audit of the body.
Although the TTFA elections has been postponed, the zonal elections will proceed as normal and should be conducted next month. At present, the constitution dictates that the zonal bodies will select the football president although the IRC recommended a “one club, one vote” system.
Either way, Tim Kee, who is also the Port of Spain mayor and treasurer for the Opposition political party, the PNM, will have until 30 June 2015 to find a way to win the favour of a distrusting football public.
Incidentally, Trinidad and Tobago’s general election is constitutionally due in May 2015 although the People’s Partnership government suggested it could be pushed back to September.
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During the IRC hearings that I attended, there was a long discussion regarding the voting system. The current system allows 4 or 5 people to control the whole of T&T football. Rules affecting professional football are decided by amateur clubs. One club, one vote would still allow like minded people to vote together, but at least there is an opportunity for truly democratic decisions.
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so in other wards whoever holds that single vote can be bought or controlled... same old same old... i remember we outlined how it went down but this approach will still lead to bobol and tim kee i doubt will want to lose his power...
For your education...
Before Jack Warner every club had a vote. The referees association had a vote. Secondary schools league had a vote.
Jack had it changed to only the zonal heads could vote. i.e. 5-6 votes. Easy to buy and sell. I am fully aware of this
The TTFA vote has been delayed so the changes can be implemented. If Tim Kee really wanted to guarantee power he would hold elections tomorrow. If he did he would create even more problems for himself, sponsors and the public would chastise him because it would reek of corruption, so he has no choice, he wants money and a second chance, so hes going with the tide of change bc if he doesn't he is done..
Now tell me how this will be the same if we go back to one club one vote!
Better yet propose a better system.
well for one, let me further clarify myself the one club vote is still a sketchy issue for me... bc i don't know if that includes the pro league and super league... the veterans association and other entities that have played an integral part in the building and sustaining of TT football...
i believe it should consist of past players, present players and a segment of the population, which would prevent the isolation from the public that we have seen in the past..
i will elaborate later when i get up and make suggestions..
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well for one, let me further clarify myself the one club vote is still a sketchy issue for me... bc i don't know if that includes the pro league and super league... the veterans association and other entities that have played an integral part in the building and sustaining of TT football...
i believe it should consist of past players, present players and a segment of the population, which would prevent the isolation from the public that we have seen in the past..
i will elaborate later when i get up and make suggestions..
The Pro League has a vote, as does the Veteran Players and current players will have a vote as well. I don't think the Super League has one, but I could be wrong on that. Voting is reserved for members of the TTFA, so the public won't have a vote, just as John Q. Public doesn't have a vote in England, the US, Canada etc. The next logical question then is "How does one become a member?"... which is governed by the Constitution. There is a nomination and a vote by the general membership (I believe), all of this is to be addressed by the constitutional changes being proposed by Tim Kee and the Independent Reform Commission.
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I see your campaign of lies and blatant mischaracterizations against the TTFA continues. Why not link to or post the letter from Valcke in its entirety, rather than selectively taking snippets out of context to make it seem like some FIFA conspiracy to "protect" Tim Kee? The letter makes clear that there are a number of purposes to be served by postponing the election, the additional seven months is hardly "protection," you'd think FIFA gave them a 7-year extension by the way you spinning it.
Then to this nonsense:
Now, according to a TTFA release, a new committee called the Constitutional Reform Panel will receive a nine-month mandate to apparently do the same job. The names of the new committee members have not yet been released.
The Independent Reform Commission was convened for the purpose of looking at the governance structure of the TTFA, and to make much-needed recommendations for Constitutional reform, the last of which was done under Jack, and consolidated power into the hands of a few of his selected cronies. What purpose does it serve to have the IRC make suggestions only to then go ahead and vote under the old nepotic system? FIFA is troubled by the failures of the current by-laws to address separation and delegation of power within the TTFA. Issues of transparency and accountability cannot be resolved with magic dust or a wave of the hand. Amid all of the criticism directed at Tim Kee and Phillips, is a failure to acknowledge that there is significant holdover from the Warner/Camps/Roden years, in the current TTFA Executive Committee. The holdover isn't just in the form of bodies, but of attitudes too, and much of that attitude is one of resistance to the attempts to transform the governance of the TTFA. But you should know this, since some of them are constantly in your ears complaining about Tim Kee and Phillips.
The decision to create a new constitution for local football was initially proposed by the TTFA, rather than FIFA, in April 2013. However, Valcke said the the FIFA Associations Committee now feels it so important that it has overruled the present TTFA bylaws in a bid to keep Tim Kee in charge until it is completed to the governing body’s liking.
The delay in the elections is designed to give the TTFA a chance to implement the changes recommended by the IRC. The IRC could only advise, whereas the Reform Panel has the authority (if I'm correct) to actually adopt and implement the changes. So no, the Reform Panel will not be doing the same thing as the Reform Commission. Those changes are also necessary in order to comply with new statutory changes in FIFA's own constitution, which it has mandated that member associations adopt into their own provisions. These statutory changes, along with the TTFA constitutional reform has to be voted on in an Annual General Meeting. The AGM was pushed back until July of next year so that several birds could be killed with one stone:
1) Change the Constitution
2) Conform the TTFA bylaws to streamline them with FIFA changes
3) Vote on adoption of the changes
4) Vote in accordance with the new amendments during the delayed elections.
The delay allows for a much more democratic vote than the current system as FF points out here:
Before Jack Warner every club had a vote. The referees association had a vote. Secondary schools league had a vote.
Jack had it changed to only the zonal heads could vote. i.e. 5-6 votes. Easy to buy and sell.
The TTFA vote has been delayed so the changes can be implemented. If Tim Kee really wanted to guarantee power he would hold elections tomorrow
Now tell me how this will be the same if we go back to one club one vote!
Better yet propose a better system.
Far from 'protecting' Tim Kee, the delay and changes to the bylaws will disseminate votes among a wider electorate and ostensibly could make his re-election even more challenging... quite the opposite from what your (deliberately) misleading headline and article suggests.
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Ok now we getting some discussion
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Lasana this is real garbage.
Ah sorry. I taking off my moderator hat on this one. Views expressed do not indicate SW Online official views.
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well for one, let me further clarify myself the one club vote is still a sketchy issue for me... bc i don't know if that includes the pro league and super league... the veterans association and other entities that have played an integral part in the building and sustaining of TT football...
i believe it should consist of past players, present players and a segment of the population, which would prevent the isolation from the public that we have seen in the past..
i will elaborate later when i get up and make suggestions..
The Pro League has a vote, as does the Veteran Players and current players will have a vote as well. I don't think the Super League has one, but I could be wrong on that. Voting is reserved for members of the TTFA, so the public won't have a vote, just as John Q. Public doesn't have a vote in England, the US, Canada etc. The next logical question then is "How does one become a member?"... which is governed by the Constitution. There is a nomination and a vote by the general membership (I believe), all of this is to be addressed by the constitutional changes being proposed by Tim Kee and the Independent Reform Commission.
much appreciated bakes :beermug:
good question, I was also thinking along those lines in terms of what qualifies you to vote???
I believe sw.net/wn should have one vote, which is determined by long standing members of the forum and WN maybe...
i look forward to hearing about that reform commission, i remember we posted how the process happened a while back, hopefully we can resurrect that thread for our own reference..
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Eitherway, Tim Kee reform still better than Jack Warner own.
Once he do things right.
I hope de new constitution have something where men can only rule for two terms.
I want to see de new constitution.
Jack Waner put his people in power in de zones so he could win all de time, I hope de new TTFA do things fair.
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Not trying to pile on but considering your talents, this is absolutely atrocious SWFR. I have been trying to give the benefit of the doubt but it really looks like you just have an ax to grind that somehow cannot be sharpened.
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Seven months cannot change anything even if that is Tim Kee plan.
Tim Kee very stubborn and hate de SWO fans, but at least he reform still better than Jack Warner own.
Once he do things right.
I hope de new constitution have something where men can only rule for two terms.
I want to see de new constitution.
Jack Waner put his people in power in de zones so he could win all de time, I hope de new TTFA do things fair.
I want to know when de election for a new press officer coming? It seems he job more secure than anyone else.
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Seven months cannot change anything even if that is Tim Kee plan.
Tim Kee very stubborn and hate de SWO fans, but at least he reform still better than Jack Warner own.
Once he do things right.
I hope de new constitution have something where men can only rule for two terms.
I want to see de new constitution.
Jack Waner put his people in power in de zones so he could win all de time, I hope de new TTFA do things fair.
I want to know when de election for a new press officer coming? It seems he job more secure than anyone else.
The proposal that the Reform Commission made, which Tim Kee is trying to put in place would limit the terms of the President to two consecutive terms. This means you could serve, get re-elected again, but come the third time you have to step down and let somebody else serve. After that you're free to start all over and run again. Now why would Tim Kee want to do that if is power he really trying to hold onto so? If he really wanted to be "ah next Jack Warner" as some jackass commentator on Lasana's site say... why would he be in favor of spreading out the vote and limiting the term? Is either Lasana reading things and not understanding what it is he reading, or as I say he just on a campaign of lies and mischaraterizations. It is a crying shame either way because once upon a time he was a fine journalist, if not the best in Trinidad... a man whose word you never had to doubt.
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much appreciated bakes :beermug:
good question, I was also thinking along those lines in terms of what qualifies you to vote???
I believe sw.net/wn should have one vote, which is determined by long standing members of the forum and WN maybe...
i look forward to hearing about that reform commission, i remember we posted how the process happened a while back, hopefully we can resurrect that thread for our own reference..
I had a chance to look at the recommendations made by the Reform Commission and let me tell you, I was very impressed. Shaka and them take a look at everything, from top to bottom. They also brought in Deloitte to advise them on what changes in governance need to be made. Deloitte took their own management model, they then took some things from the management model used by the English FA, and finally they take a look at what the law for corporate governance is right there in Trinidad, and use all three to come up with a new proposed governance structure. But they could only make recommendations. It's up to the Reform Panel now to adopt the recommended changes. If those changes happen, it will be a new day for football governance in TnT.
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Seven months cannot change anything even if that is Tim Kee plan.
Tim Kee very stubborn and hate de SWO fans, but at least he reform still better than Jack Warner own.
Once he do things right.
I hope de new constitution have something where men can only rule for two terms.
I want to see de new constitution.
Jack Waner put his people in power in de zones so he could win all de time, I hope de new TTFA do things fair.
I want to know when de election for a new press officer coming? It seems he job more secure than anyone else.
The proposal that the Reform Commission made, which Tim Kee is trying to put in place would limit the terms of the President to two consecutive terms. This means you could serve, get re-elected again, but come the third time you have to step down and let somebody else serve. After that you're free to start all over and run again. Now why would Tim Kee want to do that if is power he really trying to hold onto so? If he really wanted to be "ah next Jack Warner" as some jackass commentator on Lasana's site say... why would he be in favor of spreading out the vote and limiting the term? Is either Lasana reading things and not understanding what it is he reading, or as I say he just on a campaign of lies and mischaraterizations. It is a crying shame either way because once upon a time he was a fine journalist, if not the best in Trinidad... a man whose word you never had to doubt.
if this is indeed the direction they are heading in as bakes is pointing out, I believe Lasana should write an objective piece on the reform, rather than a skewed perspective as the one above... jmho
why tarnish your reputation, harboring a foolish grudge... objectivity is always appreciated
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much appreciated bakes :beermug:
good question, I was also thinking along those lines in terms of what qualifies you to vote???
I believe sw.net/wn should have one vote, which is determined by long standing members of the forum and WN maybe...
i look forward to hearing about that reform commission, i remember we posted how the process happened a while back, hopefully we can resurrect that thread for our own reference..
I had a chance to look at the recommendations made by the Reform Commission and let me tell you, I was very impressed. Shaka and them take a look at everything, from top to bottom. They also brought in Deloitte to advise them on what changes in governance need to be made. Deloitte took their own management model, they then took some things from the management model used by the English FA, and finally they take a look at what the law for corporate governance is right there in Trinidad, and use all three to come up with a new proposed governance structure. But they could only make recommendations. It's up to the Reform Panel now to adopt the recommended changes. If those changes happen, it will be a new day for football governance in TnT.
Where can we get sight of the recommendations?
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The recommendations of the IRC that I have seen here seem to be very sensible, although I haven't seen the full recommendations.
However, I am surprised that nobody is alarmed by the interference of FIFA in the local democratic elections. While FIFA may be the governing body, TTFA is supposedly run democratically by its members.
It may well make sense to delay the election, but has FIFA the ability to amend TTFA's constitution?
For example, the T&T government cannot override the THA elections.
Surely, the correct approach would be a members referendum with three options:
1 Delay the election until a specific date to allow for IRP recommendations
2 Hold the election as scheduled, allowing members time to consider the recommendations and submit any amendments before the next election.
3 Hold an election as scheduled for an interim president for a term of one year.
At this point, as far as I can discover here, the membership was not consulted about this delayed election. Presumably, Mr Tim-Kee did have his views heard by FIFA. So, how can FIFA force this decision without consulting the members? Hardly democratic.
Decisions such as these only fuel the fires of people like Lasana. Surely, transparency in the process is the best defence, even if the end result is well conceived and transparent.
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FIFA isn't interfering with anything, that is alarmist nonsense being put in Lasana's ear by the old-guard on the Ex Co. FIFA wanted to step in two years ago and essentially put the TTFA under receivership, as is their right to do. If I buy a McDonald's franchise and I'm running it into the ground and messing up the McDonald's brand, the parent corporation could step in and take over operations. Same too with global football, the local FA's are operating with FIFA's approval and if things aren't being done properly, FIFA is authorized to step in and either revoke the local charter, or try and fix things as they see fit.
Say what you want about FIFA and corruption, but following the bribery scandal they took a long hard look (my guess is because of the involvement of the FBI et al) at themselves and instituted changes there in Zurich. They then told every member FA that they needed to adopt similar changes in governance. They had so little faith in the old TTFF that they almost took over running things. Tim Kee et al. convinced Valcke and the rest of the oversight committee to give them a chance to clean things up... this is what lead to the formation of the Reform Commission.
The Reform Commission took longer than planned to finish making the recommendations, so that set everything back. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because even though they took longer, it was a very comprehensive, professional review. Now there were two choices:
1) Hold elections next month as scheduled, and not have a chance to implement changes for another year or two. Or;
2) Delay the elections and buy some time to make the changes to make FIFA happy, but also to seize the opportunity to clean up the TTFA once and for all, just as critics have been clamoring for for years.
Tim Kee was the one who asked for permission to delay the vote, he laid out his reasons, and Valcke and the Associations Committee agreed with his reason. It made no sense to hold the elections next month under the current corrupt system. For all we know a new old-guard crony would have been voted in and the recommendations would never see the light of day... because the old-guard don't want things to change. As I said earlier, what is the sense voting under the same corrupt status quo when you could delay the process so that more people who legitimately have a stake in local football could have more say in who's running things?
I think people have these fancy pie-in-the-sky ideas about 'referendum' and what not, losing sight of what the reality is on the ground in Trinidad.
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Where can we get sight of the recommendations?
I got a copy from a friend of a friend of a friend of someone who was part of the Commission, but I don't have permission to make it public. I think they're trying to get the TTFA to publish the full report, which might only be a matter of time.
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Where can we get sight of the recommendations?
I got a copy from a friend of a friend of a friend of someone who was part of the Commission, but I don't have permission to make it public. I think they're trying to get the TTFA to publish the full report, which might only be a matter of time.
:beermug:
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FIFA isn't interfering with anything, that is alarmist nonsense being put in Lasana's ear by the old-guard on the Ex Co. FIFA wanted to step in two years ago and essentially put the TTFA under receivership, as is their right to do. If I buy a McDonald's franchise and I'm running it into the ground and messing up the McDonald's brand, the parent corporation could step in and take over operations. Same too with global football, the local FA's are operating with FIFA's approval and if things aren't being done properly, FIFA is authorized to step in and either revoke the local charter, or try and fix things as they see fit.
Say what you want about FIFA and corruption, but following the bribery scandal they took a long hard look (my guess is because of the involvement of the FBI et al) at themselves and instituted changes there in Zurich. They then told every member FA that they needed to adopt similar changes in governance. They had so little faith in the old TTFF that they almost took over running things. Tim Kee et al. convinced Valcke and the rest of the oversight committee to give them a chance to clean things up... this is what lead to the formation of the Reform Commission.
The Reform Commission took longer than planned to finish making the recommendations, so that set everything back. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because even though they took longer, it was a very comprehensive, professional review. Now there were two choices:
1) Hold elections next month as scheduled, and not have a chance to implement changes for another year or two. Or;
2) Delay the elections and buy some time to make the changes to make FIFA happy, but also to seize the opportunity to clean up the TTFA once and for all, just as critics have been clamoring for for years.
Tim Kee was the one who asked for permission to delay the vote, he laid out his reasons, and Valcke and the Associations Committee agreed with his reason. It made no sense to hold the elections next month under the current corrupt system. For all we know a new old-guard crony would have been voted in and the recommendations would never see the light of day... because the old-guard don't want things to change. As I said earlier, what is the sense voting under the same corrupt status quo when you could delay the process so that more people who legitimately have a stake in local football could have more say in who's running things?
I think people have these fancy pie-in-the-sky ideas about 'referendum' and what not, losing sight of what the reality is on the ground in Trinidad.
Fair enough. Maybe a more comprehensive explanation like yours would have been more useful to the public.
Regarding the reality on the ground, there were very genuine new contenders who were apparently gaining support to stand for the presidency (and, no, Sancho wasn't one of them, although he has been approached quite a few times by people asking him to throw his hat it). There does seem to be a more competitive atmosphere surrounding these elections than I have witnessed before, which must be a good thing.
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They need to publish it though... I think once they do then people would realize the positive changes they have in mind.
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much appreciated bakes :beermug:
good question, I was also thinking along those lines in terms of what qualifies you to vote???
I believe sw.net/wn should have one vote, which is determined by long standing members of the forum and WN maybe...
i look forward to hearing about that reform commission, i remember we posted how the process happened a while back, hopefully we can resurrect that thread for our own reference..
I had a chance to look at the recommendations made by the Reform Commission and let me tell you, I was very impressed. Shaka and them take a look at everything, from top to bottom. They also brought in Deloitte to advise them on what changes in governance need to be made. Deloitte took their own management model, they then took some things from the management model used by the English FA, and finally they take a look at what the law for corporate governance is right there in Trinidad, and use all three to come up with a new proposed governance structure. But they could only make recommendations. It's up to the Reform Panel now to adopt the recommended changes. If those changes happen, it will be a new day for football governance in TnT.
That's good to know from a tax, audit and financial advisory perspective, are they also engaging a credible law firm to jointly structure the model with Deloitte?
look forward to seeing the proposal when it is made public...
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Fair enough. Maybe a more comprehensive explanation like yours would have been more useful to the public.
Regarding the reality on the ground, there were very genuine new contenders who were apparently gaining support to stand for the presidency (and, no, Sancho wasn't one of them, although he has been approached quite a few times by people asking him to throw his hat it). There does seem to be a more competitive atmosphere surrounding these elections than I have witnessed before, which must be a good thing.
Listen, Lasana knows all of this... this I know for FACT. He always tried to make it seem as though Tim Kee was pushing the normalization committee (what I described as "receivership" above), but it wasn't just Tim Kee, it was everybody who legitimately wanted to see the FA cleaned up, including Shaka and Lincoln Phillips. It was only upon second thought that they asked FIFA to hold off on forcing the normalization committed down our throats, and to give the TTFA time to clean up it's act itself. Which is what they did. But Lasana wouldn't write it that way, he rather make it seem like Tim Kee is grasping at different straws in order to retain power.
As for the situation on the ground, many people were lined up to feed at the trough under Jack. None of them want to see things changed. I could tell you that the regional heads don't want to lose their monopoly on the vote, which is precisely what is going to happen. Either they go along with the reforms or FIFA will eventually step in and force reforms through. It is good that the new elections getting some buzz... I see Kelvin (Jack) setting up to throw his hat in the ring. I wish him well, no matter what acrimony there is between him and the current leadership, I don't question his motivation, and if nothing else, he could help make some changes from the inside.
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That's good to know from a tax, audit and financial advisory perspective, are they also engaging a credible law firm to jointly structure the model with Deloitte?
look forward to seeing the proposal when it is made public...
I don't think an outside law firm was involved, but the fact that Deloitte spearheaded the proposals should be good enough. That and Independent senator Elton Prescott (who is a Senior Counsel) was the head of the Reform Commission.
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FIFA isn't interfering with anything, that is alarmist nonsense being put in Lasana's ear by the old-guard on the Ex Co. FIFA wanted to step in two years ago and essentially put the TTFA under receivership, as is their right to do. If I buy a McDonald's franchise and I'm running it into the ground and messing up the McDonald's brand, the parent corporation could step in and take over operations. Same too with global football, the local FA's are operating with FIFA's approval and if things aren't being done properly, FIFA is authorized to step in and either revoke the local charter, or try and fix things as they see fit.
Say what you want about FIFA and corruption, but following the bribery scandal they took a long hard look (my guess is because of the involvement of the FBI et al) at themselves and instituted changes there in Zurich. They then told every member FA that they needed to adopt similar changes in governance. They had so little faith in the old TTFF that they almost took over running things. Tim Kee et al. convinced Valcke and the rest of the oversight committee to give them a chance to clean things up... this is what lead to the formation of the Reform Commission.
The Reform Commission took longer than planned to finish making the recommendations, so that set everything back. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because even though they took longer, it was a very comprehensive, professional review. Now there were two choices:
1) Hold elections next month as scheduled, and not have a chance to implement changes for another year or two. Or;
2) Delay the elections and buy some time to make the changes to make FIFA happy, but also to seize the opportunity to clean up the TTFA once and for all, just as critics have been clamoring for for years.
Tim Kee was the one who asked for permission to delay the vote, he laid out his reasons, and Valcke and the Associations Committee agreed with his reason. It made no sense to hold the elections next month under the current corrupt system. For all we know a new old-guard crony would have been voted in and the recommendations would never see the light of day... because the old-guard don't want things to change. As I said earlier, what is the sense voting under the same corrupt status quo when you could delay the process so that more people who legitimately have a stake in local football could have more say in who's running things?
I think people have these fancy pie-in-the-sky ideas about 'referendum' and what not, losing sight of what the reality is on the ground in Trinidad.
well said :beermug:
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That's good to know from a tax, audit and financial advisory perspective, are they also engaging a credible law firm to jointly structure the model with Deloitte?
look forward to seeing the proposal when it is made public...
I don't think an outside law firm was involved, but the fact that Deloitte spearheaded the proposals should be good enough. That and Independent senator Elton Prescott (who is a Senior Counsel) was the head of the Reform Commission.
That's comforting to hear that Elton is working on this, I have heard a lot of great things about him and he is more than capable. With that said I believe we are on the right path, it is a matter of patience imo... thank you for the updates :beermug:
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Fair enough. Maybe a more comprehensive explanation like yours would have been more useful to the public.
Regarding the reality on the ground, there were very genuine new contenders who were apparently gaining support to stand for the presidency (and, no, Sancho wasn't one of them, although he has been approached quite a few times by people asking him to throw his hat it). There does seem to be a more competitive atmosphere surrounding these elections than I have witnessed before, which must be a good thing.
Listen, Lasana knows all of this... this I know for FACT. He always tried to make it seem as though Tim Kee was pushing the normalization committee (what I described as "receivership" above), but it wasn't just Tim Kee, it was everybody who legitimately wanted to see the FA cleaned up, including Shaka and Lincoln Phillips. It was only upon second thought that they asked FIFA to hold off on forcing the normalization committed down our throats, and to give the TTFA time to clean up it's act itself. Which is what they did. But Lasana wouldn't write it that way, he rather make it seem like Tim Kee is grasping at different straws in order to retain power.
As for the situation on the ground, many people were lined up to feed at the trough under Jack. None of them want to see things changed. I could tell you that the regional heads don't want to lose their monopoly on the vote, which is precisely what is going to happen. Either they go along with the reforms or FIFA will eventually step in and force reforms through. It is good that the new elections getting some buzz... I see Kelvin (Jack) setting up to throw his hat in the ring. I wish him well, no matter what acrimony there is between him and the current leadership, I don't question his motivation, and if nothing else, he could help make some changes from the inside.
Kelvin Jack could not stand as it would be a conflict of interest as the legal case is still ongoing!!
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Kelvin Jack could not stand as it would be a conflict of interest as the legal case is still ongoing!!
Not at all... he'd just have to recuse himself from voting on anything or being part of any decision-making that has to do with the WC bonus dispute.
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1) The Independent Reform Committee finished its work in April to give the TTFA enough time to make the adjustments necessary for a November election.
2) The IRC did just give recommendations. It drafted an entire constitution.
3) Should I publish all the letters? No media house in the world can do that. In fact, since I have more space online, I published the entire final letter which spoke to the delay.
4) What difference can seven months make? Whose prerogative it is to take another seven months? Why not a year? Or two? That isn't how democracy works. The question you should ask is whether it is proper that the TTFA president receive an additional seven months. In total, the TTFA will have received more than two years to do a constitution. Sound feasible? Could FIFA step in an stop any other FA election in any nation worth its salt? What bylaw gives them that ability?
I'm not really interested in debates on me personally because I am not bothered by opinions of my character. I have quotes from two members of the Independent Reform Commission already in the story. We know by now that for the first time in decades, there is likely to be a fight for the post of TTFA president.
Being on the ground, I have spoken to people from inside and outside of the TTFA as well as from the Independent Reform Committee. So I do have a very good idea of what I am speaking of.
Some will see something alarming here. Some won't. Everyone is welcome to his opinion and I will take neither personally.
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Seven months cannot change anything even if that is Tim Kee plan.
Tim Kee very stubborn and hate de SWO fans, but at least he reform still better than Jack Warner own.
Once he do things right.
I hope de new constitution have something where men can only rule for two terms.
I want to see de new constitution.
Jack Waner put his people in power in de zones so he could win all de time, I hope de new TTFA do things fair.
I want to know when de election for a new press officer coming? It seems he job more secure than anyone else.
The proposal that the Reform Commission made, which Tim Kee is trying to put in place would limit the terms of the President to two consecutive terms. This means you could serve, get re-elected again, but come the third time you have to step down and let somebody else serve. After that you're free to start all over and run again. Now why would Tim Kee want to do that if is power he really trying to hold onto so? If he really wanted to be "ah next Jack Warner" as some jackass commentator on Lasana's site say... why would he be in favor of spreading out the vote and limiting the term? Is either Lasana reading things and not understanding what it is he reading, or as I say he just on a campaign of lies and mischaraterizations. It is a crying shame either way because once upon a time he was a fine journalist, if not the best in Trinidad... a man whose word you never had to doubt.
Hello Bakes. The IRC did recommend two terms for the president Tim Kee. But the committee has no idea if their proposals were accepted. In fact, the FIFA correspondence seems to suggest it was not. So you are wrong to say the two term limit suggestion says anything about Tim Kee at all.
In fact, there was only one concern that was relayed to the IRC after they handed over the draft constitution. And that was the two-term limit.
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I reiterate. The IRC produced a draft constitution. They spent nine months doing it under the guidance of Elton Prescott SC. So there will probably be tweaking. But there is no need for nine months to do a constitution.
So you all were misinformed.
You pointed to the need for a delay to set things in place. Check the timeline again. The IRC completed in April. FIFA had it in its hands withing the first week of May. The time needed to put things in place was always factored into the IRC's work from day one.
Suddenly, there is another 9-month delay.
Also, search Wired868 for Sheldon Phillips' appointment as general secretary and Raymond Tim Kee's presidential campaign. You will see that the tone was optimistic and I actually did two sit down interviews with both men.
People might search for reasons why I don't like Tim Kee and Phillips. But you won't find any motivating factor other than the obvious.
I want the best for Trinidad and Tobago's football.
And I can write hundreds of words on the things that have gone wrong over the last two years.
I am the person who gets calls and emails from players, parents, coaches, clubs and fans about the issues within the game. I can only deal with a fraction of them. But I do believe Trinidad and Tobago football deserves better than it is getting now.
Notwithstanding this, I contact Phillips for quotes or use quotes from the two bigwigs whenever necessary. I cover T&T football and I play my role in the national game.
I doubt any single journalist covers as much football as I do. Then you hear about the goofing off that is happening at administrative level that is affecting our game here.
As a journo, my back is broad and I have no problem taking the criticism. You certainly should question my work. But also question the information you are being fed by those who really have something to gain here.
What do I have to gain? I'm not running for a post. And there will always be football for me to go and see. Consider that.
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1) The Independent Reform Committee finished its work in April to give the TTFA enough time to make the adjustments necessary for a November election.
2) The IRC did just give recommendations. It drafted an entire constitution.
3) Should I publish all the letters? No media house in the world can do that. In fact, since I have more space online, I published the entire final letter which spoke to the delay.
4) What difference can seven months make? Whose prerogative it is to take another seven months? Why not a year? Or two? That isn't how democracy works. The question you should ask is whether it is proper that the TTFA president receive an additional seven months. In total, the TTFA will have received more than two years to do a constitution. Sound feasible? Could FIFA step in an stop any other FA election in any nation worth its salt? What bylaw gives them that ability?
I'm not really interested in debates on me personally because I am not bothered by opinions of my character. I have quotes from two members of the Independent Reform Commission already in the story. We know by now that for the first time in decades, there is likely to be a fight for the post of TTFA president.
Being on the ground, I have spoken to people from inside and outside of the TTFA as well as from the Independent Reform Committee. So I do have a very good idea of what I am speaking of.
Some will see something alarming here. Some won't. Everyone is welcome to his opinion and I will take neither personally.
1) When the Commission first undertook they job in April 2013 they promised to finish in 3 months. Once they realized how difficult a task it was, they revised that to 6 months, meaning they should have been finished by October 2013. They finished up in March of this year, say April, as you said. Only you would think 7 months is enough time to complete a full constitutional reform and operational overhaul of the TTFA.
2) The IRC isn't empowered to make changes, just recommendations. They drafted an "entire Constitution" but that Constitution is just a piece of paper until implemented. It is the job of the Reform Panel to adopt the changes proposed by the Reform Commission. The panel hasn't completed the reform process yet, so how could anyone vote on the proposed changes... as required?
3) No one asked you to "publish all the letters" that is nonsensical obfuscation on your part. Did you cite to "all the letters"? No, you made reference to the letter granting the extension of time. Since yuh playing dotish lemmih help you out some more... the September 25 letter from Valcke to Tim Kee. That is the one you claim "protect(s)" Tim Kee... so publish that one. Not every letter ever sent by FIFA.
4) What bylaw gives them the right to step in? Try Article 7(1) and 7(2):
7 Conduct of bodies and Officials
1. The bodies and Offi cials must observe the Statutes, regulations, decisions and Code of Ethics of FIFA in their activities.
2. Executive bodies of Member Associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from offi ce by the Executive Committee in
consultation with the relevant Confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specifi c period of time.
Having quotes from two members of the Commission doesn't mean that you don't know what the ass you're talking about. Did Shaka or Elton Prescott say that the FIFA extension is designed to "protect" Tim Kee the way you have? Did either of them state why an extension was necessary (or not)? No, that was all your doing so try that shit with somebody else. You reporting news and creating news to suit your own narrative at the same time. Don't put that on the IRC, put that on yuhself and the 'Insider' yuh have whispering in yuh ears.
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Hello Bakes. The IRC did recommend two terms for the president Tim Kee. But the committee has no idea if their proposals were accepted. In fact, the FIFA correspondence seems to suggest it was not. So you are wrong to say the two term limit suggestion says anything about Tim Kee at all.
In fact, there was only one concern that was relayed to the IRC after they handed over the draft constitution. And that was the two-term limit.
How could the proposals be accepted without a full vote of the membership?? This is what I mean by saying you don't know what you're talking about. The Reform Panel has to take a look at the recommendations then present them to the general membership for voting. However, before a vote could be held, there needs to be changes to the voting procedures as identified by FIFA. The changes are meant to undo the consolidation of power that Jack Warner instituted. FIFA would likely not recognize any result coming out of an election under the current system. The misconduct of Warner, and complicity of Camps, Roden et al is what cause them to invoke Article 7, governing misconduct of the local Executive Comittee.
It's curious that you claim that the only concern was the two-term limit (presumably by Tim Kee), when Tim Kee himself is pushing full steam ahead with implementing the changes. Maybe is yuh friend on the ExCo that raised the concern.
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I reiterate. The IRC produced a draft constitution. They spent nine months doing it under the guidance of Elton Prescott SC. So there will probably be tweaking. But there is no need for nine months to do a constitution.
So you all were misinformed.
You pointed to the need for a delay to set things in place. Check the timeline again. The IRC completed in April. FIFA had it in its hands withing the first week of May. The time needed to put things in place was always factored into the IRC's work from day one.
Suddenly, there is another 9-month delay.
Also, search Wired868 for Sheldon Phillips' appointment as general secretary and Raymond Tim Kee's presidential campaign. You will see that the tone was optimistic and I actually did two sit down interviews with both men.
People might search for reasons why I don't like Tim Kee and Phillips. But you won't find any motivating factor other than the obvious.
I want the best for Trinidad and Tobago's football.
And I can write hundreds of words on the things that have gone wrong over the last two years.
I am the person who gets calls and emails from players, parents, coaches, clubs and fans about the issues within the game. I can only deal with a fraction of them. But I do believe Trinidad and Tobago football deserves better than it is getting now.
Notwithstanding this, I contact Phillips for quotes or use quotes from the two bigwigs whenever necessary. I cover T&T football and I play my role in the national game.
I doubt any single journalist covers as much football as I do. Then you hear about the goofing off that is happening at administrative level that is affecting our game here.
As a journo, my back is broad and I have no problem taking the criticism. You certainly should question my work. But also question the information you are being fed by those who really have something to gain here.
What do I have to gain? I'm not running for a post. And there will always be football for me to go and see. Consider that.
Let me give you a real timeline:
The TTFA couldn't make any changes without first securing FIFA's approval. The Associations Committee needed to first consider the proposals made by the IRC, this is yet another reason why the IRC's proposal isn't binding, just recommendations.
We inform you that the situation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) was discussed during the meeting of the FIFA Associations Committee held in Zurich on September 22, 2014.
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[the letter goes on to cite several issues: the WC bonus dispute, the overal financial health of the TTFA and how it threatens participation in the FIFA General Assemblies, the November elections... the weaknesses of the current TTFA Statutes (as it compares against the requirements of the FIFA Standard Statutes), and the efforts of the IRC to bring the TTFA Statutes in line with the Standard Statutes.]
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Under these circumstances, the Associations Committees has decided to provide an extension of the mandate of the current TTFA board until 30 June 2015 in order to revise the statutes in close collaboration with FIFA and CONCACAF and to organise elections accordingly. The extension of the mandate should also allow the TTFA to solve the pending issues.
FIFA and CONCACAF will contact you soon in order to discuss the methodology to put in place and to find convenient dates to start the process.
Jerome Valcke
FIFA Secretary General
25 September, 2014
So as this letter makes clear, it is FIFA who set out the timeline for the elections, because FIFA wants to be a part of the process of examining the amendments to the Constitution; and because FIFA wants to make sure that CONCACAF is brought in on that process as well. So Tim Kee could not, nor can he now change anything until FIFA and CONCACAF are ready to move forward, as the last sentence clearly states. This is the same letter from which you quoted in your article, while incorrectly saying it was meant to unconstitutionally give Tim Kee a longer term in office.
My sources are good, I am not the one who needs to question the information which he's being fed :beermug:
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You had a lot of fun contorting the facts. I don't need to play that game with you. Too bad the story affects you and your people so much. If it were rubbish there would be loads of reputable people rushing to point out the holes as opposed to one "Bake."
So let us see what happens next.
As for your bylaws:
7 Conduct of bodies and Officials
1. The bodies and Offi cials must observe the Statutes, regulations, decisions and Code of Ethics of FIFA in their activities.
2. Executive bodies of Member Associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from offi ce by the Executive Committee in
consultation with the relevant Confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specifi c period of time.
So the "exceptional circumstances" you are referring to is the TTFF constitution? You do realise that constitution was approved by FIFA which is the only reason the TTFF was able to use it in the first place right?
Sorry Bakes, I have no problem speaking to anyone and answering questions. But you really have no idea what you are talking about and you are quite aggressively ignorant too.
I don't see the point of furthering this talk.
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Is not one Bakes. Don't try to swerve and confuse silence for acceptance. Other folks voiced their opinion earlier but don't have time to go back and forth
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I'm talking about people in football who know what is going on, FF. Not observers. If you see an inaccuracy in the story, then point it out. If not, then let us see which insiders can point to errors.
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You had a lot of fun contorting the facts. I don't need to play that game with you. Too bad the story affects you and your people so much. If it were rubbish there would be loads of reputable people rushing to point out the holes as opposed to one "Bake."
So let us see what happens next.
As for your bylaws:
7 Conduct of bodies and Officials
1. The bodies and Offi cials must observe the Statutes, regulations, decisions and Code of Ethics of FIFA in their activities.
2. Executive bodies of Member Associations may under exceptional circumstances be removed from offi ce by the Executive Committee in
consultation with the relevant Confederation and replaced by a normalisation committee for a specifi c period of time.
So the "exceptional circumstances" you are referring to is the TTFF constitution? You do realise that constitution was approved by FIFA which is the only reason the TTFF was able to use it in the first place right?
Sorry Bakes, I have no problem speaking to anyone and answering questions. But you really have no idea what you are talking about and you are quite aggressively ignorant too.
I don't see the point of furthering this talk.
You either doing a real convincing job of playing dotish, or you are the real, genuine article. Rather than repeat myself, I'll just redirect you back to my earlier comments...
[Say what you want about FIFA and corruption, but following the bribery scandal they took a long hard look (my guess is because of the involvement of the FBI et al) at themselves and instituted changes there in Zurich. They then told every member FA that they needed to adopt similar changes in governance. They had so little faith in the old TTFF that they almost took over running things. Tim Kee et al. convinced Valcke and the rest of the oversight committee to give them a chance to clean things up... this is what lead to the formation of the Reform Commission.
The "exceptional circumstances" which nearly brought the then TTFF under the charge of the normalization committee was the bribery scandal. Note that FIFA could only do so after consultation with the Confederation (in this case CONCACAF). I'm sure I don't need to convince you that CONCACAF would have had no problems dropping the hammer on the FA until it felt that the local body had cleaned up its act. You should also note, since it seems yuh slow on the uptake, that in his September 25, 2014 letter to Tim Kee, that Valcke made pointed references to FIFA and CONCACAF having to look at the reform proposals first, then they'll get back to the TTFA on the path forward. Everything is there laid out before you, but the bias in yuh mind like a cognitive veil, preventing yuh from connecting the very obvious dots.
I wouldn't even bother responding to the rest of that errant talk about this affecting me and my people. Football is your lifeline, you need to write about football to make a living, and as I said, where there is no story you are determined to create one so as to continue to draw traffic tuh yuh site. Trust that nothing that happening in Trinidad affecting me or "my people," yuh tilting at windmills and ent even realize it.
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I know a lot more than you think SWF.
The Associations meeting was held on Sept 22nd, the letter sent on the 25th.
Stop playing ignorant about the timelines. Bout the IRC finish since April etc... Is not just so these things happen.
Could the process have been done quicker? Maybe. Is there some foul machinations going on? Most likely not.
Bureaucratic delays? I would say some.
FIFA is clearly guiding the process here. Let's use some common sense.
I would say stop trying to be the scandal journalist and be the truth journalist. The facts will always come out.
There isn't always a scandal under every rock. Even though anyone would seriously doubt that in T&T
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Isn't Kelvin Jack's legal matter with the TTFF ? Or the court looked past all that legal manipulation?
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I know a lot more than you think SWF.
The Associations meeting was held on Sept 22nd, the letter sent on the 25th.
Stop playing ignorant about the timelines. Bout the IRC finish since April etc... Is not just so these things happen.
Could the process have been done quicker? Maybe. Is there some foul machinations going on? Most likely not.
Bureaucratic delays? I would say some.
FIFA is clearly guiding the process here. Let's use some common sense.
I would say stop trying to be the scandal journalist and be the truth journalist. The facts will always come out.
There isn't always a scandal under every rock. Even though anyone would seriously doubt that in T&T
As if FIFA was supposed to drop everything between April and September, including the World Cup and convene a meeting with the TTFA and CONCACAF to go over the IRC's proposed constitutional changes. Lasana just playing de ass.
Isn't Kelvin Jack's legal matter with the TTFF ? Or the court looked past all that legal manipulation?
Ah don't think it would matter for these purposes, but again imo it shouldn't be a bar to him running for office.
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I'm talking about people in football who know what is going on, FF. Not observers. If you see an inaccuracy in the story, then point it out. If not, then let us see which insiders can point to errors.
It's not a question of whether or not what you report is accurate. It's a question of your interpretation of the facts. So while I may not be able to point to any one thing and say that it is not correct, I can look at the whole report and say, it's not making sense.
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Fifa arrives for TTFA Constitution talks (T&T Guardian) (http://www.guardian.co.tt/sport/2014-10-22/fifa-arrives-ttfa-constitution-talks)
Published:
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Work on the new T&T Football Association Constitution will begin this week when representatives of the Independent Football Reform Commission (IFRC), Fifa and Concacaf meet with president of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) Raymond Tim Kee and local officials. A press conference will be held tomorrow to announce major announcements concerning T&T football. Concacaf representatives Reudi Broennimann, Primo Corvaro, and Marco Leal will join Tim Kee and selected local representatives to serve on the Constitutional Reform Panel to begin work on the new TTFA Constitution that will be presented to the TTFA Executive Committee, members and stakeholders for national review and ratification.
The ratification process and several other areas of concern cited by Fifa will also result in the delay in TTFA elections until after June 15, 2015. However, regional zone elections will take place as originally scheduled. “When I came into office two years ago, I vowed to make meaningful change to this FA, first by taking the necessary steps to improve our on the field product and second, by initiating efforts to develop a new structure and governance model for T&T football,” Tim Kee stated. The origins of the reform effort were born soon after Tim Kee’s election as FA President when he met with Fifa officials, including Fifa President Sepp Blatter, to discuss the way forward for T&T football.
The idea of the Reform Commission was later introduced to and accepted by Fifa representatives during the 2013 Concacaf Congress in Panama, site of the page two presentation of the now infamous Simmons Report that detailed the events and activities surrounding the World Cup bribery scandal that took place in Trinidad in 2011. After convincing Fifa that T&T possessed enough knowledge and talent to achieve substantive reform, the TTFA president began assembling individuals, such as Shaka Hislop, T&T Olympic Committee president Brian Lewis, and Senator Elton Prescott S.C., to join what would be known as the IFRC. “I would like to thank members of the IFRC for their tireless effort in producing a document that can be a template for other sporting NGBs and, of course, thank you to Fifa and Concacaf, particularly Fifa secretary Jerome Valcke and Concacaf president and Fifa VP, Jeff Webb, for their supporting role in our efforts to make football a better governed entity that will now have a real chance at operating and serving all of its members and stakeholders directly.” added Tim Kee.
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You point to one letter as if that was all the correspondence there was. I won't comment further on that.
So the terrible health of the TTFA is a reason for FIFA to keep the president rather than get rid of him eh?
On the site, you said it was the bribery scandal. Three years after the fact. Despite the fact that several people actually convicted of the bribery scandal sit on FIFA committees right now. And the TTFA people convicted of the bribery scandal have all left.
Elsewhere, Bakes tried to refute that the TTFA had not been having statutory quarterly meetings by pointing to two meetings in 2012 and two in 2013. So I have to wonder if he even knows the meaning of "quarterly."
He pointed to fact that FIFA amended its own constitution in January which made ours outdated. So I suppose FAs all over the world have committees feverishly at work and everyone was given nine-month extensions.
Enjoy fellahs. Regards
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You unbelievable yes. I thought you were a critical thinker.
Lennox Watson and Rudi Thomas yes. What a joke.
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You point to one letter as if that was all the correspondence there was. I won't comment further on that.
So the terrible health of the TTFA is a reason for FIFA to keep the president rather than get rid of him eh?
On the site, you said it was the bribery scandal. Three years after the fact. Despite the fact that several people actually convicted of the bribery scandal sit on FIFA committees right now. And the TTFA people convicted of the bribery scandal have all left.
Elsewhere, Bakes tried to refute that the TTFA had not been having statutory quarterly meetings by pointing to two meetings in 2012 and two in 2013. So I have to wonder if he even knows the meaning of "quarterly."
He pointed to fact that FIFA amended its own constitution in January which made ours outdated. So I suppose FAs all over the world have committees feverishly at work and everyone was given nine-month extensions.
Enjoy fellahs. Regards
1. No, I point to 'one letter' because the Sept. 25 letter is the one YOU cited in your article as granting the extension of time.
2. The "terrible health" of the TTFA, very little, if any can be attributed to Tim Kee's stewardship, was reason to give them additional time to fix the mistakes of the old administration. Don't play dotish.
3. As I also pointed out 'on the site'... the bribery scandal happened back then, and since back then FIFA was ready to step in with the normalization committee. Tim Kee was able to convince them otherwise... just as the Guardian reports above. As FF states, things don't happen overnight... so here we are.
4. Accuse FIFA of a double-standard if you want but Article 7 speaks directly to FIFA's authority to step in with a normalization committee whenever member federations run afoul of the statutes. I know yuh slow, but try and keep focus... member federations. TTFA is a member federation. If you want to complain about FIFA execs taking bribes in Switzerland then do so elsewhere, they are not "member federations."
5. I didn't point to two meetings in 2012 and two in 2013... I pointed out NINE meetings between November 2012 and August 2013. Yuh really should try and either pay attention, or stop lying and misrepresenting clear facts. So what "failure to hold Executive Committee meetings" Watson and Thomas talking about?
6. FIFA implemented the new Statutes in early 2014. YES, since then member federations around the world have been working feverishly to change their statutes to bring them into compliance with FIFA's, as was the mandate. Some were able to I'm sure, but others having the same issues as the TTFA. Take Cameroon for instance:
FIFA extends nine months the mandate of the Standards Committee Fécafoot led by Joseph Owona (Sport and Leisure sector in need of Foreign Investment partnering with local sporting clubs & Concern Govt Department)
The executive committee of FIFA has decided that the Standards Committee Fécafoot, whose term of eight months was to expire Monday, March 31, 2014, is extended for a further period of nine months.
" The mandate of the standards committee of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) has been extended until November 30, 2014 "can be read in the final communiqué issued after the meeting of the Executive Committee of FIFA that s 'held yesterday and Friday, March 21, 2014 at the headquarters of the proceedings in Zurich under the chairmanship of Joseph Sepp Blatter.
" Right now, qualified for the World Cup in Brazil country, are concentrated in the preparation of this great festival of world football. In the month of June-July, there is nothing that will be done at the member associations. Fifa will be fully focused on the World Cup. There is no question now rushing to the adoption of texts and elections. All this reality requires an extension of the mandate of the Committee for Standardization , "declared Primo Corvaro responsible associations to FIFA to explain why it was necessary to extend the mandate of the committee chaired by Joseph Owona .
Primo Corvaro who led a delegation of FIFA in Yaounde last weekend, made this statement after a meeting with officials of the Standards Committee Fécafoot. It was a question of examining the first report of this committee whose mission is to revise the texts and organize elections Fécafoot ...
https://www.facebook.com/CCTIC.SOCIETY/posts/10152697287109167
So no, the TTFA isn't the only body to get a nine-month extension... note the same Italian fella, Primo Corvaro is in Trinidad this very moment meeting on the Constitutional Reform. Yuh should write the Cameroon Federation and tell them that FIFA interfering with they business too. Better yet, accuse mih of being Sheldon Phillips like yuh did over on yuh website. Backside.
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I thought journalists does do research.
(http://static.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/vivian-alexander-richards-1401867.jpg)
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FF/Bakes if you concerned about interpretation best you publish your own articles instead of wasting your time and energies to put your words in Lasana mouth. He have a point.
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I thought journalists does do research.
(http://static.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/vivian-alexander-richards-1401867.jpg)
that's a big 6 :D Sir Viv in his prime...
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TTFA Reform Constitution Press Conference Part 1 - President Raymond Tim Kee
https://www.youtube.com/v/wVTp3jXBkZU
TTFA Press Conference - Constitutional Reform Part Two - Brian Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/v/WIB3T6Y6pBY
FIFA's Primo Corvaro talks about the TTFA Reform Constitution
https://www.youtube.com/v/6yKKZO9IIr8
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TTFA Reform Constitution Press Conference Part 1 - President Raymond Tim Kee
https://www.youtube.com/v/wVTp3jXBkZU
TTFA Press Conference - Constitutional Reform Part Two - Brian Lewis
https://www.youtube.com/v/WIB3T6Y6pBY
FIFA's Primo Corvaro talks about the TTFA Reform Constitution
https://www.youtube.com/v/6yKKZO9IIr8
schupppsss, a bunch of fluff and rubbish like usual... he look nervous bc he will get replaced in the future... like someone give him a sedative before he talk... :D bunch of jokers... thank god we getting a new constitution but i need to see it first before i celebrate.. tim kee only talking about celebration in his speech...
female species :rotfl: what tim kee feel, women is fish or wha? he need some coaching in public speaking..
corvaro talk some sense in that he explained what we were talking about, to give ttfa time to have a proper structure in place before voting...
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Hopefully the Constitutional Reform Panel will get named soon and they'll get about the business of the proposed reforms. Then it's up to the 44 delegates to approve the changes (or not). I think Corvaro did an excellent job (better than Tim Kee and Lewis), explaining the reason for the delay and the genesis and purpose of the proposed changes. Hopefully, these changes will be accepted at the next AGM.
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Two documents from the IFRC. Some analysis of the constitution of the TTFA by Winston Thompson from 2011:
MEMORANDUM
TO: MR. GWENWYN CUST, PRESIDENT OF VETERANS FOOTBALLERS
FOUNDATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
FROM: WINSTON THOMPSON
DATE: 24TH OCTOBER, 2011
RE: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
The game of football (“soccer”) in Trinidad and Tobago is under the control of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (“the Association”) duly incorporated by a private Act of Parliament, No. 17 of 1982 (“the Act”).
Prior to its incorporation the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association was an unincorporated association of individual Clubs.
By Section 4 of the Act the affairs of the Association are to be managed by a General Council under the powers and procedures as prescribed in the Constitution and Rules of the Association.
By Section 5(b) of the Act all the rights, privileges and advantages of the General Council of the Association prior to the incorporation as aforesaid are transferred and conferred on the Association.
By Section 8(1) of the Act the Association is given power under the Act to make Rules as it deems necessary and by sub-section (2) of the said Section 8 of the Act, the Rules of the Association before it was incorporated, that is to say, when the Association was an unincorporated body, those Rules existed before the coming into force of the Act would be the Rules which would govern the affairs of the Association.
It is trite to say that as part of the proper regulation of the game of football, Rules are made and the rules of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association since incorporation are in the form now of a legislative code, that is to say, a set of Regulations laid down by the governing body to be observed all who are, or who become, members of the Association.
It is not lawful therefore for an extraneous body to make such Rules which as stated earlier form part of the legislation code, to regulate and govern the game of football in Trinidad and Tobago. According to the Act the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association is the body, that is to say, by Section 2 of the Act it is called “the Association”, and that Association has not been empowered under the Act to delegate its executive or legislative powers to any other body.
From all reports the affairs of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association have now been discontinued or abandoned and there is no provision in the Act that the affairs of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association shall vest in anyone or anybody upon such discontinuance or abandonment.
For the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association to be dissolved there must be an Act of Parliament to repeal the Act of 1982. It cannot be repealed by implication unless there is a subsequent Act of Parliament enacting the same provisions which are inconsistent with the provisions of the first Act, in other words, both enactments cannot stand together. That is not the case here.
The document therefore which is entitled “Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation – Constitution” is therefore a document that is ultra vires the 1982 Act and as such null and void. The remedy to be pursued to reverse this situation is for an application to be made to the Court for an Order restraining those persons of the Trinidad and Tobago Federation from continuing to act as the General Council established by the Act or any committee or committees thereof and/or from managing or intermeddling into the affairs of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association or performing or continuing or attempting to perform any of the functions or duties of the General Council of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association. An Order will also be asked in respect of accounts and enquiries and such costs as are incidental to the application.
Finally there is a registration by a certain Oliver Camps of the name “Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation” under the provisions of the Registration of Business Names Act, Chapter 82:85. This Act provides for the registration of firms and persons carrying on business under business names and for purposes connected therewith.
By Section 3(1)(b) of that Act, every individual having a place of business and carrying on business under a business name which does not consist of his or her true surname is required to be registered in the manner directed by this particular Act. In other words therefore the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation is the sole business of Mr. Oliver Camps. It is not as for instance what has been stated in the preamble of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association Act, No. 17 of 1982 which states “whereas for many years there has been established and functioning in Trinidad and Tobago an association known as “The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association’.”
By Section 11 of this said Act it is stated that where any statement which is required to be furnished under the Act contains matters which are false in any material particular to the knowledge of any person signing the form, that person is liable to a fine of $1,000.00 and to imprisonment for three (3) months.
It is also interesting to note that in Section 20(1)(a) of the Act every individual who uses the trade name as registered shall also in all business letters and cards etc., state his present name or initial thereof or present surname and his nationality, if not a Commonwealth citizen. Failure to do so exposes the individual to a fine of $200.00 but prosecution can only be done with the consent of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Winston Thompson
MEMORANDUM
TO: MR. GWENWYN CUST, PRESIDENT OF VETERANS FOOTBALLERS
FOUNDATION OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
FROM: WINSTON THOMPSON
DATE: 2nd December, 2011
RE: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO FOOTBALL FEDERATION
I have examined the document which you passed to me entitled “Trinidad and Tobago Federation (Incorporated by the Act of Parliament No. 17 of 1982) founded in 1908 CONSTITUTION.
The very first thing that strikes me is that this so called organisation was not incorporated by the said Act of Parliament No. 17 of 1982. In a previous Opinion I was of the view that any Act of Parliament could only be changed or varied by another Act of Parliament amending or repealing same as the case may be.
In fact in October 2009 an attempt was made by the Federation to legalise itself whereby the introduction of a Bill in Parliament for the incorporation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation and for matters incidental thereto was presented but such Bill in January of 2010 lapsed when Parliament was prorogued. In that particular Bill, that is to say, for the incorporation of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation, there was an express provision for the repeal of Act No. 17 of 1982, that is to say, the repeal of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association.
The document under review, i.e. the “Constitution” of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation has been badly drafted and it is doubtful whether a legally trained person, that is to say an attorney-at-law admitted to practise, was the author of this document. If he or she were, then the lack of experience in matters of the sort is evident.
From a legal standpoint the so called Federation is not a properly recognised legal entity. It has not been incorporated by an Act of Parliament. Similarly it has not been registered under the Companies Act in order to give it legal recognition, authority and competence.
If therefore the so called Federation is not an incorporated body then the only sensible conclusion one can really come to is that it is what is called in law an Unincorporated Association. The characteristics of an Unincorporated Association is that membership is based on an agreement. Such agreement is that two or more persons are bound together for one or more common purposes, not being business purposes, by mutual undertaking, each having mutual duties and obligations, in an organisation with Rules, which identifies in whom control of it and its funds rests and on what terms and which can be joined or left at one’s will.
I have looked at the document in order to answer this question:-
How can anyone join the Federation?
The answer is that no one can join the Federation directly. It does not state how membership can be obtained and through what means.
I can find nothing which links contractually and directly members of any Club to the Federation. There must be a contractual link between members of clubs which are part of the Federation, to the Federation. This lack of a contractual link is very clear and no where in the document can one ascertain how or through what means members are linked together.
The only conclusion one can come to therefore is that anyone joining a football club by that very act entirely accepts the linkage to the Federation in that he automatically becomes a member of an Unincorporated Association (which is the Federation) so that once a footballer joins his club he impliedly agrees to become linked to the Federation.
It must be remembered that the defining nature of an Unincorporated Association is that its foundation is in a contractual relationship. The real problem with this document is that that question has not been answered and no where in the document is there any evidence to discover when this Unincorporated Association which is said to exist was formed. If it is accepted that this body is an Unincorporated Association and as such is a creature of contract, the agreement which brought it about must have been made on some identifiable occasion or in some identifiable circumstances. No where in the document can I find the Federation’s history and the document does not refer to any such occasion or circumstances. According to the document it has been incorporated by the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (Incorporation) Act, 1982. This as has been explained, is not fact. I therefore can find no reference in the history of the Federation which looks like the beginning of such an association. The procedure for election of the General Council and Executive Committees and other Committees is contained in the document. However, the document does not state who made these Rules. The officers of the Federation who received donations or subventions and other subscriptions for purposes of the Federation do not hold them as trustees since the law does not recognise trusts for non-charitable purposes. It may be that they could use the funds for their own purposes. The only form of holding which makes any legal sense at all is that the officers of the Federation hold the funds for the benefit of the members of the Federation, and being an Unincorporated Association to be used by them as they see fit.
From the above it is plain that this “working back” kind of reasoning is a most unsatisfactory way of establishing the existence of this Unincorporated Association (called a Federation) which could only have come into existence as a result of an agreement between two or more persons. It is most unsatisfactory because it ignores the basic understanding that most people intend when they form an Association, which basically is a bond of union between the members of the Association based on contractual rights and obligations, expect the Courts to respect those rights and obligations and to enforce them when necessary. This is lacking in this document.
Winston Thompson
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Trinidad and Tobago Football Clubs and Stakeholders must decide on their Constitution
VFFOTT
The Veteran Footballers Foundation (VFFOTT) will hold an important meeting on Sunday 11th January 2015 at the Barataria Sport Complex at 10:30am to discuss action to be taken with the deafening silence of the football clubs and stakeholders in the TTFA particularly the longstanding clubs, on the nonconformity with respect to adhering to the present Constitution that governs Trinidad and Tobago football at this time.
Mr. Selby Browne, Vice President, VFFOTT, said the ongoing state of Football Administration in Trinidad and Tobago is clearly unacceptable.
The attempt by outside parties (FIFA included) to instruct or facilitate nonconformity to the present Constitution of the TTFA, MUST be challenged legally in the courts of our Republic soonest.
The draft constitution reportedly approved by FIFA must be presented to football clubs and stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago for review prior to any further discussion, action, or formal presentation for approval.
In addition any TTFA proposal for the restructure of the administration and operation of football in Trinidad and Tobago must also be presented to the clubs and stakeholders for consideration prior to any further action.
VFFOTT must continue advocacy to ensure better conditions for footballers present and future given the regretful condition under which Trinidad and Tobago football continues to be administered. The footballers are our greatest asset.
VFFOTT Secretariat
January 8th 2015
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VFFOTT clearly don't know what's going on.
The attempt by outside parties (FIFA included) to instruct or facilitate nonconformity to the present Constitution of the TTFA, MUST be challenged legally in the courts of our Republic soonest.
There's nothing to challenge in court. The TTFA is a member of FIFA, without FIFA membership the TTFA exists in theory only. The present TTFA statutes are not in compliance with FIFA statutes and need to be brought into compliance. Whether VFFOTT sees this as "interference" or not... there is no choice if the TTFA wants to remain a member of FIFA. The TTFA does not enjoy special privileges which allows for it to exist by a separate set of regulations than every other member FA around the world.
The draft constitution reportedly approved by FIFA must be presented to football clubs and stakeholders in Trinidad and Tobago for review prior to any further discussion, action, or formal presentation for approval.
There is no draft Constitution... there are recommended changes to the Constitution (recommended by the Independent Reform Commission), which much first be accepted by the Constitutional Reform Panel, made up of local football stakeholders. When they are done with adopting the recommendations/or not, then the vote goes before the football stakeholders (VFFOTT, PFL, SSFL, Super League etc.).
And just like that... meeting over in 5 minutes.
Next.
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Anyone have a copy of the new Constitution?
I know Sheldon Phillips said it will be release to the public this month.
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Like de Constitution get lost in de sea allyuh.
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TTFA constitution unanimously amended
By STEPHON NICHOLAS (NEWSDAY).
All eyes are on this country’s men’s and women’s team competing abroad in the Concacaf Gold Cup and Pan Am Games respectively, but perhaps the most significant achievement for football in this country has taken place off the field-of-play.
Yesterday, the Executive of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) under president Raymond Tim Kee accepted the recommendations of a Reform Commission and voted unanimously to the amendment of their constitution.
It is the culmination of 18 months work dome by the Commission which included Chairman Raoul John, TTOC head Brian Lewis, ex- WIPA president Dinanath Ramnarine, Senator Elton Prescott, Dr Sheila Rampersad, Shaka Hislop and Patrick Raymond.
Chief among the changes implemented is the setting of term limits for the president. A president will now be allowed just two four-year terms, effectively ending a past era which saw former boss Oliver Camps reign for 19 years.
The next president and vice-president of the TTFA will also enjoy a more comprehensive mandate from football stakeholders as clubs from the Pro League and Super Leagues will now each have a vote for elections.
The Executive Board has also been widened to include representation from the regional associations, Referees Association and Women’s Association. The Commission had also recommended the Players Association be included as well, but it was later decided that body should be functioning more efficiently before getting consideration.
Speaking exclusively with Newsday yesterday at the conclusion of the passing of the new constitution, Tim Kee beamed with pride at the historic venture.
“Everything that is worth pursuing must have a foundation. In any organisation, a constitution, which is more a roadmap to take you where you want to go, quite apart from doing that, tells you how the operation not only operates, but how it is set up to operate, and that has to do with its structure.
We want our constitution to enjoy a kind of pioneer status in this new direction so other sporting bodies can emulate,” he explained.
He revealed that FIFA’s governing body and head of Member Associations, Primo Corvaro, were all pleased with the new document.
“What excites me is the comment from the parent body, FIFA, who from 209 constitutions, has special mention of the work that this Commission did and went as far to say that they hope many countries would emulate what we have done and come up with something with the kind of integrity that this one has,” he noted.
The Port-of-Spain Mayor continued: “What we have done is shift the paradigm from Executive-centric to one that is broader. This one has the clubs and clubs now have a vote as to who would be president...We have also restricted the president’s chair to not more than two years (terms) consecutively. This wasn’t so before, a man could have been president for 100 years.”
Tim Kee revealed that the TTFA will be recruiting specialised personnel to assist in marketing and finance to better maximise the potential of the organisation.
“It’s no longer a case where I like you and I just give you a position. It’s not that way, that has changed,” he declared.
He also paid tribute to the Reform Commission which he believes did an immaculate job.
“The reason for bringing those individuals to frame the constitution, we needed to have a complement of people who nobody could question their character or integrity,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Ramnarine, who also headed the Implementation Committee (Brian Lewis, Senator Prescott, attorney Mervin Campbell, Raoul John, Oswald Downer), thanked Tim Kee and his administration for allowing the Reform Commission free reign to conduct their duties independently and without any interference or pressure.
“This is a very bold initiative and very rarely do you see the president of an organisation selecting the calibre of people and say ‘look, football needs your help, come and help us. We want you to put a structure that would take Trinidad and Tobago football forward’. Well done to president Tim Kee.
Today is an important day for Trinidad and Tobago football and the TTFA will now be a leader in sporting organisations when it comes to democracy,” he pointed out.
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No comments?
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Well, I left this alone on purpose. One question that comes to mind is ... after setting a meeting for within 24 hours recently, didn't they say the meeting was delayed until later than "yesterday". Or has time flown while we've been pointing fingers?
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In light of this .....new constitution ...... My question is when will Election be held ? as i'm sure many forumites will like to know as well... We tried ah de petty politics , and all de masty nack and forth between tim kee and sancho ..... All we want are conscientious, serious minded elected officals to run de affairs of football in de country .... us de fans of football nationally tired of all de political B/S...
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TTFA election tentatively set for Nov; Wired868 examines new constitution.
By Lasana Liburd (wired868).
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) hopes to elect its first president under the new constitution by November 2015, after the vital new document was ratified by delegates for its membership on Sunday evening.
Former West Indies Players Association (WIPA) CEO Dinanath Ramnarine, who also served on the Constitutional Reform Panel (CRP) and Independent Reform Committee (IRC) will head the Electoral Committee for the upcoming elections.
“The election should take place around November,” Ramnarine told Wired868, “but before we do that, we have to sit with the member associations and all the members and consult with them on this constitution.
“This has to now go down to every single level.”
Thus far, current TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee has been coy about whether he would stand for re-election. However, there is no indication that he will bow after a controversial two-year stint.
Tim Kee, who is also the Port of Spain Mayor and PNM treasurer, was elected unopposed in November 2012 to complete the term of outgoing president Oliver Camps. His tenure should have ended in November 2014 but, controversially, FIFA gave him a seven-month deadline until a new constitution could be passed and adapted by the relevant bodies.
That June deadline was also missed. And it now seems likely that Tim Kee would spend 12 months in office beyond his 2012 mandate.
However, Ramnarine hailed the football president for fulfilling his promise of delivering a new constitution, which takes the TTFA closer to its roots of “one club, one vote.”
“Tim Kee has to take credit for putting together a formidable (constitutional reform) team and allowing the process to be truly independent,” said Ramnarine, who worked alongside Senator Elton Prescott, TTOC president Brian Lewis, archivist Patrick Raymond, former 2006 World Cup player Shaka Hislop, MATT executive member Dr Sheila Rampersad, former referees head Osmond Downer and Raoul John. “Not once did we feel any pressure from (Tim Kee) or any other member of the executive.
“To see the clubs now have a huge say in the election of the president… It is a step in the right direction that the key stakeholders can now have a major role to play.”
In the end, FIFA and the IRC agreed on a compromise between the ideal of one club, one vote and the former structure that placed the balance of power in the six zonal associations.
For the upcoming elections, all 10 Pro League clubs will have a vote as well as eight representatives of the 15 Super League teams. So clubs will directly account for 18 of the 47 potential voting delegates or 38 percent of the electorate.
In contrast, the previous constitution allowed for just two votes from the Pro League and none from the Super League out of a potential 78 ballots. It meant that clubs had just 0.02 percent of the electorate under the previous constitution.
The other 29 voting delegates for the 2015 TTFA presidential election are as follows:
Three delegates each: the Central, Eastern, Eastern Counties, Northern, Southern and Tobago zonal bodies;
Two delegates each: the Women’s, Referees and Futsal associations;
One delegate each: the Primary School, Secondary Schools Football League (SSFL), Beach Soccer, Veteran Players and Trinidad and Tobago American Soccer Youth (TTAYSO) associations.
There is provision in the constitution for one delegate each for a players and coaches association, once active, which would mean a total of 49 delegates.
A presidential candidate does not need to have working experience in football and must only be nominated by one delegate.
Voting will be conducted by secret ballot and, for the post of president, successful candidates must get more than 50 percent of the valid votes cast. If there is no majority winner, the candidate will the least votes will be eliminated and a vote retaken until, if necessary, there are two candidates remaining.
The post of president will have a limit of two full terms.
In the case of the vice-presidents and ordinary member, if there are more than three candidates, the three candidates with the most votes from the first ballot will proceed to a second ballot.
If there are three candidates or less for one position, whoever obtains the most votes shall be elected.
The TTFA general secretary, who is appointed by the Board of Directors—formerly referred to as the Executive Committee—on the advice of the football president, must provide all delegates with a list of candidates by no later than 10 days before the election.
Current general secretary Sheldon Phillips praised Tim Kee, FIFA official Primo Corvaro, the reform commission and the various member associations for their collaborative effort in creating the new constitution.
“Passage of this document is a powerful statement that the TTFA is committed to good governance principles,” said Phillips, “and ensuring all its constituents: players, coaches, administrators, referees and now clubs, have a say in how the FA will be governed and operate.”
Tim Kee and Phillips have had a controversial spell in charge of the local game. Among other things, they struggled with debt to current and past players and coaches, endured a fractious relationship with the Government, failed to account for money ferreted out of the TTFA under the previous administration and suffered through scandals like a mysterious $400,000 licensing fee for an Argentina friendly and a messy fund raiser for deceased player Akeem Adams.
But the new TTFA constitution was something that even Tim Kee’s critics on the Executive Committee eventually agreed to support.
“My experience is that sometimes you have to give new things a chance to see how they pan out,” said TTFA vice-president Rudolph Thomas. “I am prepared to give this new constitution a chance. It has provisions which will take us into new and progressive environments and I am prepared to support that.”
But there was a caveat.
“If you don’t have the kind of vision that sees the TTFA as a responsible, international organisation, then nothing will work,” Thomas told Wired868. “And you have to align that vision with the appropriate personnel… If all the right things come together, I am optimistic.”
In November, the opportunity will be there for candidates who believe themselves to be the right people to lead the TTFA into a new period of success.
The TTFA’s voting delegates
Ten delegates: The Trinidad and Tobago Pro League;
Eight delegates: The National Super League;
Three delegates: The Central, Eastern, Eastern Counties, Northern, Southern and Tobago FAs;
Two delegates: Women’s, Referees and Futsal associations;
One delegate: Primary Schools, SSFL, TTAYSO, Beach Soccer, Veteran Players, Players and Coaches associations.
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Well forum, there it is!!!
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Well?!
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Mods could you put this at the head of the list until elections. This constitution is an important part of the ongoing argument for TTFA transparency. The framework of the new constitution is out and the election for a new president geared for November.
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Well forum, there it is!!!
We need names of the people....
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Let's tear this constitution apart forumites. ;D. Thanx Flex!!!
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Well forum, there it is!!!
We need names of the people....
Names, like who?
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Well forum, there it is!!!
We need names of the people....
Names, like who?
Of who holds the voting rights.. The eastern counties and everyone.. We want full names to see who is deciding the future of our football, that is true transparency brother... Why should we be left in the dark as to who is voting to empower men like TK..
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did the TTFA issue a statement about this change? or sean fuentes on vacation?
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did the TTFA issue a statement about this change? or sean fuentes on vacation?
He's taking a siesta with the rest of players because the heat from the game was too much yesterday..
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Well forum, there it is!!!
We need names of the people....
Names, like who?
Of who holds the voting rights.. The eastern counties and everyone.. We want full names to see who is deciding the future of our football, that is true transparency brother... Why should we be left in the dark as to who is voting to empower men like TK..
Well, you can write to the various entities listed and asked them for the name of the their officers who are given the power to vote.
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Well forum, there it is!!!
We need names of the people....
Names, like who?
Of who holds the voting rights.. The eastern counties and everyone.. We want full names to see who is deciding the future of our football, that is true transparency brother... Why should we be left in the dark as to who is voting to empower men like TK..
Well, you can write to the various entities listed and asked them for the name of the their officers who are given the power to vote.
I'll ask lasana brother... That's easier lol
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I promise to pay you tomorrow for a job done today. Reform that.
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Football players at every level and every creed and race are mediocre. Reform that.
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TTFA reform process complete.
T&T Express Reports.
The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has announced the completion of its constitutional reform process.
Working for the last 18 months, the Raoul John-led a team consisting for former Newcastle United and ESPN analyst Shaka Hislop, senator Elton Prescott, Olympic Committee chairman Brian Lewis, Patrick Raymond, Dr. Shida Rampersad and former West Indies Players Association president Dinanath Ramnarine, worked with former local Referees Association president Osmond Downer to produce the new TTFA constitution.
TTFA president Raymond Tim Kee said the Association had no choice but to do things differently from the past, therefore a reform committee made up of eminent persons was put together to reform the TTFA constitution.
“The new document will speak of not only how things ought to be done, but will look also at the restructuring of the organisation,” Tim Kee said.
“In the restructuring effort, what we ensured was there were checks and balances ensured. Accountability and transparency are two main pillars (upon) which this constitution was developed.
“So, we will be having an office run by compliance and audit, to ensure not only that accounts are done in a particular way, but also that the systems are adhered to, to ensure good governance.
“I am sure we have done enough to ensure there is not a recurrence of those mistakes (of the past),” Tim Kee declared.
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Well done. We all await the fruits of these promises.
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Former Trinidad and Tobago forward, Steve David, talks to TTFA President, Raymond Tim Kee, and General Secretary, Sheldon Phillips, about all matters concerning Trinidad and Tobago football.
https://www.youtube.com/v/sGqvs9S_fcc
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Now might be a good time to revisit Page 2 of this thread.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/RpqH8Vr94sY
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What are each of these delegates saying or will say come March.
Pro League and Super League have a big chunk by themselves equal to the Zones.
The TTFA’s voting delegates
Ten delegates: The Trinidad and Tobago Pro League;
Eight delegates: The National Super League;
Three delegates: The Central, Eastern, Eastern Counties, Northern, Southern and Tobago FAs;
Two delegates: Women’s, Referees and Futsal associations;
One delegate: Primary Schools, SSFL, TTAYSO, Beach Soccer, Veteran Players, Players and Coaches associations.
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What are each of these delegates saying or will say come March.
Pro League and Super League have a big chunk by themselves equal to the Zones.
The TTFA’s voting delegates
Ten delegates: The Trinidad and Tobago Pro League;
Eight delegates: The National Super League;
Three delegates: The Central, Eastern, Eastern Counties, Northern, Southern and Tobago FAs;
Two delegates: Women’s, Referees and Futsal associations;
One delegate: Primary Schools, SSFL, TTAYSO, Beach Soccer, Veteran Players, Players and Coaches associations.
[/quote]
I posted parts of the constitution on parts of my other thread, check it out... it will show you the process and so forth
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Contro, your job is to convince the pro-league and the super league groups, not to vote for DJW next election. You have 2 and half years to do that. If you get your people to do that, then all is yours. You and your group can take TT football to a different direction we have never seen before.
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Contro, your job is to convince the pro-league and the super league groups, not to vote for DJW next election. You have 2 and half years to do that. If you get your people to do that, then all is yours. You and your group can take TT football to a different direction we have never seen before.
You can't convince people who are corrupt by facts, or a well thought out mandate..
They are convinced by being paid off, you may have a few of them that I know that are not on that vibe but the majority is not by mandate..
You saw that at the recent election, there were other candidates that were much better but the cabal voted against someone who was above board..
So now you have spies on the board here who are hell bent on trying to muzzle me, before this board use to be talk yuh talk...
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Contro, nobody trying to muzzle you.
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Contro, nobody trying to muzzle you.
My apologies they can't..
They tried to ban me before because I pong the whole lot of them that they were begging to get me banned...
You see we are surrounded by hypocrites on here, they love dishing out but when they start to get licks and can't handle they run to get you banned or muted..
Cowards... I hope you see that SANTHIEF just drop Williams from the defense.. lol this puppet is a joke
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Contro, while you are correct that nobody cyah stop you, you must remember that freedom of speech comes with a certain amount of responsibility. If all of us were to go viral all at the same time, the mods would certainly expel all of us. Which would mash up the forum. Most of us speak our minds a fair amount of time. But I honestly think most of us restrain ourselves from inflammatory language to keep the discourses civil. I think most of us have used our flame throwers at times and the rest of us understood or try to understand the reason for the sudden burst of vitriolic language from the forumite or forumites.
Breds, you are not feeling more pain about our football more than anyone on this forum. The fact is, most of us are outside and can't actively participate to change the direction of football. That what makes it worse. Yes speak your mind. But show some restraint. That goes for me too.
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From Wired 868
Article 23 Areas of authority
The General Meeting has the following areas of authority:
a) adopting or amending the Constitution;
b) appointing three Delegates to review the minutes of the foregoing General Meeting; which will be tabled to the general meeting for ratification as per article 31
c) electing or dismissing the President and the Vice-Presidents of the Board of Directors;
d) electing or dismissing the other members of the Board of Directors upon proposal of the Member they represent;
e) electing or dismissing the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the judicial bodies upon the proposal of the Board of Directors;
f) electing or dismissing the members of the Audit and Compliance Committee upon the proposal of the Board of Directors;
g) electing or dismissing the members of the Electoral Committee;
h) appointing the scrutineers;
i) approving the financial statements;
j) approving the budget;
k) approving the activity report;
l) appointing the independent external auditors upon the proposal of the Board of Directors;
m) fixing the Membership subscriptions on the recommendation of the Board of Directors;
n) deciding, upon the nomination of the Board of Directors, whether to bestow the title of honorary president or honorary Member;
o) admitting, suspending or expelling a Member;
p) dismissing one or a number of members of a body of TTFA;
q) dissolving TTFA;
r) passing decisions on matters duly submitted by a Member to the General Meeting.
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And the AGM was just in November.
Looks like the organization is following the constitution so fans need to focus on the persons who have the power to make things happen or at least signal that there are boundaries not to be crossed by the President.
Wired868
DJW hurdles AGM; TV cash vow mutes concerns about Hart and TTFA’s secrecy culture (http://wired868.com/2016/11/27/djw-hurdles-agm-tv-cash-vow-mutes-concerns-about-hart-and-ttfas-secrecy-culture/)
Downer refused to be appeased with piecemeal information at the AGM and, at least temporarily, stood his ground. So, John-Williams put it to a vote.
Did the TTFA’s general council agree with the board’s decision to remove Hart as Soca Warriors coach?
There were three abstentions—Northern FA president Anthony Harford felt he could not vote without detailed knowledge about Hart’s dismissal—but, otherwise, the general council agreed that the coach’s time at the helm should come to a close. Even Downer voted along with the pack.
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test
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Tobago's "Top" FIFA listed referee Keon Yorke cautioned a player in a match last season. Failed to dismiss him, but in his match report stated that the player threatened and abused him. "He doing shit". Yes we've reached a new low because the Disciplinary Committee of the TFA suspended a player with a yellow card to 9 games suspension and a fine of $100.00. The TTFA remains silent and unresponsive on the matter. Welcome to the new world of football in TT. ::) :cursing: :bs:
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I thought there would be some erudite referee among us who would tell me I got it wrong.... This is a real struggle
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Don't know much about the law side of football.
However, moving forward, is there anyway a new TTFA board can add/modify the constitution that if a new board replaces an old one, then all contracts (coaches, etc) with the previous board becomes null?
This way the new guys do not inherit the old problems and debts.
This will eliminate any coach signing long-term and past regimen being spiteful and giving coaches long term contacts even if they didn't warrant it.
Every 4 years in election and it should be up to the new TTFA to keep or cut ties with coaches, etc...
Just asking.
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TTFA, FIFA officials discuss statute reform
T&T Newsday
The normalisation committee of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association has held meeting with visiting Fifa officials to discuss statute reform.
The Fifa officials include Nodar Akhalkatsi, Director of Strategic Projects and Member Association Governance, and Sofia Malizia, Member Association Governance Manager.
Both officials held meetings with the normalisation committee, under chairman Robert Hadad as well as stakeholders of the TTFA on matters relating to the statute reform, part of the mandate of the Fifa-appointed normalisation committee.
Fifa appointed a normalisation committee in March 2020 to run the TTFA'S daily affairs; to establish a debt repayment plan that is implementable by the TTFA; to review and amend the TTFA statutes (and other regulations where necessary) and to ensure their compliance with the FIFA statutes and requirements before duly submitting them for approval to the TTFA Congress; and to organise and to conduct elections of a new TTFA Executive Committee for a four-year mandate.
According to TTFA general secretary Amiel Mohammed, these discussions were productive and this process will continue through to the latter part of 2023. Other matters relating to the development and progress of local football were also on the agenda.
Malizia’s role consists of dealing with governance matters at national federations. Akhalkatsi meantime is the former president of the Georgian Football Federation, and was appointed Fifa Director of Strategic Projects and Member Association Governance in 2022 after serving as the Director of Member Associations Europe,
The FIFA officials also met on Wednesday with Acting Minister of Sport and Community Development, Senator Randall Mitchell, along with David Roberts, acting Permanent Secretary, and Beverly Reid Samuel, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the ministry, at the ministry in Port of Spain.
The meeting was aimed at providing an update on the work of the normalisation committee as well as updates on the current status of football in T&T. The Ministry of Sport and Community Development later stated that it remains committed to working with all key stakeholders to foster the growth and advancement of sport locally.
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Railroad job: Clubs get 3 weeks to consider new TTFA constitution; Browne not happy
By Garth Wattley (T&T Express)
Football stakeholders have three weeks to mull over a proposed new FIFA-approved constitution and the end of January to approve it or risk elections for a new executive being put off again.
However, both these time-lines and some of the proposed amendments are meeting with strong objection from at least one stakeholder.
On Friday evening, a draft constitution was sent to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association membership by the TTFA.
The TTFA notice stated in part: “We would like to invite you to provide feedback and comments on the draft by 31 December 2023. The NC (Normalisation Committee) and FIFA will then distil this feedback and revert.
The intention is to convene an EGM (Emergency General Meeting) by 28 January 2024 to approve the Statutes.”
Commenting on the document on the ISports radio programme on Saturday, NC chairman Robert Hadad said: “The stakeholders now have the draft of what FIFA considers but we do have to have some back and forth...”
He admitted that, “we have some corrections to make. Already we seeing some of the members sharing some corrections with us and I’m sure they would have some concerns as to why the new constitution looks the way it is, but we tried our best when FIFA was here a few weeks ago—they met with all the stakeholders and a lot of the stakeholders’ input has been considered in the new constitution.”
Hadad said that under the current TTFA constitution, 60 days’ notice was needed for elections, hence the need for the amendments to be agreed to by the end of January. The NC is due to demit office on March 31, 2024.
No new constitution, no elections
However, asked what would happen if the majority of the TTFA membership did not agree to the proposed changes, Hadad said: “They will have to keep going back and forth with FIFA,” and elections, “will have to wait until the constitution is approved.”
President of the Veteran Footballers Foundation of Trinidad and Tobago Selby Browne is not one who is prepared to sign off on the proposed changes. In the first instance, he took issue with the time at which the draft constitution has been presented.
Noting that the mandate to produce a new constitution had been on the NC’s plate since March 17, 2020, when it was constituted by FIFA, Browne said it was “absurd” the time it has taken for the constitution proposals to be presented to the stakeholders.
“One of the first things that they should have done...was constitute a committee of the members to look into a draft constitution,” he told the Express.
Browne said the December deadline is, “out of place and absurd because you have had this to be done since 2020...In my view, like was done in Guyana (when a NC was in place there), call the election and let whoever the new executive is, organise their new constitution.”
On Saturday, however, Hadad emphasised that “this is a FIFA job...This is the constitution that they want. They did meet with the stakeholders and they did try to represent the feedback that they got from the stakeholders in this constitution...You’re not going to please everybody, so it’s about getting the majority to agree.”
Browne however, disagreed with “a host of things” in the amendments, including the right for clubs in Tier One and Tier Two of the new T&T Premier Football League to have voting rights in elections.
More power to clubs
Hadad said the proposed new constitution would see clubs having more votes than zones and associations, contrary to what currently exists. Some 17 Tier One and Tier Two clubs would have one delegate each being allowed two votes.
Browne, though, challenged the legitimacy of the Tier One and Tier Two clubs under the current constitution.
He said: “Tier One and Tier Two does not exist under the existing constitution. They are seeking to legitimise this TTPFL which is an illegitimate entity in the quite alive TTFA constitution.
“The TTFA constitution exists and it is what you are (currently) governed by, which provides for a Pro League and a Super League,” he stressed. “That league that just brings people together hodge-podge is not a legal league under the TTFA, whether FIFA is putting money into it or Government putting money into it.”
Browne said he will “definitely not” be agreeing to such an amendment. “You went and do something that is out of the order and you coming now to amend it? Who you coming to, me to amend it?” Browne asked.
And he maintained it was the TTFA membership, not FIFA who should be responsible for amending the constitution.
“We are being railroaded into coming to a decision in three weeks (sic).”
Hadad’s hope, though is that after “active discussions,” at month’s end, consensus will be reached within the current time-frame. “I think we did our job,” he said.
“We’ve cleaned up the debt, we’ve got football back to a certain extent back on track. It’s not a perfect job but we think that we have a nice momentum going now and we would love to see the new Ex-co (executive committee) come in the early part of April.”
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So basically, Selby Browne should be kept as far away from any new TTFA as possible, right :)
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FIFA come to watch: TTFA to hold EGM on Constitution on Sunday
T&T Express
TTFA members will be asked to approve a revised Trinidad and Tobago Football Association constitution—approved by world governing body FIFA —when the organisation holds its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) Sunday at the Home of Football in Couva. And FIFA representatives will be here to observe proceedings.
In a letter to Normalisation Committee (NC) chairman Hadad, FIFA’s Chief Members Association officer Kenny Jean-Marie stressed that the ongoing statutory revision involved a thorough consultation process with TTFA members, acknowledging the notice for the EGM sent to members on January 18.
“We are now pleased to confirm that the statutes document which is attached to this letter fully complies with the requirements and standards of FIFA and CONCACAF and is therefore endorsed by both entities,” Jean-Marie stated. “In this respect, it is important to note that all the comments and feedback provided by the members of TTFA were diligently analysed and taken into consideration during the revision process. We therefore expect this latest version to be submitted to the members of TTFA during their EGM of 28 January 2024 for approval.”
Jean-Marie stated further that based on the initial decision of the Bureau of the FIFA Council to appoint a Normalisation Committee for the TTFA, elections of a new TTFA executive committee, “will only be able to be held once the TTFA statutes (and other regulations where necessary) have been revised. and brought in line with the FIFA statutes and requirements.”
The FIFA official also advised that a delegation of FIFA and CONCACAF will attend this Sunday’s EGM as observers.
But Trinidad and Tobago Football Referees’ Association representative Osmond Downer has identified issues concerning the proposed new constitution, including one of the articles drafted in the document.
Article 79, “Transitional provisions” of the draft indicates: “For the elections of the Council which shall take place following the adoption of these Statutes, the Normalisation Committee shall act as the Electoral Committee as defined in the electoral code. Any appeal against any decision of the Normalisation Committee in connection with the elections, shall be referred to CAS.”
Downer sees this as problematic.
“We have realised that a much closer examination has to be taken of a particular provision of the draft statutes that could very well be one of the most egregious, and indeed, pernicious articles in the draft statutes. This leaves one to wonder as to the reason for the inclusion of such an article in the draft,” stated Downer.
But TTFA general secretary Amiel Mohammed said the sole agenda item for the EGM will be the approval of the statutes.
“A FIFA and CONCACAF team will be at that meeting and an informal meeting will be held on Saturday (day before the EGM) with the stakeholders for them to respond to queries from the membership on the statutes,” said Mohammed
Mohammed added that based on the NC’s mandate from FIFA, the last item is the hosting of elections.
He stressed: “Elections as such may only be convened if the other mandate items such as the reform of the statutes takes place. New statutes of the TTFA as such, must be approved before an election can be convened. This has always been the case and communicated to members and the public throughout the process and in particular over the last few months,” Mohammed concluded.
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TTFA enacts FIFA-stipulated constitutional changes.
By Andrew Gioannetti (T&T Newsday).
THE TT Football Association (TTFA) inched closer to a return to self-governance on Sunday when its members voted unanimously in favour of revising statutes to its constitution, as stipulated by FIFA.
The association hosted an extraordinary (or emergency) general meeting (EGM) at the Home of Football in Couva. Revision of the existing constitution was mandated by FIFA in order to effectively dissolve the TTFA’s normalisation committee, which was installed in March 2020 to replace the elected executive, led by William Wallace.
Notice of the impending AGM is expected to be revealed by Wednesday. The highly anticipated election will take place before March 31, when the normalisation committee’s FIFA mandate ends.
All 30 eligible members voted in favour of the changes at the meeting, where FIFA and Concacaf officials observed.
Sunday’s EGM was arranged earlier this month after FIFA declared that the proposed TTFA statutes “(fully comply) with the requirements and standards of FIFA and Concacaf,” and are therefore endorsed by both.
The elected administration was controversially taken over by FIFA after the world governing body said it observed “grave violations of FIFA statutes,” and other problems within the TTFA, such as debts, which put it at risk of insolvency.
The normalisation committee was installed by FIFA primarily to run day-to-day business; settle debts; make recommendations for constitutional amendments to align with FIFA statutes; and to call the TTFA elections, of which it would oversee.
TTFA general secretary Amiel Mohammed told Newsday a copy of the new statutes “will probably be published on (TTFA’s) website this week.”
“There are many provisions (to assist) in ensuring there is accountability and prudent financial governance as per policies, controls and signing authority,” Mohammed said.
Notably, the voting structure has been amended and slate elections have been introduced. The executive committee will consist of nine members.
TT Premier Football League Tier One clubs (maximum of 12) have a delegate and two votes each, along with the top six clubs from the second tier at the end of the most recent campaign.
Each of the regional associations and T&T Women’s League Football also have two votes and a delegate, while the remaining associations: beach soccer, futsal, referees, coaches, Secondary Schools Football League, Primary Schools Football League and the Veterans Football Foundation of T&T, all have one vote and delegate.
While the decision on Sunday to revise the statutes was unanimous, it came after lengthy discussion between the normalisation committee and voting members, perhaps most critically, the Veteran Footballers Foundation, led by Selby Browne, who expressed concerns about several amendments and other matters, ahead of the EGM.
Browne issued a statement on Saturday, a day before the EGM, in which he reluctantly encouraged the members to vote to settle the statutes.
He said, “My recommendation (to the TTFA membership is); despite the outrageous nonsense contained therein, loaded with every unacceptable condition conceived, do not change a coma (sic) in the document.
“On approval the membership will for the first time in four years have the notice for the AGM election date.
“The TTFA membership will then begin the new era for the restructure and development of the T&T football product, to provide for participation in well-structured football throughout all communities in our republic…”
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Wonder if and when we'll be able to access the full text to see the "outrageous nonsense" Selby was referring to.
Also, the slice and dice of the votes seem [from my own very non-informed perspective] like it could use a shake-up. And the most concerning part for me about the whole thing is if amending sensible things like these - the distribution of the votes - needs to have FIFA's approval. [Yes I could see how this very thing might have been how certain dictators in the past would have rigged the system to stay in power and exercise other corrupt practices... so a two edged sword].
I hope the 2 votes each for the Pro league Team is if they actually field a women's team? or every Wolf team also has parity in votes?
Also, I think the SSFL should be rewarded for having a better functioning system than ...virtually all of the other member associations, and should be at least temporarily rewarded with extra votes -- a bigger say in charting the way forward for the football in the country. [despite what a large faction on here think that ssfl is a hindrance, i think in the absence of european-style academies, which is a pipe dream that only people living in europe would bray for and about, works well for t&t's reality, and our recent "success" can be tied directly to players out of that league -- we just have to accept that our players will peak later and have slightly shorter careers].
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Candidates prepare for TTFA elections.
By Walter Alibey (T&T Guardian).
A new-look T&T football administration is on the horizon.
At least three persons are eagerly awaiting the election date of the T&T Football Association (TTFA) to be called now that approval of the constitution is completed.
Sunday’s Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the TTFA at which 33 of the 47 members present unanimously agreed to accept the amendments of the constitution, and also invoked the right of the FIFA-appointed Normalisation Committee being led by businessman Robert Hadad, to call fresh elections and conclude their mandate to manage the local sporting discipline as handed down by the sport’s world governing body- FIFA, in March of 2020.
At present, the constitution gives the right for a 60-day notice-period for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) which includes the election of an executive. This means that notice to members should be known today (January 31).
However, the members are concerned by one of the new amendments that would only allow people contesting the election to be part of a slate. Also, members can only vote for a slate and not for an office position as was in the past. The slate with the most votes will manage the sport for a four-year term.
It was one of many proposed amendments to the constitution that, though objected to, was still included by the Concacaf and FIFA. T&T’s constitutional expert Osmond Downer admitted the day before the EGM that some of the minor objections were changed while the major ones were not.
Still, the majority of the members voted in favour of, considering a promise that changes to the constitution could be made within only a few months of having a new administration.
Another major change of concern to the members was the increased number of votes—(two votes each)—given to T&T Premier League (TTPFL) clubs - Tier I (12 clubs) and Tier II (six clubs) which makes it 36 from a total of 57 votes.
Downer believes that it was over-empowering clubs that focused mainly on football and not the management of the sport.
The fact that the Hadad-led normalisation committee was left counting down the days of their stay in office, was scarcely a consideration, one member had said and pointed to the direction the sport needed to be heading in, rather than the leader.
Hadad, who led the normalisation committee and had now achieved most of its mandate, including clearing a massive debt and ensuring that football was operational.
But now he has to make way for one of three, either Selby Browne, the president of the Veterans Football Foundation of T&T, Keiron Edwards, president of the Eastern Football Association, and Dennis Latiff, the new Southern Football Association president who admitted he is now in the process of putting his slate together.
Colin Wharfe, the TTPFL chief executive officer, said that while he has been approached by quite a few persons to be a presidential candidate, his focus now is totally on the T&T Premier Football League which is into its first full season.
But before any candidate could be considered, each had to meet the criteria of another constitutional change. A nominee must be involved in the sport for the past eight years if he/she wants to contest the election to serve on the executive.
Before that, a time frame of two out of the last four years at a managerial position had to have been met to be eligible for election.
Edwards confirmed his interest in being the next TTFA president but clarified some of the key amendments,”It’s about where we are going more than who is leading. I think collectively, if the members come together and have a clear direction on the path we should go, we will be better off than studying who is the leader.”
He explained, “It’s no knock on Mr Hadad, but I think they would have done their job. Now, it’s time to have the mandate of the membership, in terms of charting the way forward, on a course that would benefit T&T football on the whole and not just finance, but both on and off the field.”
“I don’t see the elections being a problem, there are some new measures put in place, for example, 32 members within the set-up, and now they are requesting five members on a slate. So based on that, you can have six slates but when you start to be realistic, when you deal with the numbers you’re looking at only about three slates being able to contest the election. Those things would lend to some challenges,” Edwards explained.
He continued, “I don’t think it will impact fairness or the democratic process. There are pros and cons to it, but what I am saying is that members normally have the right to vote by positions, but FIFA would have stated why they wanted it done by slate. I don’t think it would affect anything.”
Edwards stated that, “If you watch the last four elections, wherever the president was elected then all other officers would have been elected in line with the president, so it is not something that is common to the TTFA election where everyone wouldn’t be voted in together. I think they were looking at saving time, they are protecting the group, but on a level of democracy, it is one that the members feel that they should be given the right to elect by office and not by slate, so I do understand the both positions.”
Former president William Wallace, who was removed by FIFA in March 2020 and installed the Normalisation Committee, objected to that change, saying by that alone he could not see himself returning to the administration of a sport where the governing body has been treating them with disdain.
Meanwhile, Browne said, “It is my view that the members must have a meeting before the election, to decide on a slate. At that meeting, if it is considered that there is someone better than me to be president, to restructure and develop the T&T football product, I will most definitely do what is in the best interest of the TTFA membership.