Executive committee reports Tim Kee to FIFA.
By Walter Alibey (Guardian).
The world governing body for football, FIFA, has been asked to intervene on a number of issues in T&T football administration to ensure that the promise of development and stability in the T&T Football Association (TTFA) are achieved.
A letter to FIFA’s acting general secretary, Markus Kattner, at the association’s office in Zurich, Switzerland was received from members of the executive committee of the TTFA on November 13. The letter was critical of the Association’s president Raymond Tim Kee, and in particular, his firing of the former general secretary Sheldon Phillips.
It also stated that several matters have made it exceedingly difficult for the association to make the transition from adopting the reform constitution to holding the postponed Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Election of Officers that would include the election of a Board of Directors to guide the TTFA into the future.
Phillips was dismissed by Tim Kee on October 20, for his failure to adhere to directives regarding the operational activities of the association.
The letter to FIFA—signed by three vice-presidents, Krishendath Kuarsingh, Rudolph Thomas and Lennox Watson and board members Roland Forde, Neville Ferguson and Brian Layne—is contending that the action of Tim Kee was done without consultation with the executive committee and noted that Tim Kee’s actions could have serious industrial relations implications, one of which was the fact that the president did not have the constitutional authority to dismiss the general secretary.
At a specially convened meeting of the executive committee on October 30, called to address the dismissal of Phillips, the embattled president accepted that he did not have the authority to dismiss Phillips and it was agreed to rescind the termination letter and replace it with a letter of suspension.
The executive members also stated in their letter to the FIFA that Tim Kee was mandated to approach attorney Derek Ali to produce appropriate letters to the general secretary, with regards to the decision of the executive committee. A deadline date of November 9 was given for Tim Kee to adhere to the decisions of the executive committee.
However, the members are now complaining that in spite of their agreed position that Tim Kee has been tardy in implementing the decisions of the committee and said he appeared to be reluctant to do so.
They have directed FIFA to article 39:2 of the constitution which states that the “President is primarily responsible for implementing the decisions passed by the general meeting and the Exco/Bopard of Directors.”
They have said the the reluctance of the president to implement the decisions agreed on impedes the executive committee continuing to address the critical matter of the president unauthorised termination of the general secretary. Attempts to reach Tim Kee proved futile.
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