THE TT Football Association (TTFA) has received additional time to respond to the judicial review claim of TT Super League president Keith Look Loy as he seeks to the association’s president, David John-Williams, to provide documents on the controversial “home of football” project.
At a brief hearing at the Hall of Justice, Port of Spain, this morning, Justice Ronnie Boodoosingh gave the TTFA until January 7 to file its response. Look Loy’s lawyers will have an opportunity to put in a reply on January 21. Submissions are to be filed by February 4 and both sides are to return to court on February 22.
Look Loy in his claim said he had made requests – acting as a member of the TTFA board and president of the TT Super League – for information on the Balmain, Couva project since December 26 last year.
He is represented by New City Chambers’ attorneys Matthew Gayle, Dr Emir Crowne and Sheriza Khan.
Look Loy is challenging John-Williams’ failure to permit himself and the other board members access to the TTFA ledger for November 2015 to the present; the contribution of FIFA, TTFA and Government to the project of constructing the technical centre in Balmain, Couva, and the overall budget for the project; the names of all companies and parties who submitted bids for construction of the project; the TTFA body or representative who selected the contractor and sub-contractors; the identity of the project manager; the name of the contractor and sub-contractors engaged; the quantum, duration and terms of all the project’s contracts; and the current financial and construction status of the project.
The grounds for the application include the fact that the TTFA is a public company that receives funding from the Government, Look Loy being president of the TT Super League, a body affiliated with the TTFA.
Look Loy has openly accused John-Williams of “taking full control” of the project, which is being funded by FIFA and built on land leased by the Government.
On July 10, Look Loy, through his attorneys, issued a pre-action protocol letter threatening court action against John-Williams if the specified documents were not presented by July 24.
The letter stated: “...Mr Look Loy sought disclosure of the contract awarded to the project manager and asked to examine the ledger of financial transactions for the period 1 January and 13 June 2018.
“Mr Look Loy has renewed his request for the above sought information on a number of occasions, both in writing and in person, including as recently as Sunday 1 July 2018. These calls for transparency have also been echoed by other key stake holders, including fellow board members: Clynt Taylor; Collin Partap; Jason Labon; Anthony Harford; and Steve Gopeesingh. This suggests a wider and more systematic lack of transparency, since as of the date of writing this letter, Mr Look Loy has not been given access to any of the sought documents or information.
“Furthermore, no rationale (sic) explanation has yet been forthcoming as to why Mr. Look Loy has not been given this information / documents. Nor has it been suggested that he is not entitled to review these documents on request.”