Former Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams reached out to the Soca Warriors Online (SWO) and shared a statement in reference to Guardian Media Limited (GML) newspaper stories created by investigative editor Mark Bassant about allegations of wrongdoing in connection with the construction of the TTFA’s ‘Home of Football’ during his tenure as TTFA President.
In September 2020 reporter Mark Bassant released a story "Truth about the Home of Football" a financial trail of secret Panama deals, a hidden Panamanian bank account and a hefty CONCACAF loan no one had an inkling about are just some of the things unearthed during a year-and-a-half-long Guardian Media investigation into the affairs of the TTFA the former president between 2015 and 2019.
Read below for Williams complete statement.
STATEMENT BY DAVID JOHN-WILLIAMS FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE TTFA
I issue this statement of fact further to my Statements on September 17th, 18th and 20th 2020 in response to statements made in GML’s and Mr. Bassant’s articles and television news stories titled “The Secret Panama Trail”.
FALSE STATEMENTS AND INSINUATIONS BY GML AND MARK BASSANT
“………we discovered a personal off shore bank account belonging to David John-Williams being set up
during this time.”
“So, based on our detailed information you travelled to Panama in 2017 and also in January 2018 and December 2018. to conduct business with ECOTEC or was it also to attend to your Panamanian bank account at BPR Bank that we have discovered with the help of forensic investigators?”
“Following extensive work, sic forensic investigators report identified that the email address had one banking relationship with a bank in Panama named BPR Bank, SA. ”
“The opening of the account happened at the same time the TTFA was struggling to pay its debts with millions being owed. At that same time, the TTFA’s finances were in decline, the account of Williams in an offshore bank was swelling”
STATEMENT OF FACT
I do not have a bank account in Panama nor am I otherwise beneficially entitled to any monies in any bank account in Panama including BPR Bank S.A, whether through COLSOL Investment Corporation or SOREG Incorporation.
Notarised documents provided by attorneys in Panama show that neither myself nor Soreg Inc. and Colsol Investment Corporation have any bank accounts, fixed term loans or loans with BPR Bank, S.A. or used any services of BPR Bank for bank transfers or any transaction of any nature. Mr. Bassant’s and GML’s statements on this score are untruthful fabrications.
FALSE STATEMENTS AND INSINUATIONS BY GML AND MARK BASSANT
“Guardian Media obtained the information regarding two Panamanian companies called SOREG Incorporation and COLSOL Investment Corporation in which the name David John-Williams appeared as a director among several other names. In the forensic investigative report it said the deposits to the BPR Bank account were received from SOREG Incorporation and COLSOL Investment Corporation.”
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“Forensic investigators alleged that John-Williams inserted his name into these companies listed as a Director and Secretary. This, they say, made it easier for him to then approach BPR Bank, SA to open an account and may have later transferred the money.”
STATEMENT OF FACT
I have never been a director or held any office in Colsol Investment Corporation or Soreg Inc. Notarized documents from the public companies’ registry in Panama provided by attorneys in Panama show that a David John Williams domiciled in Hong Kong was listed as a director/secretary in Consol Investment Corporation or Soreg Inc. in 1978 and 1979. In 1978 to 1979 I was attending secondary school.
Mr. Bassant’s and GML’s statements on this score are untruthful fabrications.
Documentary Proof: The relevant documents are attached (click here). Once you click on the PDF file link, navigate to the left of the page to see list of full and other documents.
David John-Williams