Ancilla Dick, mother of Akeem Adams, is a relieved woman today after the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago yesterday decided to pay for the funeral expenses of Adams.
The former Trinidad and Tobago footballer died on December 30, 2013 and was buried on January 17 with the Ministry of Sport promising to foot the bill.
Ancilla has been in distress, however, as 12 months later, the Sport Ministry is yet to pay for the funeral, citing red tape.
Adrian Raymond, CEO of the Sport Company, yesterday explained that he met with the Permanent Secretary Richard Oliver who explained that the Ministry had a particular plan on how they intended to service the debt.
Raymond noted though that in an effort to expedite the payment it was agreed that SPORTT would handle the expenses and the Ministry of Sport would reimburse them in the future.
“We understand that the mother was in some level of distress and because we could turn it around quicker (than the Sport Ministry) we took over,” he said.
He revealed that by next week SPORTT and Akeem’s mother would begin discussions on calculating the figure to be paid.
“Once we are able to workout the amount we will clear whatever is the situation,” he promised.
The latest development seems to bring to an end a year of anxiety for Ancilla with Akeem’s agent Dion Sosa earlier highlighting her plight.
“This thing (is) just going on and on and she’s seeing no kind of solution to it at all,” he had said, while blasting the Sport Ministry for the lengthy delay in addressing the matter.
Akeem Adams Football Timeline
2004 – Introduced into National Programme at U-13 Level
2006 – Helped qualify T&T U-17s to 2007 World Cup
2008 – Helped qualify T&T U-20s to 2009 World Cup
2011 – Senior International Debut for TT against Finland
2012/2013 – Joins Ferencvarosi TC (Hungary)