Attached is the statement made by Honourable Gary Hunt, Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs at a press conference held this morning (Wednesday 17 December) as a cheque for $2,188,500 was presented to Mr. Oliver Camps, President of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation.
Also attached are letters relating to Wednesday's cheque presentation to the TTFF by the Mins. of Sport which is for reimbursement for payments which have been made on behalf of the TTFF since last November.
The Honourable Gary Hunt
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs
at Media Conference Wednesday 17 December 2008
I am extremely pleased today to present a cheque for the sum of $2,188,500 to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. This is part of the Government approved sum of $8,754,000. These funds are for the payment of salaries for the entire Technical Staff of the “Soca Warriors” and this is tangible evidence of the Government’s commitment to the development of football in particular and sport in general. Despite current economic conditions government support to football and the “Soca Warriors’ remains unwavering.
In keeping with the Government’s 2020 strategic plan, the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs has articulated a new and exciting vision for sport in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a vision that sees excellence in sport as the principal objective and identifies the Ministry as an important facilitator in the process. Another critical pillar of this new vision is our commitment to collaboration with all the key stakeholders, including the National Sporting Organizations. This collaborative approach has already proven to be highly successful and the outstanding performances of our athletes at the recent Olympics in China is a compelling example. Together with the local Olympic Committee and the NAAA’s, we ensured that our athletes were properly prepared for the event and suitably rewarded for their achievements.
In a similar vein we have collaborated with several other sporting organizations and we continue to provide funding for infra-structural development, training programmes and special events. Today we are giving our unstinting support to the senior national football team of Trinidad and Tobago, our beloved “Soca Warriors”.
Despite setbacks at the recent Digicel Caribbean Cup Championships, I am confident that the team will recover in time to launch a successful World Cup campaign next year. It will not be easy by any means but I am sure that the Technical Staff is doing its homework and preparing assiduously for the final round of competition. The Government will continue to do its part to supporthe players and the coaches in this great mission.
Football has a major role to play in social development especially within our communities and I urge the TTFF to expand its vision and embrace the change that is necessary for its continued growth and progress. While it is easy to talk about change, it is sometimes difficult to implement real change and transform the status quo, especially when rank and authority are involved.
In this regard, I fully endorse the view that the days of the “one-man show” are over since sport has now become far too complex for the traditional approach to work. Sport today, especially at the international level, is a multi-billion dollar industry with vast sums of money coming in from sponsors both in the public and private sectors as well as the electronic media, especially television. It is therefore incumbent upon all sporting organizations to ensure that integrity and accountability are established at all levels. This indeed would be a change that we can all believe in.
The Ministry will continue to insist upon accountability from our very important stakeholders, the national sporting organizations. In this area we have to be very stringent even if it means that officials of the Ministry will be publicly ridiculed for doing what is right. The majority of the sporting fraternity fully supports our efforts in this regard and we continue to receive encouragement for our commitment to professionalizing sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
Recently I had the privilege of attending a function which was staged as a tribute to the hundreds of players and coaches who laid the foundation for the footballers of today; hosted by the Veteran Footballers Foundation. It was an honour to be in the presence of so many players who did so much for the development of football in Trinidad and Tobago. They gave selflessly to their clubs, communities and country and they played for the love of the game. They never lost sight of the noble ideals of sport.
As we look towards the next 100 years of football, we can take comfort in the legacy that has been established by our football pioneers. They have done their part and the baton has now been passed to a new generation.
I would therefore like to commend the TTFF for its efforts in getting the ‘Little Magician’, Russell Latapy more involved in the development of local football. Change is usually best achieved when fresh ideas and new faces are introduced into an organization and I hope this trend will continue.
The Government is fully committed to the success of all our national teams and we will leave no stone unturned in supporting their efforts. Let me therefore extend best wishes to the TTFF and the “Soca Warriors” for a triumphant 2010 World Cup campaign.
In closing, I would like together with the Government and rest of the National community to wish our beloved Prime Minister a speedy recovery and a safe return to us in the very near future.
Thank you and God’s Blessings.
Letters between the TTFF and the Mins. of Sport
Nov 4,2008
Mr Richard Groden
General Secretary
Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation
#43 Dundonald Street
Port of Spain
Payment of Salaries to the Technical Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to facilitate Trinidad and Tobago's Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa
I refer to previous correspondence and meetings on the subject at caption and advise that approval has been granted for the following payments:
(a) the sum of Six million, five hundred and thirty-five thousand and five hundred dollars ($6,535,500) will be disbursed to the TTFF to cover the cost of salaries paid to members of the Technical Team who were employed by the TTFF for the period January to September 2008 to facilitate the qualification of Trinidad and Tobago for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa.
Payment of this amount is however conditional on the receipt and ratification by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs of the audited financial statements of the TTFF for the years 2006 and 2007.
(b) Salaries for the periods October to December, 2008 and January to September, 2009 which total eight million, seven hundred and fifty four thousand dollars ($8,754,000.00) i.e. two million, one hundred and eighty eight thousand and five hundred dollars ($2,188,500.00) for October to December 2008 and Six million, Five hundred and sixty five thousand and five hundred dollars ($6,565,500.00) for January to September, 2009.
This arrangement would be contingent on the monthly submission by the TTFF of the names of the Technical Team members and the amounts to be paid.
In view of the above, you are therefore required to submit copies of the audited annual financial statements of the TTFF for the periods 2006 and 2007; the names of the Technical Team Members employed by the TTFF to facilitate the qualification of Trinidad and Tobago for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa and the amounts to be paid to each member of the Technical Team for the periods October to December 2008 and January to September 2009 on a monthly basis as soon as possible.
Sincerely
Magaret Farray
Nov 17,2008
Ms. Margaret Farray
Permanent Secretary
Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs
#12 Abercromby Street
Port of Spain
Payment of salaries to the Technical Staff of the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation to facilitate Trinidad & Tobago's Qualification for the FIFA World Cup 2010 in South Africa
I refer to your letter of November 14th, 2008 on the above referenced subject and do wish to advise you as follows:
a. the advice contained herein has been noted.
b. with regard to payments for October to December 2008, I attach "the names of the Technical Team members and the amounts to be paid." It is informative to note that the dates scheduled for payment to these officials by the Football Federation are October 26th, November 26th and Wednesday, December 17th, 2008 respectively.
Once again, I have been instructed by my Federation to advise you and, by extension, the minister of Sport and Youth Affairs that, contrary to the Prime Minister's promise to us in July, 2006, no provision has been made by the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs for the cost of:
i. The foreign coaches' accommodation and local travel.
ii. Training camps.
iii. International practice matches.
iv. Insurance
Please find enclosed a copy of the audited Financial Statement of our Federation for 2006. The audited Statement relating to 2007 shall be submitted on receipt from our Auditors.
I do thank you for your attention to the foregoing and await your response with confidence
Yours faithfully,
TRINIDAD AND FOOTBALL FEDERATION
Richard Groden
General Secretary