A former senior national football team trainer is suing the T&T Football Federation (T&TFF) for more than $200,000 in unpaid fees and allowances. In his fixed claim form filed in the Port-of-Spain High Court on Friday, Orlando Griffith, of Boundary Road, San Juan, is seeking to claim $130,000 in unpaid salaries.
T&TFF president Oliver Camps was also listed as a defendant in the claim along with the TTFF. Griffith entered into an agreement with the TTFF in May 2009, to work as the team’s trainer until December 2010 for a salary of $10,000 plus daily allowances for team camps and overseas travel. In his claim, Griffith is also seeking $31,050 for vehicle rental for the period of his employment and damages for breach of contract.
Griffith contended he was only paid for three months— May, June and September 2009. In the claim form prepared by his attorney Peter Taylor, Griffith accepts that no salary should be made payable during November to December 2009 and January to February 2010, during which time the national team was disbanded.
“The claimant (Griffith) continues to suffer personal inconvenience, loss and embarrassment at not being able to fulfill his numerous financial obligations to his family and financial institutions,” the claim noted. Griffith also claims that he contacted former “Special Advisor” to the TTFF Jack Warner to express his frustration and hardship due to the non payment by the TTFF.
In an e-mail response to Griffith’s pleas on January 24, this year, attached to the his high court claim, Warner expressed optimism that he (Griffith) and the rest of the rest of the technical staff during that period would be paid for their services.
In the e-mail Warner said: “Upon approval of your contracts from our (TTFF) lawyers, the TTFF will forward copes to the Sport Company of T&T (SPORTT), with the hope that all technical staff will be paid by January 28, 2011.” The TTFF and Camp now have 28 days to file their defense to Griffith’s claim under the Civil Procedure Rules.