Pan Trinbago executive voted out

AT the Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Pan Trinbago at CWU headquarters on Tuesday, the membership voted out the central executive committee and installed a caretaker committee.

The interim committee comprises chairmen and one other official from each regional executive, the former president, the former treasurer and two other members to be appointed by the interim committee, making a total of 12.

The motion was passed and seconded with 130 in favour, one against and no abstentions. The result was to take immediate effect.

Member Gregory Lindsay told Newsday on Tuesday night: “That meeting tonight, with quorum intact, is the supreme legislative and judicial body of the association. So that decision stands regardless, as it is the will of the membership.”

Some 97 bands were represented at the EGM on Tuesday.

Former president Keith Diaz remains CEO until elections are called, but he has to call a special meeting within 28 days to set a date for the election.

Chairman of the Northern Region of Pan Trinbago Gerard Mendez said what also came out of the EGM was a decision was taken, in the interest of a smooth transition, that the caretaker committee will continue talks with treasurer Andrew Salvador and Diaz.

Diaz, as CEO, held a meeting with all staff yesterday and told them that in light of what happened at the EGM, they are to take directions from him only until further directed.

However former secretary Richard Forteau said: “The meeting was unconstitutional, so the executive of Pan Trinbago is in place and functioning as normal.”

He added in no uncertain terms that if there is any effort to “deride” his functioning as secretary and that of his allies, they will take legal action.

Among his allies are Darren Sheppard, Allan Augustus, Trevor Reid, Michael Joseph and Salvador.

Adamant that the petition did not have the required number of signatures to trigger the EGM, adding that there were duplications on the listing. Forteau thundered: “If you want to ask about membership of Pan Trinbago, ask the secretary,” before presenting a document listing some 298 bands that he said were the registered members of Pan Trinbago.

Sheppard said the petition had been signed by a total of 87 bands and therefore didn’t meet the 60 per cent requirement.

Aquil Arrindell, from the Concerned Individuals for Pan (CIP), said through the Freedom of Information Act, Forteau was asked for a listing of all financial and functional members, but did not fulfil the request.

Arrindell also questioned how come at the last AGM, in October 2017, according to Forteau 75 bands equalled the 60 per cent required to legitimise the meeting, but a mere five months later, 97 bands are not enough.

As for Forteau’s argument that the petition was not presented to the secretary as it should have been under the constitution, Arrindell said the package was addressed to the secretary and the membership could not be blamed if it didn’t go directly to him because of office politics.

He said he expected that the secretary would nevertheless have informed them if indeed more signatures were required, but what they got was a response from Pan Trinbago acknowledging the legality of the petition, and then the calling of the EGM.

“Forteau only want to frustrate the will of the membership.”