Ali – TTCBC Incorporation Act should be revisited

FORMER nominated member of the TT Cricket Board Zaheer Ali is calling on the TT Cricket Board (TTCB) to revisit the TT Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC) Incorporation Act, especially coming on the heels of alleged financial and administrative misconduct.

The TTCB allegedly mismanaged funds from former TTCB sponsor National Gas Company after an audit was conducted last year. Recently, TTCB and the Sport Company of TT were allegedly involved in collusion following a PriceWaterhouseCoopers audit.

In a press release Ali, who is a lawyer, said, “We have seen over time the amendments of several acts of parliament to ensure that it is in the best interest of the public and facilitated the public good. I am more than convinced especially in light of the inconclusive ventilation of the allegations of gross financial and administrative misconduct that have been circulated in the public domain that there is an urgent need to revisit the TTCBC Incorporation Act to ensure that the TTCB is in line with good corporate principles and practices and one that promotes accountability, transparency and good administration.”

In December, Madam Justice Wilson in her judgment said the court recognised the statutory discretion afforded to the TTCB by the Parliament to make rules and manage its own procedures for the discharge of its duties and was careful to not overstep its constitutional jurisdiction. Ali said the Act may be the only choice saying, “As a consequence, the need to revisit the TTCBC Incorporation Act appears to be the only avenue to conclusively and meaningfully consider and address the many contentious matters and allegations at the TTCB.”

Ali says making changes to the TTCBC Incorporation Act is overdue. “The TTCBC Incorporation Act was enacted in the year 1989 with only one amendment in the year 2001, which clearly explains cricket’s position and which may be responsible for the overwhelming and re-occurring allegations and contentious matters.”

Ali is asking the Prime Minister and President to get involved in the matter. “I call on the Honourable Prime Minister (Dr Keith Rowley) to invoke her Excellency Madam Justice Paula-Mae Weekes, President of the Republic of TT to appoint a Commission of Enquiry to conduct a thorough and transparent enquiry into the administrative and operational aspects of the TTCB.”