Three boxing executives to pen letter of apology to fellow member

TRINIDAD and Tobago Boxing Association (TTBA) president Cecil Forde, vice-president Codrington Joefield and general secretary Deopersad Ramoutar have agreed to issue a letter of apology to assistant general secretary Vicki Boodram for stating in the minutes of a March 22 special meeting, that she was present and “made a motion to the member's present regarding amending the current constitution”, despite her not attending the meeting.

The trio’s letter to Boodram, dated July 20, was in response to a pre-action protocol letter issued to them by Boodram’s attorney Russell Seecharan on July 11.

The pre-action protocol letter demanded an apology and that, “the minutes of the urgent special meeting be amended to reflect my client absence and made no contributions to the meeting, together with $750 being the cost of this letter.”

Newsday received a copy of the meeting minutes and it states that Boodram was present and, “made a motion to the members present regarding amending the current constitution and excluding AIBA/IBA.”

It added that. “The motion was then seconded by Nigel Paul, PRO, and unanimously agreed to, by the executive members present.”

However, in the trio’s signed statement to Boodram, it said, “We categorically state that Ms Vicki Boodram was not present and neither did she participate or contribute to the said meeting as reflected in the said minutes.”

They said they wished to “settle the matter amicably,” and that, “No damage or injury to Ms Boodram character and integrity were ever intended neither was there any fraudulent or willful misrepresentation done.”

Forde, Joefield and Ramoutar asked that the letter of apology not to be used in any public forum, “to cause us and the TTBA any embarrassment.” They also requested her commitment to keeping the apology letter confidential.

The trio, though, refuted her claims in the pre-action protocol letter, that they were fraudulent in context or misrepresented the interest of the membership.

Their letter added that, “It is now regretted that a virtual meeting was presented as an actual physical meeting and the inclusion of Ms. Vicki Boodram and Nigel Paul who were not present is now regretted.”

“On many occasions, meetings or discussions have been held on the phone where information is shared, consensus obtained and decisions made.”

Nevertheless, they said, “We are willing to negotiate any sort of damage control to appease Ms Boodram at her convenience as soon as possible. We trust that all discussions going forward will be done in good faith.”