Sport Company staff told to look for jobs

Staff of the embattled Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) have been told in no uncertain terms by acting CEO Jason Williams they should pursue employment opportunities elsewhere as the company’s future is uncertain and restructuring exercises continue.

Williams, in an email to employees yesterday, acknowledged rumours that SporTT will be shut down and replaced by a Sports Commission but said no official notification has been received.

“Due to the continued uncertainty surrounding SPORTT’s future, the Company must be both fair and transparent, and as a result, must advise its employees to actively explore alternative employment,” he said.

Williams revealed that employees whose contracts are close to expiring will, based on the company’s requirements, be offered month-to-month contracts or sent home.

He said “the Company is in serious financial difficulty. Accordingly, the Company must in the meantime review its operational requirements in order to streamline its affairs, reduce expenses, and create a more efficient cost-effective organisation.”

The changes within the Sport Company has been the only consistent thing in the organisation, with five employees including its former CEO Adam Montserin fired last month following an audit by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). A source close to the Sport Company yesterday explained that yesterday’s email was sent in an effort to be transparent with employees about the state of affairs.

“They know there was an audit taking place and there is an issue (financial stability) we have to remedy. We just want to be up front so it doesn’t catch them by surprise. The idea is that they have the opportunity to look (for other jobs) and it doesn’t catch them like a thief in the night,” the source said.