The following is a press release issued by the Ministry of Sport:
Senator the Honourable Brent Sancho, Minister of Sport continues to press for full accountability and proper monitoring across all areas of the sporting landscape. He has urged all of the National Governing Bodies (NGBs) of Sport who receive funding from the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) to put their accounts in order if they wish to continue receiving support from the Government purse.
His latest call comes as the Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) has been mandated to provide audited financials for the millions of dollars the organisation has received over the last few years via multiple subventions from the both state entities.
In November 2014, Cabinet approved the disbursement of just over TT$9 million to help service the massive debt of the organisation with much of it allocated to salary and stipend arrears for the technical team members and the players on the men’s senior team.
However, funding to the Association has been halted temporarily while the Ministry awaits the submission of the audited financials from the NGB. Just last month, the Ministry announced that it commissioned an independent financial and procedural audit into the operations of the Trinidad and Tobago Boxing Board of Control.
This is all part of the Ministry’s mandate to ensure accountability and transparency in state funding and governance best practice. This approach is in keeping with the tenants and guidelines of the State Enterprises Performance Monitoring Manual (SEPMM) are followed with strict adherence to statutory compliance and performance monitoring.
The Ministry continues to encourage all National Governing Bodies, as autonomous sporting organizations duly affiliated to their respective International Federations, to keep building on the foundation already laid and, with a unified voice and spirit, seek to improve the welfare, development and athletic prowess of our beloved athletes that continue to bring pride and joy to our country.