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A call for regional intervention
Published on Monday, October 5, 2009
Dear Sir:
Grenada has been the latest example of the no-nonsense mood of Jack Warner – that he should not be challenged as he attempts to build an army of lieutenants around him.
The embattled President of the Grenada Football Association, Ashley Folkes was given the boot by Warner under the pretext that there is turmoil under his leadership and his executive does not have the majority of support.
But we must revisit the timeline of how the events unfolded to get a clear understanding on the spiteful and vindictiveness of the football president of the region.
Ashley Folkes and his executive were duly elected in April 2008, and observed by members of CFU/CONCACAF/FIFA. The election of Mr Folkes and his executive was subsequently endorsed by FIFA following attempts to remove him from office as early as a few days after being elected.
However, Mr Folkes may have annoyed Jack Warner when he indicated that he is providing an independent mind into what should be a democratic organization. So when he challenged the regional football body that it was unfair to take a decision to suspend the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association without giving them a hearing, it was the start of his demise.
It was clearly stated that Jack Warner must not be challenged on any issues he brings to the table.
Folkes again created a stir when he decided to join with Antigua and Barbuda to back Kittian Peter Jenkins in a bid to unseat Captain Horace Burrell of Jamaica for a seat on the CONCACAF Executive Board.
Jack Warner then sounded a warning accusing the two football associations of attempting to destabilize Caribbean football.
"I do wish to advise you (Jenkins) that, at the meeting of the Caribbean countries on 31 May, it was decided that the Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada (two members who were absent at the said meeting) should be written to and be asked to submit reasons why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for their attempts to destabilize Caribbean football and Caribbean solidarity within the CFU," Warner noted in a letter to Jenkins and written in the press.
Despite the sanctions being applied to Grenada Mr Folkes continued to persevere with the business of football. In gathering this information I was told that he provided thousands of dollars from his personal funds to ensure that Grenada participate in the Digicel Caribbean Cup in 2008 and other tournaments when no funds were available.
But I was also informed that the name of Victor Daniel was raised in every question about what could be the result of this fallout.
Victor Daniel, a Trinidadian national, was the paid General Secretary of the GFA who was suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds - an investigation, which involved the Financial Intelligence Unit of Grenada, and which could soon attract the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Customs Department.
He hand-picked participants for the referees and administrators workshops at the Centre of Excellence in Trinidad – if you had criticized him or Jack Warner at any meetings you are on the blacklist.
Daniel is believed to be Jack Warner’s right-hand man in Grenada with Folkes proving to be an independent thinker and Daniel being probed it means that Warner will be powerless in Grenada. Daniel runs a sports shop in the main city center of St. George’s but spends most of his time jetting away as a match commissioner on the instructions of Jack Warner.
Like Victor Daniel there are some football administrators in the region whose business is to keep Jack Warner as their boss to ensure that they remain match commissioners, flying first class, staying in luxurious hotels, and be paid hundreds of US dollars per diem while attending football matches around the world.
The name of the President of the Guyana Football Association was listed among match commissioners for the Gold Cup in the USA.
It was time for Jack to strike back at Ashley Folkes.
Those who campaigned to rid the GFA of alleged corruption including the removal of Victor Daniel were now writing letters to Jack Warner. They became friends of Victor Daniel overnight and the love-story began.
They accused the GFA President of refusing to give them a meeting, and on this basis requested that FIFA intervenes. Jack Warner dispatched his personal lawyer, John Collins who only a few months earlier endorsed the executive.
He arrived in Grenada on a fact-finding mission but his recommendations to FIFA were circulating among some of Ashley Folkes adversaries even before FIFA met to deliberate.
It was clear that Jack Warner did not want Folkes around because he is seen as a “destabilizer to Caribbean football”.
Why should Jack Warner be allowed to seek his own interest in building his empire at the expense of these small island states?
Football is a universal sport and should not be used to manipulate the minds of free-thinking people in our region.
Football administrators in the Caribbean do not owe anything to Jack Warner but instead to their constituencies to which they represent.
In fact, I am told that if anyone owes anything to the Caribbean is Jack Warner who has depended on the votes of these small islands to remain in football. He should be reminded of who nominated him to start his career as a football administrator. The answer may shock readers.
Hugh Sealey
St Andrew’s, Grenada, WI
Published on Monday, October 5, 2009
Dear Sir:
Grenada has been the latest example of the no-nonsense mood of Jack Warner – that he should not be challenged as he attempts to build an army of lieutenants around him.
The embattled President of the Grenada Football Association, Ashley Folkes was given the boot by Warner under the pretext that there is turmoil under his leadership and his executive does not have the majority of support.
But we must revisit the timeline of how the events unfolded to get a clear understanding on the spiteful and vindictiveness of the football president of the region.
Ashley Folkes and his executive were duly elected in April 2008, and observed by members of CFU/CONCACAF/FIFA. The election of Mr Folkes and his executive was subsequently endorsed by FIFA following attempts to remove him from office as early as a few days after being elected.
However, Mr Folkes may have annoyed Jack Warner when he indicated that he is providing an independent mind into what should be a democratic organization. So when he challenged the regional football body that it was unfair to take a decision to suspend the Antigua and Barbuda Football Association without giving them a hearing, it was the start of his demise.
It was clearly stated that Jack Warner must not be challenged on any issues he brings to the table.
Folkes again created a stir when he decided to join with Antigua and Barbuda to back Kittian Peter Jenkins in a bid to unseat Captain Horace Burrell of Jamaica for a seat on the CONCACAF Executive Board.
Jack Warner then sounded a warning accusing the two football associations of attempting to destabilize Caribbean football.
"I do wish to advise you (Jenkins) that, at the meeting of the Caribbean countries on 31 May, it was decided that the Antigua and Barbuda and Grenada (two members who were absent at the said meeting) should be written to and be asked to submit reasons why disciplinary action should not be taken against them for their attempts to destabilize Caribbean football and Caribbean solidarity within the CFU," Warner noted in a letter to Jenkins and written in the press.
Despite the sanctions being applied to Grenada Mr Folkes continued to persevere with the business of football. In gathering this information I was told that he provided thousands of dollars from his personal funds to ensure that Grenada participate in the Digicel Caribbean Cup in 2008 and other tournaments when no funds were available.
But I was also informed that the name of Victor Daniel was raised in every question about what could be the result of this fallout.
Victor Daniel, a Trinidadian national, was the paid General Secretary of the GFA who was suspended pending the outcome of an investigation into the alleged misappropriation of funds - an investigation, which involved the Financial Intelligence Unit of Grenada, and which could soon attract the attention of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Customs Department.
He hand-picked participants for the referees and administrators workshops at the Centre of Excellence in Trinidad – if you had criticized him or Jack Warner at any meetings you are on the blacklist.
Daniel is believed to be Jack Warner’s right-hand man in Grenada with Folkes proving to be an independent thinker and Daniel being probed it means that Warner will be powerless in Grenada. Daniel runs a sports shop in the main city center of St. George’s but spends most of his time jetting away as a match commissioner on the instructions of Jack Warner.
Like Victor Daniel there are some football administrators in the region whose business is to keep Jack Warner as their boss to ensure that they remain match commissioners, flying first class, staying in luxurious hotels, and be paid hundreds of US dollars per diem while attending football matches around the world.
The name of the President of the Guyana Football Association was listed among match commissioners for the Gold Cup in the USA.
It was time for Jack to strike back at Ashley Folkes.
Those who campaigned to rid the GFA of alleged corruption including the removal of Victor Daniel were now writing letters to Jack Warner. They became friends of Victor Daniel overnight and the love-story began.
They accused the GFA President of refusing to give them a meeting, and on this basis requested that FIFA intervenes. Jack Warner dispatched his personal lawyer, John Collins who only a few months earlier endorsed the executive.
He arrived in Grenada on a fact-finding mission but his recommendations to FIFA were circulating among some of Ashley Folkes adversaries even before FIFA met to deliberate.
It was clear that Jack Warner did not want Folkes around because he is seen as a “destabilizer to Caribbean football”.
Why should Jack Warner be allowed to seek his own interest in building his empire at the expense of these small island states?
Football is a universal sport and should not be used to manipulate the minds of free-thinking people in our region.
Football administrators in the Caribbean do not owe anything to Jack Warner but instead to their constituencies to which they represent.
In fact, I am told that if anyone owes anything to the Caribbean is Jack Warner who has depended on the votes of these small islands to remain in football. He should be reminded of who nominated him to start his career as a football administrator. The answer may shock readers.
Hugh Sealey
St Andrew’s, Grenada, WI
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