Bartica Football Association files writ against GFF for outstanding payments

Feb 07, 2014 Sports

Trouble seems to be besetting the Guyana Football Federation (GFF) following close on the heels of a missive dispatched to President of that entity, Christopher Matthias, by one of his Vice Presidents, Ivan Persaud, to resign following “serious discrepancies in his stewardship of the organization.”
The ink is still wet on that document when deposed Secretary of the Bartica Football Association (BFA), Carlton Beckles, disclosed that he has instructed his attorney to file a writ on behalf of the disposed group seeking outstanding balances amounting to more than $800,000, for rental of the Bartica office, stipend for its staff and outstanding sums for transportation.
Mr. Beckles said that the monies have been outstanding even before the Matthias administration took office and his executives had written to the Franklin Wilson led executive to have the matter ventilated. Back then he was told that the GFF was cash strapped and would have honoured the debt when it was able. He said that his Assistant Secretary, Alden Marslow also made similar requests and in July last year, travelled from Bartica to seek an audience with the GFF principals.
Mr. Beckles related that the outstanding sum was then $702,000. He said that Mr. Adonis acknowledged the debt and further promised to settle by mid August last year. “When that time came and there was no affirmative word from the GFF, I called Mr. Adonis and this time he told me that they were busy making arrangements to facilitate the arrival of the (FIFA) World Cup to these shores and the matter would receive attention just afterwards,” explained Beckles.
He said that he subsequently instructed his attorney to address the matter and after his lawyer had written to the GFF hierarchy in November, he (Beckles) received a letter from the GFF General Secretary acknowledging the debt while promising to have it liquidated ‘in the shortest possible time.’
After the GFF failed to honour the debt in the promised ‘reasonable time’ the Bartica officials went ahead and filed the writ.
When contacted, General Secretary of the GFF, Noel Adonis, confirmed receipt of the document and said that in keeping with protocol, he has forwarded it to the legal council (GFF) for attention.