Fillip that opens a can of worms

I find it quite painful when sporting matters have to be resolved off the field or worse, in court. Such action, in my view, is not only unfortunate but sends the wrong signals since sport is expected to be a great equaliser and a facility that is intended to uplift the human spirit and provide lessons to take us along life’s journey.  A few days ago, I was pained to be part of a dispute resolution matter involving chess - a board game in which intellect is the key currency in achieving excellence. Unfortunately after more than four hours and some very strategic moves around the resolution board, that matter remained unresolved and it is more than likely the outcome will be decided in court. What a shame! In the circumstances, I am still trying to shuffle my way through the current brawl involving the T&T Boxing Board, the Ministry of Sport and the former members of the Board who were fired, and in particular Ricardo Phillip, the member of the Board who was fired and who has been pursuing a campaign to clean up the Board. What, pray me, is going to be the outcome of this brouhaha? And to whose benefit? And why is it that the other members of the Board who were fired along with Phillip, have not joined his chorus? Outspoken Minister of Sport Anil Roberts, as well as his permanent secretary Ashwin Creed and boxing advisor Boxu Potts have been getting some hard cuff from Phillip, so much so that the Sunday Guardian reported that the trio was being probed by the Integrity Commission. How is this going to help the sport, I am not sure. 

 

According to the Guardian story, Phillip was questioned by the IC in relations to Potts’ contract; funding for professional boxing cards and hiring of people at the Boxing Board. I find it a bit peculiar that these allegations are only now surfacing. According to the Boxing Act 21 of 1933, the Board is an autonomous body, given the right to run its affairs independent of the Ministry. If my memory serves me right, it was in total disarray when Minister Roberts went into office - financially incoherent and rudderless. Roberts injected life by appointing a new group to manage it while providing the finances to get it pumping.  This is where things get a bit blurry. From reports, I get the impression that Boxu Potts was hired by the Boxing Board, as were all the other persons who man the Board’s office. If this is the case, I can’t quite fathom how Ministry officials, including the Minister, can be held responsible for staff members. In Potts’ case, I know he wields a lot of influence but his contract which is now being scrutinised should have been done from day one, and not now simply because there are differences within the Board. As for hiring practises, if the criticisms were to be credible surely  they should have been ventilated while Phillip was on the Board.  His concerns as it related to the card being promoted by Potts’ son, Giovanni, are valid. But the Ministry does not sanction any promotions, since their  role is to fund the event and there are  clear  guidelines under the law by which they operate. As I see it, the current impasse is another indictment on how managers treat our sportsmen and women. As far as I am concerned, the merry go round has only served to push the sport back another few years. Phillip might have opened a can of worms but that is unlikely to give the sport of boxing the fillip it really needs.