More to the Jack Warner scandal than in the CONCACAF Integrity Report

Contributed by Heavy Duty

Making the rounds, in case you have not seen it yet, is the Integrity Committee Report of Investigation as presented to the Executive Committee of CONCACAF – The Confederation of North, Central American and Caribbean Association Football.

Barbados’ former Chief Justice was the Chairman of the Committee. (photo above) Yes, Sir David Anthony Cathcart Simmons himself was in charge of an inquiry into integrity issues. I’ll leave that fact without further observation and get to the meat of what I want to say:

Having perused the report very, very briefly I have the following comments:

1)      The conclusions of the Committee are based on “a balance of probabilities”. Yet the authors say that in determining the facts “it applied various legal standards…”. The obvious question is what legal standards? In criminal law the standard of proof is beyond reasonable doubt!
2)      Although Jack tells the Committee bluntly to go jump in the lake, he ain’t co-operatin’, Blazer’s lawyers tell the Committee that Blazer has issues with FIFA and that Blazer is not prepared only to discuss the issues that FIFA wants, but he wants to discuss everything. The Committee ignores this and says that Blazer and Warner wouldn’t co-operate at all! This is not quite true.
3)      The Committee appears to have reached its conclusions on the basis of unsworn statements and documents which were not introduced to the Committee via sworn statements. In other words, the conclusions of the Committee are not necessarily based on justiciable evidence.
4)      The Committee does not refer at all to what I call the Havelange correspondence where Jack says that he got the Centre of Excellence as a gift. The obvious conclusions from this are (a) FIFA hid the correspondence from the Committee; or (b) The Committee saw it but suppressed it; or
(c)  The Committee saw it but did not understand it. In other words, the Committee is incompetent.

Choose any one or more of the above and you realise that problems arise with the whole report.

I raise these points not by way of defence for Jack, but because it is absolutely clear to me that there is a lot more … a whole lot more … to this story than we are being told. One thing is clear: this ain’t over by a loooonnnngggggg shot!! I predict that the Simmons Committee will end up with quite a lot of mud not only being thrown at it but also sticking to it!!

Life in the Tropics!!!

Download the Committee’s Report here in PDF: Concacaf Report

Barbados Free Press receives DMCA Takedown notice for ALL FIFA Jack Warner bribery articles!

‘Somebody’ doesn’t like BFP’s Jack Warner bribery articles. Who could that be?

Okay folks, it looks like someone is concerned about our articles about Jack Warner’s FIFA bribery allegations.

I wonder who could have lodged a complaint with WordPress?

Hmmmmmmm….. I don’t think it was Matt – but hey, if anything goes wrong at WordPress… remember: it’s always Matt’s fault! 

Our Jack Warner articles are 99% original journalism with referrals to other news sources. We did reprint a graphic though. Perhaps that is THE EXCUSE for ‘someone’ to complain.

We notice that Ian Bourne’s Bajan Reporter is still up with his Jack Warner bribery article

We’ll look at it in the morning, but right now I think we’ll reprint our original articles and leave out the graphic from the newspapers.

Then we’ll see what happens.

OH………  we’re going to reprint all our readers’ comments too!

Yup. We’ll obey the law. Right to the letter.

Here’s what we received from WordPress…

Hi there,

We have received a DMCA Takedown Notice (http://chillingeffects.org/dmca512/faq.cgi#QID130) for the following material published on your WordPress.com site:

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2012/06/24/trinidads-new-national-security-minister-jack-warner-yes-that-jack-warner/

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2011/10/12/leaked-video-shows-jack-warner-advising-caribbean-fifa-representatives-to-take-gift-money/

http://barbadosfreepress.wordpress.com/2011/05/14/jack-warner-fifas-poster-boy-for-corruption-racism-and-disgusting-talk/

As per the DMCA’s requirements, we have disabled public access to the material. If you do not have the legal rights to distribute the material, you are required to permanently delete the post and/or content and let us know when this has been done.

Republishing this material without permission of its copyright holder – or continuing to publish material that results in DMCA Takedown Notices – will result in a permanent suspension of your WordPress.com site and account. Publishing such material is a direct violation of the WordPress.com Terms of Service (http://wordpress.com/tos/), which you agreed to upon registration.

If you wish to formally challenge this notice, we will be happy to provide you will all of the appropriate details.

Thank you.
Karen A.
WordPress.com | Happiness Engineer

Champion mountain bike racer Jaymie Michelle Mart passes at 31 years

‘Barbadian Bullet’ took silver in the 2010 World Mountain Bike Masters

There is no word on how Jaymie Michelle Mart died. Jaymie held dual UK and Bajan citizenship through her mum, and she raced wearing Barbados colours from 2004 through 2006.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Jaymie’s family and friends; especially mother Paula, father David, brother Adam and John, Emma and Rachel Shepley.

The Southern Reporter: Tragic death of young entrepreneur and mountain bike champion

Ian Bourne finalist in US Embassy photo contest – You can vote him to Victory!

Bajan Reporter could win a new Flip camera

Oh the excitement! Ian Bourne’s photo Holder’s Hill Polo Match has been chosen as one of three finalists in the US Embassy’s SportShot contest.

Online voting open until Friday, August 17, 2012 at 4pm

Readers can vote online for their favourite photo, so we’ve thrown our support behind Ian. We’ll have the live results come Friday afternoon and afterwards we’ll have the usual victory celebration at Oistins. How do we know Ian will win? We don’t… but Ian or someone else will win and you know us… we’ll celebrate anything! 

So VOTE FOR IAN HERE

National Geographic chooses Zed’s Surfing Adventures as one of the Top Ten best surfing schools in the world!

Congratulations to Zed Layson and the whole bunch at Zed’s Surfing!

“Still largely unsung (and untouristed) by surfers, Barbados’s sandy shore breaks and warm, forgiving waves actually make it an excellent learners’ spot. Zed Layson and his instructors at Zed’s Surfing Adventures offer everything from private day lessons to weeklong packages, but the three-day “Be a Surfer” program, which includes twice-daily small-group lessons, leaves you enough time to explore the island (and its snorkeling—especially to view the cool shipwrecks and vivid coral reefs off the west coast—kayaking, and rum-punch-fueled nightlife).”

…from National Geographic’s Top 10 Surf Schools

Sanna Allsopp’s latest documentary: Built to Last

This trailer is for the upcoming documentary film, “Built To Last.” It follows the stories of the amazing men and women competing in a range of Olympic, Paralympic and non-Olympic sports in the Caribbean. The documentary features well known and up and coming Caribbean athletes in a range of sports and asks ‘What is it about this region that produces so many incredible sportsmen and women?’ The story takes us across seven different Caribbean islands to look for the answer.

“We do very well at power events, very well at events that require a lot of strength and a lot of speed. And it would go right back to where we came from as a people. Those are the people that actually were warriors, they were fighters…”

… from the Sanna Allsopp / StudioCaribe documentary Built To Last.

StudioCaribe on Facebook

IMDb: Sanna Allsopp entry (Hey, Sanna… you need an update at IMDb)

New Dallas Mavericks Barbados video not featured on Barbados Tourism Authority website

It just makes me want to weep sometimes. Lord knows how much we paid to get the Dallas Mavericks cheerleaders to shoot their new calendar in Barbados…

… And then when the team posts a marvelous 20 minute video on YouTube about “The making of…” the BTA can’t even capitalize on the event by posting it on their own website.

Will somebody please wake them up at the BTA? Please?

UPDATED: January 2, 2012
Barbados Dreamz trailer added at YouTube by Studio Caribe

Barbados Road Tennis – Time for a new Olympic sport?

Adidas gave Andy Murray one hour to master Bajan Road Tennis, and then take on Sylvan “Lama” Barnett – one of the world’s best players from Barbados.

This IS creative use of social media. Over 15,000 views in a week at No cost to Barbados.

Nation News story: Big push for road tennis

Barbados Tourism Authority stumbling on sports tourism

Personal relationships, political patronage appointments hurting the BTA?

The following was submitted to Barbados Free Press through one of the thousands of free “here today, gone tomorrow” European proxy services. BFP’s readers are intelligent enough to question anything they read on the internet and in newspapers large and small. They also know that anonymous articles should be taken with a good dose of salt.

This anonymous article says that personal relationships and political patronage appointments are negatively impacting the performance of the Barbados Tourism Authority. That makes an “office fight” into a national concern when the mainstay of our economy is under pressure.

We’ll be happy to print any response from Minister Sealy (photo above), the BTA or anyone mentioned in the story…

Lip service and just a lot of long talk!

by Concerned Citizen who makes a living from sports tourism

That is what some stake holders in tourism are saying is being served up by the Barbados Tourism Authority when it comes to servicing a niche identified by the DLP Government as being critical to the long term sustainability of the tourism sector – sports tourism.

The BTA recently advertised in the local press for a sports consultant to join its team. This raised the question as to what had happened to the person who had run that department for the past year, Hayden Coppin.

I had met with Coppin on a number of occasions to discuss a sporting venture and was very impressed with his knowledge and dedication.

He gave no impression that he was leaving and in fact said he quite enjoyed his job where he felt he was making a contribution to Barbados.

Hayden Coppin: Forced out

I was therefore surprised to see the advertisement and shocked when checks with some “friends” in the BTA suggested that he was forced out by CEO, David Rice.

The sources further suggested that it was a purely personal decision by Rice, who never liked or wanted Coppin at the BTA, a view he expressed to many at the BTA, even marginal line staff!

FIFA issues warnings to David Hinds, Mark Bob Forde – Others banned

Jack Warner being investigated for currency smuggling

David Hinds, Mark Forde warned for keeping silent about what they knew

Check out Barbados Today’s BFA officials vindicated, Cops on Jack’s back

FIFA Press Release…

The FIFA Ethics Committee, chaired by Claudio Sulser (Switzerland), has today (14 October 2011) taken decisions regarding the ethics proceedings that had been opened in August against several Caribbean Football Union (CFU) officials. The proceedings had been opened in regard to apparent violations of the Code of Ethics connected to the investigation of the cases related to the special meeting of the CFU held in Trinidad & Tobago on 10 and 11 May 2011.

The Ethics Committee took the following decisions:

Franka Pickering (British Virgin Islands) has been banned for a period of 18 months from taking part in any football-related activity (administrative, sports or any other) and has received a fine of CHF 500.

Indian football team refuses match over poor treatment at Barbados airport

Barbados Immigration Officials: Our own worst enemy or just doing their jobs?

Good morning friends,

I don’t quite know what to make of this one. An Indian football team arrived in Barbados and was so ill-treated at Grantley Adams (or so they say) that they refused to play the match they had flown have way around the world for. Indian coach Armando Colaco was furious and if what I read in The Times of India is true, the man has a right.

After 26 hours in transit, NOBODY from Barbados showed up to meet the Indian team at the airport. Frankly, that’s an unforgivable lack of manners on a personal level, not even talking about pro-sports. Memories of Cricket World Cup déjà vu!

Then the Immigration people treated them like dirt. (Once again: so they say.)

Time for Prime Minister Stuart to make an appearance, because if it happened as the news article says, there can be no excuse and nothing to do except express sincere apologies and do the best we can to ensure the Indian team’s remaining time in Barbados is remembered fondly. Remember folks – nobody has to come here. Some people still don’t get that!

Here’s a little sample from the Indian paper. The link for the entire story is at the bottom of the quote…

The AIFF did not explain the “unfortunate logistical reasons” but those in the know said Colaco was seething in anger after no one from among the local organizers showed up at the airport to receive the team which had endured the enervating flight.

If the no-show at the airport and another inordinate delay in procuring visas on arrival wasn’t enough, more was to follow. “The team had to book a hotel on its own since nobody was there at the airport to take them to the hotel, or to make enquiries,” said a source from within the Federation .

It was only much later that the local organizers got in touch with the Indians, arranged for another hotel and the vice-president of the Barbados Football Federation, according to one account, went personally to the team hotel to apologize. The Indian coach, though, was in no mood for an audience .

… from the Times of India story Indians cancel friendly after unfriendly reception

Men of Windies Cricket gone girly?

Windies hire shrink to “Sort issues”

submitted by Puzzled

Is this the end result of the feminization of society and sports? Are the men of the Windies trying to “get in touch with their inner selves”???

I can’t believe what I’m reading. The West Indies have been on a losing treadmill for the last while, but team management thinks that hiring a psychologist to help the cricketers “sort issues” will make a difference to the kind of unbelievable disasters and mistakes we’ve been seeing for far too long.

It’s not about “feelings”. It’s not about “thinking too far ahead” or being worried about the idiocy of two weeks ago. It’s about management, the mix and coaching. It’s about supposed professionals who let their individual egos conflict to the determent of the team as a whole. It’s also about a younger generation who lately have been overdoing it on the parties and late nights. Don’t they realize that people see them out late and know what is going on?

“See any of them heavily drinking within 48 hours of a Test and it doesn’t take a brilliant scholar to know where to put your money. That’s about management, professionalism and discipline, not psychology.”

Windies don’t need a shrink. They need someone to give them each a kick in the backside and bring back the bedtime discipline two days before a Test.

Management needs the shrink – the men need managing.

New FIFA Bribery Allegations against Jack Warner

Lots of smoke ’bout this place!

It was only days ago that the story broke of bribery allegations against Jack Warner and three other FIFA officials in relation to England’s failed 2018 World Cup bid.

Today’s breaking story is about a NEW, completely unrelated bribery allegation surrounding the upcoming FIFA presidential election!

The following is from the FIFA press release sent out late last night:

“On May 24 2011, Fifa executive committee member and Concacaf general secretary Chuck Blazer reported to Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke possible violations of the Fifa code of ethics allegedly committed by officials.

“In particular, the report referred to a special meeting of the Caribbean Football Union (CFU), apparently organised jointly by Fifa vice-president Jack A. Warner and Fifa executive committee member Mohamed Bin Hammam, which took place on May 10 and 11 2011.

“This meeting was linked to the upcoming Fifa presidential election.

“In view of the facts alleged in this report, which include bribery allegations, Fifa secretary general Jerome Valcke, in compliance with art. 16 of the Fifa code of ethics, yesterday requested the Fifa ethics committee to open ethics proceedings.”

See our previous story: Jack Warner: FIFA’s poster boy for corruption, racism and disgusting talk

BBC story: Fifa begins ethics inquiry into Bin Hammam & Jack Warner

WICB Exposé: All the West Indies Cricket Board dirt, all the time

WICB: Nepotism, Abuse of Power, Mismanagement, Hypocrisy, Financial Erosion, Dirty Tricks, Corruption

Insider to publish WICB documents

“Which WICB director rang up $712,311.60 in personal expenses on his association’s credit card and is now facing the embarrassment of having that credit card withdrawn with immediate effect?  We will publish an official document tomorrow to answer this question and to provide a long list of these personal expenses (gas stations, restaurants, sports bars, hotels and cricket clubs).”

WICB Exposé “When torchlight shine, cockroach run!”

Thanks to the dozen readers and one special old friend who sent us this email that is making its way around the Caribbean…

Atlantic rowing: Mutiny at sea as one of Big Blue’s crew wanted to quit

Sara G and Hallin Marine close to Barbados and a new record

As the two lead boats near Barbados, the demoralized crew of Big Blue (photo above) are so far behind that they have no hope of breaking the record. The problem was the winds that held Big Blue for two weeks off the coast of Africa. Whether the boat’s radical design is part of the problem or not a factor is something that only the crew know at this point.

One of Big Blue’s crew posted an audio message on January 31st that told of profanity amongst the crew and her wish to quit and swim to any passing yacht. Margaret Bowling seemed upset as she posted the audio on her blog, but the winds let up and the moment passed. Big Blue is now making well over 100 miles a day, but it’s too late for the record.

Three Trans-Atlantic rowing teams racing for Barbados

Sara G, Big Blue and Hallin Marine: Who will win?

Trans-Ocean rowboat Sara G is on her way back to Barbados for her second visit and this time she’s wanting to break the world record for the crossing. Only trouble is that two other teams have the same idea.

As I write this Sara G is the lead boat but just a cat hair in front of Hallin Marine. Sara G is a traditional single hull boat while Hallin Marine is a trimaran.

Big Blue (above) is a strange looking vessel that is the world’s first catamaran competition rowing boat. BB has a huge crew of 16, but they look like they are falling behind the other two boats. All of them are still ahead of the 2007 track of the record-holder La Mondiale. La Mondiale’s record stands at 33 days 7 hours 30 minutes to Barbados and that’s what the current three boats are trying to beat.

Santa Maria sinks…

Spark of the Day! Trinidad’s future cricket champion

At two years and five months old, Luke strikes terror into the opposition!

Give thanks to Georgia Popplewell and her Flickr collection.

Some pampered babies at Barbados Royal Westmoreland crying over hurricane Tomas

UPDATED: November 22, 2010 9:31am Bridgetown

BFP reader ‘Come here’ says that Royal Westmoreland’s club house was open with free food and drinks throughout the period described by the “young posers” (that’s a quote!) to the Brit newspapers. Here’s what ‘Come Here’ has to say…

For the record, the renters of those 2 villas who complained to the MIRROR are young posers, entitled colonial era minded Brits, who cannot understand why “staff” did not rush from their roofless homes to bring them a Chicken Rita. Don’t ask how I know, but I do.

These disgusting snobs burned Rooney’s cabinets with candles, broke furniture, and generally abused the staff willing to brave the weather to “serve” them. The golfers clubhouse was open and operating WITH FREE FOOD AND DRINK, and several of the staff went without sleep to serve the guests. All of this nonsense here about what generator should be or what water tank could be in a million dollar home fails to explain why BL&P was unable to restore power to a lot of suffering people for nearly a week.

The point is that EVERYONE was caught flatfooted, including the inept government and salaried weather watchers, leaving Bajans a wind gust away from being in the disaster state that is St. Lucia.

All the millions wasted attracting visitors here cannot compete with the public relations nightmare Tomas has caused Barbados.

Here is our original article as published November 21, 2010…

All together now: “AWWWWWWWWW poor babies! Let mummy kiss it better!”

(While daddy shouts “Don’t do that. Let him be a man!”)

Some Royal Westmoreland guests are upset that their caviar and champagne holiday was interrupted by Hurricane Tomas. They rented Wayne Rooney’s home for 1,000 pounds a night (GOOD LORD!!!!) but when the power and water went out for three days they were greatly inconvenienced.

The p’d off guests report to the London Mirror that they had to use water from swimming pool to the flush toilets! Imagine that! They had to get a taxi driver to (hold nose here) bring them some chicken! EGADS!

And, doan ya know, the roof and door leaked during the hurricane! “Well, I never! That’s the last time I’d stay in that five million pounds rubbish heap!”

(Side note: We’ve heard rumours – only rumours, mind you – that at least three and as many as six other roofs in Barbados – gasp! – actually leaked during the hurricane!)  ;-)