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FFB Goes To Supreme Court
Fri, June 17, 2011
But one man who did have plenty to say was FFB President Bertie Chimilio. He hasn't given us an interview in three years - but today after a court hearing on the same matter, he was colorful and outspoken.

Shortly, we'll tell you why he and his attorney Dr. Elson Kaseke were in court, but first to his interview where he made it clear that with or without state approval security measures were in place:…

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"Because of the seriousness of the issue - the security, FIFA instructed us that we cannot do what we want. We had already 50 police officers in plain clothes. There were off duty police men. When the government gets in the off duty policemen and affect their hustling then something is wrong in this country. Something is desperately wrong but never the less we are prepare to go ahead with the match, we have enough security - 50 -100 security personnel we had. But none the less it happens and we just have to move on."

Jules Vasquez
"Were you outrage at the letter the minister of sports sent to FIFA yesterday making it clear that the services of the state would not be at FFB disposal?"

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"Obviously we have a new Prime Minister by the name of John Saldivar because he has been ordering the ministry of foreign affairs, he ordering the police now; he deals with the gas business, so where are you our Prime Minister? Obviously we don't know where our Prime Minister is none the less I was very surprise at the powers he had."

Jules Vasquez
"How would you respond to the criticism that you fermented all this? All this could have been cut off if you had simply humble yourself and gone to the ministry and said 'listen what is the problem? Let us solve this before we have an international embarrassment on our hands' it was clear that the government would do anything it can to undermine this. From before the team left they said that they are not certified to play."

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"It is obvious as reporters as you are very lack of knowledge. Last August 2010 this meeting did take place and we iron it out when people had their own intentions, when people want to do what they want to do because they have the power - the power only lasts for 5 years you know and your legacy will last for 100 years, so this was squash last year but none the less just like how the government wants to get after BEL the government wants to get after me. I knew that from May of 2008 and so it's nothing new that the government - the minister of sports is just a pawn into this and that's the reason why we had had three minister of sports because the other two couldn't do what they were instructed to do but this one decide that he will go this far but none the less we will prevail - football will prevail."

Jules Vasquez
"Your Vice President Mr. Pech says at the press conference this morning that they would do anything do avert the prolonging of this suspension and FIFA has given us until July 10 to take remedial measures. They will do anything including going to conversations immediately with the government. Are you prepared to do that sir?"

Bertie Chimilio, FFB President
"We will go into conversations in according to our statutes, not with according with the wishes of the government. The minister is clearly out of line but he tells you guys what you want to hear. We haven't said anything until now I am talking. I'll tell you Jules it could have been averted if the minister was humble and learned but obviously he is not."

As we said, Saldivar had no comment today. Chimilio was at the Supreme Court because there was an emergency hearing in the courtroom of Justice Minette Hafiz. The FFB asked for judicial review of the Sports Council's decision back in May - but today Kaseke went to court and tried to have this morning's pivotal letter from FIFA admitted as evidence, with Chimilio presenting it as a witness. The plan seemed to be to have the court compel the police to provide security for the game on Sunday. But Justice Hafiz wasn't having it. She shut Kaseke down, and didn't even consider having Chimilio take the stand, explaining that FIFA has already postponed the match.

Outside the courtroom Kaseke seemed reluctant to discuss the strategy after it backfired:…

Jules Vasquez
"I get the impression Doctor that you went into court today to try and somehow make a last ditch effort to save this match."

Elson Kaseke, Attorney
"It was not really a last ditch effort as such."

Jules Vasquez
"Doctor, why do we have to have an emergency hearing this afternoon? What would you ideally like to achieve? It's clear the judge didn't want to hear it. The match has been postponed; it is what it is according to her."

Elson Kaseke, Attorney
"Look there is still an emergency situation because as you know the game has been postponed. The game has not been cancelled. There is a clear distinction between the two issues. Now the deadline I think is 10th of July which has been given by FIFA is approaching, it's just around the corner. In that case the issue needs to be resolve in an emergency case by the court. we are seeking the protection of the court, that is the basis of the emergency - it's not that the game is cancelled - its simple postponed and we are saying that in the interim while FIFA puts everything on hold you the court should decide the issue."

The substantive matter will be heard on June 27th. Kaseke also outlined the FFB's legal position vis a vis the National Sports Council. We've heard the Sports Minister explain various times on this newscast - why the FFB has been decertified by the Sports Council - saying that basically it boiled down to the fact that the FFB did not submit its statutes as required by law.

Today Kaseke explained that form his client's perspective, it's not quite that straightforward:…

Elson Kaseke, Attorney
"The FFB never refuse to register. The license was cancelled. The ministry of sports cancelled instead of dealing with that application as require by the law. Inform the FFB that because they have failed to register, the FFB can't register themselves. There was no hearing of any sort by the ministry of sports before they made a decision that they no longer recognize you. Surely Jules if you belong to an association, if you belong to a body like a body of journalist before they can't purport to expel you; before they can purport to disentitled you to membership of that association you know that you have a right to a hearing - that was not observe by the national sports council. But more significantly there are no statutes to a basis of law to which the minister can say to any person for that matter that you cannot travel to Trinidad to play football. He simply does not have that power."

Those matters are expected to be argued with vigor when the matter goes before the court for judicial review ten days from now.

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