There's an ongoing battle in the Belize Cycling Federation - and lawyer's letters are flying back and forth.
Tariq Cano's attorney Hector Guerra has written to President Dion Leslie saying that the Federation is being run without proper organization or transparency. He claims that the Federation has failed to produce financial records, failed to hold elections as prescribed, failed to regularize its constitution, has put no program in place for selecting cyclists for the national team, and failed to send cyclists to the Caribbean Championships for over two years.
Cano and his attorney held a press conference at the Marine Parade Law Chambers today. They say that accountability is the central issue:
Tariq Cano, Candidate for President Of The Cycling Federation
"The issue is with the federation not showing accountability for the stuff that they have been doing financially and with the different processes in terms of selecting national teams, proper development for the cyclists, and for the growth of the sport. Those are some of the main concerns that we have. All of this has been asked and pressed upon them as a cycling body but we have not received any response in black and white."
"In the former constitution that is supposed to be in place. That is the problem we are not sure which one is in place. If it is the old constitution or the new constitution. In the old constitution, it states that elections are supposed to be every two years. With that said, if we are going based on that, they have by-passed two elections so far. But if we are going based on the new constitution, then it is every four years. Meaning that we are still by-passing one election so far. That is the matter we need to make clear: which constitution is legally active."
Hector Guerra, Representing Tariq Cano
"Let me make it absolutely clear. Members of the cycling federation are bound by the constitution of the association. They are independent of the sporting and governmental authorities. It is up to the federation to decide if it is that they want to register with the sports council. The whole matter about having to wait for the sports council to approve….the sports council is absolute rubbish. Point blank and period."
Sahar Vasquez, reporter
"In both letters, I notice it mentions the unavailability of financial records. How long has that been an issue for?"
Karen Vernon, Candidate
"We got an email this morning with the financial records for 2017. They said that they would share it with you guys. It is not a financial record any at all. It does not say anything."
Tariq Cano, Candidate for President of the Cycling Federation
"I have been a member since about 2005. Up to recent since they got in power I have not received personally any email stating and financial statements or audits of how the money is being spent from the federation."
"It is not something that seems to be accurate or something we can say is a fact."
Cano hopes to run for president of the BCF - but is also having difficulties with that.
President Dion Leslie says he is on a 6 month leave of absence from Cycling while he pursues his political candidacy.
Leslie's attorney Bryan Neal today wrote to Cano's attorney today, saying, quote, "your client is not a registered member of the cycling federation of Belize…please be advised that if your client slanders my client…such action will be met with swift legal recourse to restrain him form further comment….please govern yourself accordingly." End quote.
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