Basseterre, St Kitts, March 22nd, 2013 -- Our three clubs: Spurs FC, Conaree FC and St Pauls FC, are aware of a Press Release from the FA dated March 21st 2013. We are drawn to the section of that Press Release which reads as follows:
“For the past seven (7) months both parties have been unable to agree on the composition of the Arbitration Tribunal to resolve the dispute. Hence, the meeting appeared to be a last-ditch effort for both parties to agree on the composition of the Arbitration Tribunal without the involvement of the Court.
The above statement by the FA is a blatant misrepresentation of the facts. The initial protest by St Pauls was lodged in June 2012; St Pauls requested arbitration on 12th July 2013; the FA by letter dated 12th September advised that it had forwarded the matter to the St Kitts National Olympic Committee(NOC) for arbitration.
The NOC declined to accept the matter. In December 2012, the clubs recommended a three (3) person arbitration panel with the St Kitts Bar Association providing a chairperson. In mid-January 2013, the FA advised that it had accepted our recommendation save and except that it rejected the Bar Association. It then offered the NOC to chair.
The truth of the matter is that negotiations about the chairperson for the arbitration panel only arose in January 2013, less than two months ago.
The reason for the clubs not accepting Mr Franks is because of his long standing support for a certain member club (likely to be affected by the arbitration process) and his prior contentious relationship with St Pauls FC. Mr Howard Mc Intosh, despite his background, is a virtual unknown. The clubs hold strongly that there are residents of eminence and outstanding reputation who can serve and see no merit in accepting Mr Mc Intosh who was merely visiting the Federation at the time he was nominated.
Lastly, the Press Release would regrettably have the public believe that the clubs are stalling the process with regards to the selection of a chairperson, but that may not be true. The final paragraph of a letter from the FA advising their acceptance of Mr Bridgewater reads thus:
“Please advise us by return mail as to your proposed next steps for securing Mr Bridgewater’s acceptance of this appointment…..”.
Arbitration, a mechanism provided for under Article 62 of the Constitution of the FA, is the responsibility of the FA. Therefore, one would have thought that in acknowledgement of that responsibility an official letter of invitation to serve would have been provided to Mr Bridgewater by the FA, on official FA stationery, and copied to the clubs.
Mr Bridgewater has since advised both parties that he is unable to accept the chairmanship, citing pressing business and NOC commitments.
The clubs regret the unfortunate miscarriage of important information by the FA, and remain committed to working with the FA to secure a chairperson for the arbitration panel.
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