By Paul Nicholson
July 13 – The Trinidad and Tobago Football Association (TTFA) president David John-Williams was hit with a demand for $300,000 from Metro Hotel Limited yesterday as he enters the final lobbying phase in his bid for the Caribbean Football Union presidency.
The controversial candidate is already under fire within his own federation for spending TTFA on his presidential campaign without their knowledge or approval. He is also under wider criticism for organising a meeting of federations in Trinidad on the auspices of discussing a professional Caribbean league, but actually to launch his own bid for the CFU presidency. The claim against John-Williams, as the second named defendant, actually relates to a TTFA debt incurred before he became president of the national federation.
That meeting was backed by CONCACAF president Victor Montagliani and supposedly CONCACAF money had been allocated. FIFA also attended that meeting as observers. The CFU was excluded. These hotel and travel expenses were apparently covered by John-Williams via governing body funding.
The claim from Metro Hotel Limited is that the TTFA owes the hotel money for accommodation and hospitality services.
The Trinidad Guardian newspaper yesterday carried a notice stated that Metro Hotel Limited (claimant) is claiming that the TTFA (first defendant) and David John-Williams (second defendant) owe the hotel $290,760.
The notice states, “Take Notice that on the 16th day of May, 2016 the Claimant commenced proceedings against you by way of a Claim Form and Statement of Case filed in the High Court of Justice, Knox Street, Port-of-Spain for the following reliefs – payment of the sum of $290,760.00 to the Claimant being monies due and owing to it by the Defendants for the provision of accomodation and hospital services during the period October to November 2015; interests thereon at the rate of 12 percent per annum; costs; and such further or other relief as the court may deem fit and or expedient.”
John-Williams is standing against current CFU president Gordon Derrick and Hillaren Frederick.
The owner of one of Trinidad’s leading clubs, W Connection, has become a divisive figure in the Caribbean in what is a crucial time for its leadership.
Contact the writer of this story at paul.nicholson@insideworldfootball