(Trinidad Guardian) Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Anil Roberts says Errol Ashby, former chief executive officer of the Sport Company of T&T (Sportt), was fired for purchasing a million-dollar car without the Board’s approval. In an interview with the T&T Guardian yesterday, Roberts described as totally false a claim that Ashby was fired for failing to follow his instructions. Roberts said the million-dollar BMW X3 is being traded and the money accrued will be used to purchase vehicles for managers of the ministry to execute their duties across the country. He dismissed a claim by Ashby that Sportt lacked funding for certain projects.
“This same man who went with the chairman and bought a million-dollar car? I don’t think that is logical. I think it is totally irrational.” “You have no money to give the taxpayers for their sport but you have money to buy a million-dollar car for you to drive around without me knowing anything,” Roberts said.
Roberts listed the reasons for Ashby’s dismissal:
• Since his appointment on March 16, complaints were made by at least 12 employees about his management style
• Since assuming the office of chief executive officer, the Sportt Company has not started or completed a single project.
Roberts said during Ashby’s tenure “we were not able to hold the annual August sports camps for 20,000 children.” Roberts said he was informed by an employee of the purchase of the vehicle by Sportt for Ashby’s use. Roberts said he immediately contacted Ashby by phone and was told the vehicle was not new and belonged to Sportt. Roberts said he subsequently asked the chief executive officer for a report on the matter and it was revealed that the vehicle was purchased for his use with the authority of the chairman on June 1. Roberts said the board was not aware of that development. Roberts said on September 19, Ashby was fired. He said he then advised the board to “exercise the probationary clause and advertise for the position.”
Roberts said the contracts of the Sportt managers were “designed by Ashby” whose contract contained no probationary clause and had a provision for six months notice of termination. “There is no such provision under any law in T&T,” Roberts said. “Every contract, all of them done by Mr Ashby, has that clause (probationary). His contract does not have that clause.” He said Ashby was paid more than TT$320,000 as a consequence. Roberts denied firing Ashby to allow for Shoma Persad to get the job. Roberts also said Persad was “very qualified” for the chief executive officer job.
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