SVGFF official quits, cites misappropriation of funds
KINGSTOWN, St Vincent (CMC) — Lloyd Small has resigned as first vice-president of the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF), citing misappropriation of funds and rampant violations among 21 reasons that prompted his decision.
Small says he resigned because of the alleged “misappropriation of funds” specifically earmarked for grass-roots development, “the lack of documentation supporting disbursements” of $95,205 from the Federation’s account and what he called the “micro-management” of the secretariat by president Venold Coombs.
Small handed in his resignation letter to General Secretary Trevor Huggins, accusing the executive of refusing to implement “the Arnos Vale Declaration”, between FIFA and the Federation dealing with the administration of football clubs in the country.
“Based on the foregoing reasons, it has become untenable for me to continue to be a member of the executive committee of the SVGFF as its first vice-president,” Small said.
“Some members of the executive have compromised their principles… having taken a thorough look at the performance of the executive committee and the current state of the game, I therefore tender my resignation with immediate effect.”
In his resignation letter, Small complained of “dogmatic breaches” of FIFA’s Code of Ethics and Code of Conduct, lack of accountability of equipment and materials received from FIFA for training courses and said monthly or quarterly financial statements were not presented at meetings of the federation’s executive.
He complained further about the establishment of a cash savings account at a local bank “without a resolution taken by the executive committee, and without proper knowledge and approval of the majority of its members”.
Coombs told I-Witness News in St Vincent, recently, that he established the account to receive funds from FIFA.
The resignation on Tuesday comes ahead of the Federation’s general meeting this Saturday, which was postponed from last week Saturday allowing Coombs and other members of the Federation to meet with auditors.
