Ministry of Sports investigates F.F.B.
Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia
The Football Federation of Belize (F.F.B.) is responsible for local football. Over the past decade, the man at the helm of the F.F.B., Doctor Bertie Chimilio has been challenged many times but has never been removed from his post as president. But the Minister of Sports, John Saldivar, has signed a Statutory Instrument which he hopes could be used to dethrone Chimilio. It’s an unprecedented act called the Sports Investigations Committee Order 2010, signed off to investigate the F.F.B. That committee according to National Sports Coordinator, Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia, is headed by Joseph McGann, Gerald Henry, and Oswald Twist.
Via Phone: Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia, National Sports Administrator
“The terms of the reference of the committee are as follows: one; review and establish the validity or otherwise of the appointment of the executive of the members of the Football Federation of Belize. Two; to review and establish the validity or otherwise of the decision of the Football Federation of Belize to disallow nominations for elections to the executive of the Football Federation of Belize by one of the members, the Belize Premier Football League and three; to review and establish the validity or otherwise of the endorsement election of the executive of the Football Federation of Belize which was conducted at a meeting held on eighteenth December 2010 at the Football Federation of Belize Headquarters and finally to determine any other matters related to the above.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now is the F.F.B. registered with the ministry or the national sports council?”
Via Phone: Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia
“The Football Federation of Belize is a member of FIFA, but the Sports Act that governs all sporting organizations in Belize empowers the minister to do so. The Sports Act in section 25 chapter 46 of the laws of Belize gives the minister those power—to investigate the sports council any sports committee or sporting organization.”
Jose Sanchez
“Now the reason for this is it because some people aren’t satisfied with the person who is currently running the F.F.B., Dr. Chimilio?”
Via Phone: Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia
“It has nothing to do with Dr. Chimilio personally. What the minister is doing is trying to put the house in order. And he is saying that all federations and sporting organization registered with the sports council must comply with sports act and he wants to ensure that all organization are holding free and fair elections. The reason why this seems to be on the F.F.B. is because that was the only federation that was having an election at the same time.”
Jose Sanchez
“So we can see this happening with other sports organizations, you’re saying right?”
Via Phone: Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia
“Well early in June when the Minister took over the ministry of sports, he called in the presidents of several federations and he spoke to them and he told them what were his plans and he also requested certain things of them. So yes, you will hear other federations are also working with them to put housing order in Belize.”
Jose Sanchez
“But when it comes to the F.F.B., if the investigations reveal something you are not happy with could we see Mr. Chimilio being removed? Do you have the power to do that?”
Via Phone: Ismael ‘Miley’ Garcia
“The government does not, will not remove Dr. Chimilio or decide who runs the Football Federation of Belize. That is left to the football family, those players who play and the football clubs and the various district associations. What the government will do is if a sporting organization is not complying with the sports act, then the national Sports Council reserves the right to suspend or cancel the registration of that federation.”
According to the S.I., the committee should submit its report on or before January twenty-eight. According to one attorney we spoke to, the S.I. seems to go overboard because it seeks to determine the validity of elections and further it seeks to criminalize the refusal to provide information to the committee.
I guess they need to check these people very well. 1 the football players that sign the paper on the elections have all been banned of playing football. that is what chimilio and his committee decided. you can investigate it with most of the cayo players. secondly FFB is not supporting teams as they should they are pocketing the money. how investigate the payments they recieve and also how much was paid for them to vote. hence a reason why sports can never succeed because of administration and also the fake referees that need to be modernize with fifa rules.
I strongly agree with Cindy. Dr. Chimillio has to go! He and his entire colleagues. A lot of talented football players are in Belize (both male and female) but refuse to play because of his unrighteousness. Football players go outside to represent Belize who can’t even play. why?? because those who have the talent are not chosen. But his favorites are!
Belize will be suspended from FIFA shortly. Whenever politics or governments interferes with fifa ruling body in a country they are expel. So look out football fans Belize will soon be suspended from fifa and we will not see no more international games. As a matter of fact we might not get to play no games for the world cup qualifications that will start shortly.
MAYBE THE PLAYERS CAN FORM AN EFFECTIVE UNION…… they needs to be organized.
THE TEAM OWNERS ARE SCREWING THEM.
FIFA AND CHIMILIO CAN GO TO HELL!
The quality of football is so poor in Belize and Chimilio’s (and FIFA’s) interest in improving it is so low that we lose nothing by getting kicked out. Maybe we do need to start from scratch and get our own house in order.