Cecil Charles fired from National Sports Council

Despite being fired asmanager of the National Sports Council (NSC), Cecil Charles says he has peace of mind knowing that while he held the post, he operated on principle.

Charles, who received his letter of dismissal last Friday, after being in the position for two years and three months, says he believes {{more}}that the reasons given for his termination mask other underlying factors.

“I have never brought the Council into disrepute or done anything to tarnish my character…. But it is clear that there are other factors involved ….So to mask this under the fact that I had given permission to athletics to put a base for a container without the Board’s permission

was in no way to try to be disrespectful to the Board… I saw it as purely an administrative matter,” Charles said in an interview with SEARCHLIGHT.

“The fact that I could have given storage space for other associations such as Cricket, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, and I have reached out to other associations in various forms without the Board’s permission… All of the associations are affiliates of the council and pay their annual dues; therefore, as a council, you have to reach out,” he continued.

The former NSC manager added, “When persons single out athletics, because they have a problem with a particular individual… If the nation’s youths are going to suffer because of an individual, because of that individual’s political persuasion… In fact, they have said that I was building an office for Keith Joseph (President of Team Athletics SVG).”

However, Charles said since assuming duties in 2012, his tenure was not smooth, because of a stance he took in relation to Minister of Tourism, Sports and Culture Cecil Mc Kie.

Charles described to SEARCHLIGHT two instances when he said he refused to carry out certain requests, which he alleges were made by McKie.

He said on one of those occasions, he was even summoned to the Ministry of Sports by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture Laverne Grant, but he refused to comply.

Reflecting on his stint as manager, Charles in listing the pluses, stated: “The image of the Council has improved…; there is greater transparency and accountability at the Council…; you will not hear them say that I have singlehandedly sourced over $40,000 worth in equipment for the Council.”

Borrowing two lines of Jimmy Cliff’s hit “The Harder They Come,” Charles summed up: “I’d rather be a free man in my grave than living as a puppet as a slave.”

SEARCHLIGHT understands that Julian Burgin has taken up the duties as acting manager of the National Sports Council.