An unsteady feeling is developing in netball as for the first time in the history of the sport, a chief executive officer (CEO) has been appointed. On February 8, a CEO and an administrative assistant were hired. The duo is operating at the Association's temporary office located at the Caribbean Association of National Olympic Committees (CANOC) Games office in the Hasely Crawford Stadium, Mucurapo. "The appointments of these individuals are necessary for the progress of netball," said president of the TTNA, Patricia Butcher recently. "We are looking next to hire an accounting assistant and a technical director. Hiring these personnel was part of the strategic plan which the executive and the council discussed and agreed upon last year." However, these designations have caused a stir among members of netball fraternity, who claim it is against the constitution.
"No where within the constitution makes reference to the appointment of a CEO," said a source who wished to remain anonymous. "People do not see the need for a CEO at this time and apart from that, the posts were never advertised. In fact, we found out about their appointment through an e-mail." Butcher, though, is challenging this point of view and revealed the installation of the CEO and the other posts are not governed by the constitution. "There is no need to consult the constitution to hire a CEO. It was already agreed upon by the council and now we, the executive, are implementing it," said Butcher. "The individuals that are making the noise are the ones who do not attend meetings, or they are late to meetings or they do not read their minutes." She went on, "We used an agency to find suitable persons which they did." The name of the agency was not given.
Netball constitution under review
Presently, the netball constitution is being reviewed by a committee headed by Ken Butcher, husband of the president. Other members on the committee are Janet Bailey, a former national player, former netball president Martha Archer and Austrid Rochford, another former president. A meeting is set for Saturday with the stakeholders of netball to discuss the draft formulated by the constitution review committee. However, Bailey revealed that the committee has never met to discuss anything concerning the constitution. "They set up a meeting to share details of a plan with the stakeholders but we have never met as a committee to review the constitution," said Bailey.
"The excuse that I was given was that I was out of the country at the time they met which he (Butcher) apologised for. But still the fact remains that I have never been invited to a meeting." Butcher (Ken) though refuted this saying that if anyone missed a meeting, there are means to which they are informed later on. "There are monthly meetings every second Saturday of the month where reports are given to keep all updated on the happenings in the committee. "I have apologised to Bailey about not being able to meet with her because she was out of the country so I thought we cleared that up though," said Butcher (Ken).
"The committee met on various occasions with representatives from the different leagues and we all came to an agreement that to move forward the direction we should take is one similar to the world body in netball as they operate as a company." He went on to share that he feels "people are afraid of change". Butcher reiterated the sentiments of the president that the council can appoint the CEO without conferring with the constitution. "The council is the supreme body on the running of netball and the executive enforces as directed. It approved the action plan and it is being implemented," said Butcher. Archer, who is also a vice-president in the TTNA, stated that she had no comment on the issue.