Over the last four years, between 2021 and 2024, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) received more than TT$29 million (US$4.4 million) in funding from Cricket West Indies (CWI) for operating, tour and tournament expenses. According to Cricket West Indies’ annual audit statements, viewed by Guardian Media, the TTCB’s allocations from CWI increased by 69 per cent between 2022 and 2024.”
The local board received $11.5 million in 2024, $9.5 million in 2023, $6.8 million in 2022 and another $1.8 million in 2021.
However, Guardian Media’s investigations discovered that the TTCB has over fifteen audits outstanding for the CWI.
According to TTCB sources, the budgets submitted for the outstanding audits are worth around $20 million.
Four post-event audits are outstanding for 2022, four for 2023 and another seven from 2023 onwards.
The TTCB was given $11.2 million for tour and tournament expenses in 2022 and 2023.
In a 2023 email obtained by Guardian Media Sports, Lucia Molyneaux, the Secretary of Cricket West Indies’ Audit, Risk and Compliance Department, wrote to five TTCB board members.
One of the recipients was TTCB President Azim Bassarath. Bassarath is also a CWI vice president.
CWI audit concerns and responses
“Good day TTCB,
I trust this email finds you well.
As it relates to the email trail below, we have not had any progress on the matter of performing the post-event audits. We would be grateful for the opportunity to meet with the TTCB to discuss your concerns.
“It is noteworthy that in addition to the four pending audits from 2022, we have four audits pending as follows:
CG Super 50, West Indies Championships Round III to IV, West Indies vs India … and U-17 Regional Camp & Tournament.
We look forward to hearing from you soon.” Molyneux wrote.
In response, former TTCB Treasurer Kiswah Chaitoo wrote that the board will discuss the post-event audits at an executive meeting.
According to TTCB sources, Chaitoo intended to complete the audits before being removed by the board. The former treasurer declined comment when approached by Guardian Media Sports for a response.
“The General Secretary of the Board is copied on this email thread, as he has oversight responsibility for the Secretariat and also the two TTCB Directors to CWI,” Chaitoo wrote in an email response to the CWI.
Despite having audits outstanding, the TTCB received another $9.3 million for tour and tournament spending in 2024.
Guardian Media wrote to CWI President Dr. Kishore Shallow, CWI CEO Chris Dehring, the CWI Communications department and TTCB President Bassarath seeking clarification on the TTCB’s compliance with CWI’s financial protocols.
Firstly, Guardian Media Sports asked whether the TTCB submitted all required audits to CWI for the period 2022 to present.
We also asked if the TTCB received the remaining 25 per cent of funding from CWI budgets due after the completion of post-event audits.
In response, CWI CEO Dehring said that he was not in a position to speak to specific disbursements or audit submissions at this time.
“I can confirm that CWI continues to engage with all territorial boards to ensure full compliance with its financial policies. Where there are delays or discrepancies, appropriate follow-ups are undertaken through the relevant internal committees. As you would appreciate, certain financial details may be subject to ongoing review, and it would be premature to comment on the specifics you’ve raised ahead of the completion of those processes.
“Cricket West Indies (CWI) remains committed to upholding transparency, accountability, and good governance across all its member boards, including the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB). Matters relating to financial reporting and disbursement of funds are reviewed through our internal mechanisms in accordance with established protocols where jurisdiction is established. However, it is important to note Cricket West Indies does not oversee the operations of the territorial boards, as they function independently,” Dehring wrote.
Regional sources: System can be exploited
According to regional cricket sources, including TTCB sources, the event funding process used by Cricket West Indies (CWI) can be exploited.
The Finances and Budgets section of the Cricket West Indies’ constitution states that the CWI and the agent (member association) shall agree on an event budget, with the CWI responsible for the agreed costs of hosting and staging the event.
“Unless otherwise agreed between CWI and the Agent, the Event Budget shall be paid to the Agent in the agreed currency, in accordance with the following payment schedule:
• Four weeks before the start of the event—50 per cent
• Two weeks after the last match—25 per cent;
• Following the completion of the Actual Cost Report and post-event audit, the outstanding balance of 25 per cent.
“The agent shall manage all cost expenditure from the event budget, in accordance with prudent best practice. The Agent acknowledges and agrees that any underspend shall be for the benefit of CWI and shall be the product of efficient cost management alone and shall not be achieved to the detriment of the quality of the event… Any cost saving achieved by the Agent in respect of any budget item shall not be applied to any other budget item unless approved in writing by CWI,” the CWI constitution stated.
Regional cricket sources said that, in theory, an agent can exaggerate an event budget by up to 200 per cent because it is not exceedingly difficult for an agent to justify its initial budget request.
In receiving 75 per cent of the agreed funding from CWI (at an inflated budget), they can create excess funding and forgo the remaining 25 per cent that is only supposed to be granted after an actual cost report and an event audit.
According to the CWI 2024 audit, the regional body owed the TTCB $6.7 million in 2024. It was $13.5 million in 2023.
The sources said it is also possible for parties to seek funding from multiple organisations (CWI or the government, for example) for the same event and cause. They called it “double or triple-dipping”.
On Friday, Guardian Media Sports’ Investigative Desk reported that, between 2019 and 2024, the TTCB received more than $30 million in taxpayers’ money through the Office of the Prime Minister’s Sport & Culture Fund and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago.
However, according to concerned TTCB sources, the board has not been asked to account for its spending.
On May 8, the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service’s Special Investigation Unit (SIU) raided the Couva offices of the TTCB.
In a subsequent press release, police said they recovered key documents to an ongoing investigation.
In late 2023, whistleblower and former TTCB Treasurer Kiswah Chaitoo reported to police that up to $500,000 or more was missing/unaccounted for from the TTCB’s financial accounts, according to the findings of an audit.
A female staff member wrote a resignation letter admitting to alleged misappropriation of funds. In the letter, she claimed that the amount could be between $200,000 and $300,000.
TTCB’s no confidence against Chaitoo
Chaitoo was then removed in a successful no-confidence motion passed by 35 votes for and 12 votes against.
The motion came after some TTCB members believed Chaitoo acted in a manner that undermined the board.
Several corporate sponsors paused or withdrew support from TTCB competitions because of Chaitoo’s allegations.
The last external, independent audit the TTCB underwent was carried out by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 2018.
The investigation “Project Barcelona” examined allegations of procurement, contracting and expenditure irregularities.
Meanwhile, an NGC audit found that the sponsorship funds were transferred by the TTCB without approval.
The report also discovered that false information was provided by the TTCB in its financial statements for 2014 and 2015, including duplicate reporting of funds.
Contacted for comment over the last weekend, TTCB President Azim Bassarath said, in the aftermath of the police raid, he sees no reason for himself or any member of staff to resign.
Bassarath denied being interviewed in connection with the ongoing fraud investigation.