By Alicia Chamely
TO date the Trinidad and Tobago Hockey Board (TTHB) owes the Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SporTT) over $88,000 and has not submitted its financial reports for 2024.
This non-compliance with the financial regulations of SporTT and other mitigating factors significantly hindered the TTHB’s access to funding to participate in the Pan American Cup being held in Uruguay from July 24 to August 3.
In a press release on Thursday the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs and the SporTT sought to clarify the withdrawal of the TTHB from the Pan American Cup given public speculation and criticism.
Noting that TTHB cited “logistical challenges” as their reasoning for pulling out of the tournament, the Ministry stated the TTHB had been in non-compliance with their financial obligations with SporTT.
The Ministry stated, “The TTHB has been non-compliant in submitting audited financial statements on time and has not yet submitted statements from 2024. Its failure to adhere to the funding policies established by the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago significantly hindered the funding approval process, resulting in delays that negatively impacted team preparations.”
Further, they noted the TTHB submitted its funding request on May 4 2025, despite having qualified for the games in 2024 and 2022, and had been in preparation since January 2025.
Regarding money owed to SporTT, the Ministry said as of June 13, six reconciliation reports from the TTHB remained under review for reimbursement to SporTT.
The outstanding reports and amounts owed to SporTT are as follows:
- Senior Pan American Cup 2022 – $45,098.27
- FIH Hockey 5’s World Cup 2024 – $18,052.14
- Indoor Pan American Cup 2024– $16,030.16
- Pan American Challenge 2024 – $9,159.13
- Senior Men Hockey World Cup – $140,000
The owed amounts are what was left over from the funds disbursed by SporTT.
Total funds disbursed to the TTHB for these five events totalled $3,847,523.80.
Total funds remaining and to be refunded to SporTT: $88,340.15.
The Ministry stated, despite these outstanding amounts and the failure of the TTHB to submit their financial report for 2024, SporTT remained willing to collaborate with the TTHB.
However, the TTHB withdrew from the tournament without providing notice to SporTT and now due to their late withdrawal (less than 16 weeks before the tournament) had been financially penalised by the Pan American Hockey Federation (PAHF).
Minister Watts expressed his disappointment with the situations, saying, “When sport government bodies fail to address financial compliance matters such as these, it is the athletes that pay the price.”
