Treasurer Campbell denies embezzelling GFL money
- but police called in, investigation underway
By Steve Ninvalle
Stabroek News
August 8, 2002
THE Georgetown Football League has ordered a thorough investigation into its finances amidst allegations that an executive of the GFL has skipped the country after embezzelling approximately half a million dollars.
President of the Georgetown Football League, Christopher Matthias, yesterday told Stabroek Sports that his organisation was seeking the whereabouts of Treasurer Daune Campbell in an effort to establish the location of GFL receipt vouchers, payment vouchers and cheque books.
Yesterday it was reported in another section of the media that a major fraud had taken place in the GFL and that a senior official jumped the country with well over half a million dollars belonging to the league.
Matthias claimed that up to Sunday morning, one day before Campbell left the country, she was unable to locate cheque books and payment vouchers.
“The police was called in since we found out that monies that were supposed to be deposited were not,” Matthias disclosed.
However, contacted in Barbados by Stabroek Sport yesterday Campbell declared that not a “red cent” is missing from the GFL.
She claimed that the GFL is attempting to use her as a scapegoat but warned that she will soon return from her vacation to clear her name.
She gave this newspaper a run down of how much funds were collected for the year and GFL’s total expenditure for the corresponding period.
Campbell said that she left to go to Crop Over in Barbados for a vacation and was not running as was being rumored. “As far as I’m concerned no money is missing from the league. The whole episode has embarrassed me a great deal,” Campbell said.
She disclosed that someone in Guyana had called the authorities in Barbados with information that she was travelling with a large amount of money which she had embezzled.
“The Barbados immigration officers detained me for one and one half hours. It was very embarrassing. When I showed them the amount of money I had on me (US$230) they allowed me into the country,” Campbell said.
Miss Campbell, who celebrated her birthday yesterday, claimed that once she clears her name she will part ways with the GFL.
“I have nothing to fear. Everything that I do regarding the use of money for the league I make sure that the secretary Raul Johnson and the president know of. I will clear my name,” Campbell insisted.
The GFL has since called an emergency meeting which was scheduled for yesterday afternoon.
Asked to respond to the claim that over half a million dollars may be involved, Matthias cautioned that investigations have just started.
“I don’t know if the $500,000 figure is accurate. It may be less or more,” Matthias said. “We have notified the general council, the patron of the GFL, the GFF and the police,” said the GFL president. The new issue come just as Guyana was riding a football high brought on by the victories by its senior and Under-17 teams in international matches.
Stabroek Sport understands that the GFL executive met with the GFF top brass on Tuesday afternoon for assistance in ironing out the issue.
The governing body of football in Guyana advised among other things that GFL have a investigative audit from a recognised audit firm.
The GFF will assist financially with the conduct of the audit and would make available its treasurer to assist the GFL in preparing for the audit.