Embattled BAA President Says He Did Nothing Wrong

On Tuesday, we told you that the Belize Athletic Association moved to vote out President Cojac Smith and Public Relations Officer Gregory Meyers during a special meeting. We also heard from Smith, who told us that the decision violates the regulations that guide BAA decisions. Well, Smith and Meyers have taken their position one step further. They have retained the services of Glenn Godfrey’s law firm. Today, GDG wrote to the association on behalf of its clients. The letter says that his clients’ removal was not advised by the association’s disciplinary committee, which Godfrey asserts is contrary to the BAA’s constitution. Godfrey further contends that the BAA’s constitution provides no basis for removals based on personal grievances or through a vote of no confidence. The letter describes the move as an attempt at a hostile takeover that threatens the association’s standing with World Athletics. Godfrey refers to the motion as void and the appointment of Alvin Tillet as illegitimate and unlawful. Additionally, the letter calls on the BAA to cease and desist from any further slanderous statements against Smith and Meyers and to immediately remove its September second press release. Godfrey noted that failure to do so will result in Smith and Meyers seeking damages for defamatory publication. When we spoke with Smith on Monday, he contended that he did nothing to warrant a vote of no confidence.

 

Cojac Smith

“And what people seems to forget is that this is philanthropy work. This is not being paid for. I get nothing paid for this. A lot of times I take money out of my pocket and that is how we do it. It is both myself and the public relations officer that were victims of this situation. We weren’t given due process and the small handful of members that felt disgruntled with how things were handled, which you know people are always iffy on change, so they decided to take this route which is unconstitutional, and we are researching how we will deal with this going forward. I am always open to criticism. At the end of the day I am not perfect. I have things I can work on and change. However, this is also my profession. I do have degrees in these types of things, however management, so to be questioning my leadership based on what you think or your opinion that I should have done something when it is outside of the constitution, I actually following the constitution in relation to what they are stating out there. At the assembly I clearly articulated everything against the motion that was brought to me. However, it was just still go ahead and make the vote. I have no problem with taking criticism. However, in this instance I did nothing wrong. I followed the procedure. I made sure that whatever situation was brought to me was due process.”