After wondering why Cayman Islands Inquisitor and Liquidator Chris Johnson has been silent with me regarding the accounts of the battered Cayman islands Football Association (CIFA) I find he has been able to get a letter published on the Cayman News Service website. Something I have not been able to achieve yet!

What he asks is absolutely correct.

“Notwithstanding the mysterious loans, now converted into donations for the benefit of the association,’ he writes, “unsold tickets and unsubstantiated expenses paid to executives, the elephant in the room is the true cost of the gold plated CIFA Headquarters and football pitch (singular) at Newlands. The land was originally swamp and donated to CIFA by way of a 99 year lease in September 2003 by the government.

“A year earlier FIFA gave a grant of $450,000 to Roy Campbell & Sons and a mysterious company, Black Holdings Ltd, to complete the headquarters and build a pitch. A second grant of US$412,000 supplemented this amount in 2009 and a further grant of US$406,000 for a second pitch (albeit there is no sign of it), both to the same contractors. A fourth contract of US$364,600 was paid to Economy Builders in 2011.

“In all, these grants total US$1,632,600. Astonishingly, none of this is disclosed by way of note in the accounts presented by CIFA to its members. CIFA also failed to point out that the 17 acres (at which about half is filled) in the accounts was actually owned by the government.

“Examination of the accounts show land and buildings of CI$2.75m, of which CI$750,000 has been allocated to buildings and depreciated over 30 years. The land cost should be amortized over 99 years, but CIFA appears to have overlooked that item (only about $120,000 so far).

“But let’s not stop there as the FIFA grants must be added — CI$1.36m (US$1.63m) — giving a total of about CI$4m. By deduction, CI$3.25m is for fill, topsoil and a bit of tarmac. This cost is obviously unrealistic but so is the HQ of no more than 2,000 square feet, costing CI$750,000 i.e. $375 per square foot.

“In conclusion, the $984,000 of loans further referred to in the media may well attract attention but at least CIFA benefits, unless it is repayable as part of a money laundering operation. They were always strange loans because no interest was ever paid on them.”

To read the whole missive go to: https://caymannewsservice.com/2015/09/viewpoint-cifa-vincit-omnia-veritas/

You won’t be disappointed.

He also asks why the two persons who resigned recently (AFTER the CIFA AGM), Paul Macey and Mark Scotland didn’t conduct their own investigation?

However, I am confident now that the CIFA newly elected unopposed President of CIFA, Bruce Blake, has plenty of time in his hands, will sail the “sinking ship” (Johnson’s words) to calmer waters. Since he has given up his lucrative “day job” at Maples he is 100% at the helm.

I hear Johnson has been asked to be one of the crew.

Don’t go, Chris, remember that strange concrete block that was found in Cayman waters with handcuffs attached?

Some people don’t like the “real” questions being asked.