PHOTO
: Robyn Tuʻivakanō Kaho
Moves to sack the head of Tonga’s Association for Sport and National Olympic Committee are unconstitutional, according to the Secretary General of the Oceania National Olympic Committee, Ricardo Blas.
And he warned TASANOC President Robyn Kaho to follow his advice so the International
Olympic Committee’s legal counsel did not get involved in the matter.
As reported recently by Kaniva News, TASANOC head Takitoa Taumoepeau was sent a demand from the organisation’s executive on March 30 asking him to resign or face the sack.
Blas has written to Kaho, saying her actions were not “supported by TASANOC’s Constitution.”
He advised Kaho to reverse the decision and reinstate Taumoepeau as elected General Secretary before the Tongan committee held its next general assembly.
Blas reminded Kaho he had advised her of the proper procedure to follow if the executive wanted a member of TASANOC to resign or be dismissed.
He referred to a similar incident in 2013 when he advised Kaho on how to deal with a similar incident, but said it appeared she had ignored his advice.
Taumoepeau was entitled to defend himself against Kaho’s allegations, which Blas said must be supported with concrete evidence.
He told Kaho it was his responsibility as ONOC Secretary General to make sure TASANOC practiced good governance.
“Your letter to the General Secretary violates the framework of your constitution on what is allowable by TASANOC as a whole and not by the Executive,” Blas said.
Blas told Kaho “natural justice” was not followed when Taumoepeau was barred from the meeting of the executive at which the demand for his resignation was discussed.
This is not the first time Blas has become involved in a dispute between TASANOC and Taumoepeau.
In July 2013 the national sporting body announced it had it terminated its contract with Taumoepeau, citing an alleged mismanagement of office funds.