Christopher Jones was relieved of his duties as Director of Sport yesterday with immediate effect.
According to a source, a letter of dismissal was dispatched to Jones by newly appointed Minister of Sport, Charles Ramson Jr.
Jones took up the office as head of the National Sports Commission when the now opposition APNU/AFC ascended to power in 2015. The source also disclosed that Jones’ contract was renewed in the weeks after the controversy riddled elections in March.
His firing clears the way for a new appointment at the helm of the Commission.
A new Director of Sport is expected to be named shortly by the Minister of Sport who was sworn in last Monday.
Jones could not be reached for an immediate reaction yesterday as calls to his phone went unanswered. He however told this publication last week, should he be fired, he will be “more than likely shadow the new Minister of Sport in Parliament from the other side.”
Despite the swearing in of the new cabinet, many of the past political appointees have failed to do the honorable thing and tender their resignations. Many have stressed that Jones should have saved himself the embarrassment of an unquiet firing and tender his resignation after it was confirmed that APNU/AFC had lost the elections.
“It should not have gotten to this, it sends the wrong message” said a sports administrator who spoke on the condition of anonymity. He should have done the respectable thing and resigned.”
Jones took over the portfolio as Director of Sport from Neil Kumar five years ago.
