SVGFF versus Nice Radio feud extended

The fallout between the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation (SVGFF) and local radio station Nice Radio is growing and has intensified.

The latest development is the SVGFF’s refusal to include Nice Radio in the mailing list to announce the commencement of the National Community Inter League Football Championships, set to kick off this Sunday.{{more}}

Neither was the announcement, which was sent out through the SVGFF’s media person E Glenford Prescott, sent to the personal e-mail address of Justin Douglas, who is the station’s main sportscaster.

Both Douglas and Prescott were involved in a heated conversation last Sunday night, during Nice Radio’s Sports Highlights Programme.

SEARCHLIGHT understands that Prescott has since considered taking legal action against parent company of Nice Radio, BDS Ltd, Douglas and a caller named “Mr Hazelwood,” over comments the latter made during last Sunday’s hosting of the programme.

This was after Prescott demanded an apology from the station, with which managing director of Nice Radio Douglas De Freitas concurred.

The two entities, the SVGFF and Nice Radio, have been at each other’s throats for some time and within the last three months tensions have mounted. At the heart of the discord was the airing of negative comments levelled at the operations of the SVGFF.

This prompted a meeting with both parties sometime last year.

Part One of the series of retaliatory actions began last July, when Nice Radio was not granted permission to broadcast matches in the Caribbean Football Union’s Under-17 Competition, which took place at the Victoria Park.

More blockade was to come Nice Radio’s way, when the station was not given media passes to broadcast the World Cup qualifier between SVG and the USA, played on Friday, September, 2, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

Nice Radio counter punched by not broadcasting the remarks by president of the SVGFF Venold Coombs, at the opening of the COMSPORTS/KPMG/Hairoun Brewery Arnos Vale Football League on Sunday, September 11, at the Arnos Vale Playing Field.

De Freitas had confirmed to SEARCHLIGHT that he, in his capacity as manager of the station, made the decision not to broadcast any speeches made by president of the SVGFF Venold Coombs.

The Nice Radio manager also indicated that prior to the St Vincent and the Grenadines versus USA match, a letter was sent to Coombs seeking an audience with him to resolve the situation.

De Freitas, who referred to Coombs as “out of place,” further told this publication that Coombs has to apologize to Nice Radio, before he will begin broadcasting any of his speeches.(RT)