A SENIOR Scouts official who was at the centre of an internal investigation by the Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago into allegations of sexual harassment and financial impropriety has been suspended.
On Monday, National Scout Commissioner Mark Ainsley John issued an internal communication to senior members of the association, confirming the scout official’s suspension.
This followed exclusive reports on the investigation by CCN TV6 News and the Express.
The senior member had been accused of sexually harassing other senior members of the association during and after a Scouts leaders’ trip to Tobago for the Independence Day Parade in August 2023.
Their testimonies were included in an internal report presented by deputy commissioner of the Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago Kirk Jean-Baptiste in July 2024, along with police receipts for reports made against the senior Scouts leader, as well as voice notes.
Allegations of financial impropriety were also reported by several senior Scouts members following the 2023 Tobago trip where the senior official claimed he was owed between $9,000-$11,000 from Scouts leaders for accommodations he claimed to have arranged.
The Scouts leader had also been reported for allegedly stealing the drum mace of a senior Scouts leader.
For almost seven months, the allegations were not addressed by National Scout Commissioner Mark Ainsley John, who in a response to CCN in mid-January had said then that a further investigation was needed into the matter.
However, following the publication of the story in the Express on Monday, several senior sources within the organisation said John sent out an internal document confirming that the senior scout leader in question had been suspended.
CCN obtained a copy of the document, which said:
“Dear members, in accordance with the policy, organisation and rules of the Scout Association of Trinidad and Tobago I formally notify you that I have withdrawn the warrant of (name of senior scout leader called), effective immediately.”
Top sources inside the organisation explained that this means the senior Scouts leader has now been suspended while further investigations are ongoing.
Not in Scouts’ best interest
In the internal statement, John said the decision “follows an investigation into the functioning of the (senior scout leader’s name called) during which several reports were received that contributed to this action”.
He explained in the document:
“The reports indicate that continued leadership under (name of senior scout leader) would not be in the best interest of the movement within the district.”
John noted that under Rule 6/5, there is a provision for him as National Scout Commissioner “to appoint a suitable individual to manage the affairs of the district when this particular office becomes vacant”.
John said he has since appointed deputy national scout commissioner for operations Jeron Romilly to oversee the position.
CCN reached out to John for further comment on the release via WhatsApp, but there was no immediate response yesterday.
