The source pointed out that the Government is behaving just like the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation (TTFF), which pushed the Sports Minister to the back of the Hall where a farewell ceremony was kept recently for the Soca Warriors at the Centre of Excellence, Macoya, Trincity.

“Minister Boynes and no officials from the Ministry of Sport were even invited for the Soca Warriors motorcade throughout the country, hours before the send-off ceremony at the Centre of Excellence,” the source said.

“When Boynes arrived, an usher had to try and get a seat for him, next to the German Ambassador, who was seated a few rows from the head table,” the source said.

The source noted that only TTFF officials, headed by football chief and FIFA vice-president Jack Warner and Jamaican football official Horace Burrell were seated at the head table.

“While the TTFF treated the minister shabbily, it is the Ministry of Sports which was able to get government to pump $45 million into the Soca Warriors’ preparation for the World Cup and to get to Germany,” the source continued.

“Boynes was not even able to speak at the function,” the source added.

Officials of the Ministry of Culture could throw no light as to why Boynes and other Ministry of Sports officials were side-lined for the Germany trip.

They could also not say who are some of the top government officials making the trip next week.

The Soca Warriors created history by becoming the first country from a small Caribbean nation to take part in a Football World Cup final when they defeated Bahrain last year to qualify for the final in Germany.

The Warriors will take on Sweden on June 10; five days later they will meet England; and on June 20 they are scheduled to play Paraguay.

When contacted, Minister Boynes confirmed that he would not be making the trip to Germany but declined further comment.

He could not throw any light as to who would represent the Ministry of Sports.

Warner told Mirror he was aware that no Ministry of Sports officials had been selected to attend the games.

A number of calypsonians, soca stars, two steelbands, a tassa group, African and Indian dancers, African drummers, and traditional mas characters, moko jumbies and blue devils were selected for the trip.

The contingent will leave for Germany on Monday.

At a Press conference last week, Marketing Manager of the Tourism Development Company, Jason Baptiste, said there would be a Soca Caravan in each of the three cities where the Soca Warriors will play during the games.

Baptiste said a slogan, “Small Country, Big Passion”, was developed for the caravans at Dortmund, Nuremberg and Kaiserslautern, to highlight tourism, sports, culture, trade and investment opportunities.

An estimated 400,000 to 600,000 fans are expected to visit the month-long tournament.