10/08/07

By DAHALIA SMITH, NG Sports Reporter

dahalia@nasguard.com

Craig Kemp was elected as the Bahamas Baseball Federation's (BBF) President on Saturday and will serve for the 2007/08 season, taking over from former president for the last six years, Greg Burrows.

Kemp was just one among the slate of new officers who were voted in.

Those other executive members include: 1st Vice President Jeff Francis; 2nd Vice President Calvin Farquharson out of Inagua; 3rd Vice President Grand Bahamian Stephen Burrows; 4th Vice President Alonzo Pratt; Secretary General Theodore Sweeting; Assistant Secretary Geannie Scavella; and Treasurer Grand Bahamian Calvin Martin.

According to the new vice president, Jeff Francis, he and the rest of the executive team have full confidence in Kemp's leadership.

"Craig is more than capable. He was with the BBF from its inception. He is fully aware of our mandate and what that means for the youth of the nation," Francis said.

Concerning Kemp's platform as president, Francis explained that, "basically the BBF has a set plan. Now Craig is at the helm and he will take the BBF to a higher level. Mr. Burrows thanked everyone from the various associations around The Bahamas and congratulated them for their contribution."

The executive team will be responsible for the functioning of the various baseball member associations under its umbrella. The functioning leagues in New Providence include Freedom Farm Baseball League, the Junior Baseball League of Nassau (JBLN), the New Providence Amateur Baseball League and the Pinewood Baseball League. In Grand Bahama, there are three leagues, the Grand Bahama Little League, the Grand Bahama Amateur Baseball Association and Legacy Baseball League.

Meanwhile, the Family Island member associations include: Eleuthera's Spanish Wells Baseball League; the Eleuthera Baseball Association; the Exuma Baseball League; the Inagua Baseball Association; and

the Long Island Baseball League. There was full representation from each league at the elections. According to former president Greg Burrows, it was time to let someone else take the helm of the BBF.

"The BBF is something that I started. However, I don't want to be like other baseball organizations where the president just stays in power forever. My philosophy is that in order for the body to grow, new ideas and members need to be incorporated. I'll consider coming back in the future some time," noted Burrows.

Kemp served as one of the vice presidents under Burrows for the past six years. Burrows added that he would now commit fully as the president of the Freedom Farm Baseball League, which is set to kick off its new season in January.