Wednesday, December 23, 2009

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BAAA meets with the minister By SHELDON LONGLEY ~ NG Sports Editor ~ slongley@nasguard.com: The new executive team of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) paid their first courtesy call on the Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture yesterday, and they were immediately charged to continue the fine tradition of the BAAA, maintaining its stature as the leading and most respected sporting organization in the country. Minister Desmond Bannister said that he has no doubts that the team has a deep commitment to promoting the sport of track and field in the country, and ensuring that it is what it ought to be, particularly for young, aspiring athletes. Last Saturday Mike Sands was returned as president of the prestigious organization after being ousted by a vote of no-confidence last year, Shervin Stuart was elected to the 1st Vice President spot, Felix Seymour was elected as the 2nd Vice President, Tim Munnings is the new Secretary General, Don Turnquest was elected as Assistant Secretary, Frank 'Pancho' Rahming retained the Technical Director post, Bernard Newbold was elected as the Statistician, Alpheus 'Hawk' Finlayson was elected as the Public Relations Officer, Laura Pratt-Charlton was elected as Treasurer, and Debbie Smith was elected as Assistant Treasurer. Linda Thompson and Foster Dorsette were elected for Special Projects, and long-time supporter Harrison Petty, who was also present yesterday, is a member of the executive team as a result of his position with the Parents Association. Sands, Finlayson and Dorsette previously served as presidents of the association. Speaking to Sands in particular, Bannister said that his ministry will give its full support to the new executive board as they work together for the betterment of athletics in the country. "The BAAA has an amazing tradition in this country. You are surrounded by persons who have made a contribution toward the leadership of this organization and we all have respect for your leadership skills," said Bannister. "This country is looking for the BAAA to lead. You have Olympic gold medalists under your umbrella and you are seen in major championships as a respected organization. It is important for you to show the country that you are capable of galvanizing the athletes in this country," he added. Showing that his 'Visionary Team' is serious in achieving its goals and in moving the organization forward, Sands presented the minister with a document outlining their strategic plans for the next term in office. "This team developed a vision that we feel and are satisfied will take track and field to the next level," he said. "We are very enthused about it and we have been meeting on a regular basis and we will continue to meet until we are able to satisfy ourselves that the plan that we have is in place and being carried out. This is a road map for our success and we will be guided by this road map," he added. Minister Bannister highlighted two points of interest for the new executive team. Firstly, he congratulated the organization itself for a smooth democratically run elections, and secondly he charged the new executive to lead by example and live up to its reputation as the leading sports organization in the country. "We in the ministry followed the elections of the BAAA very closely and we want to congratulate the BAAA as an organization for ensuring that there was a transparent showing of the democracy in sporting organizations. You had a democratically run elections, you had a campaign and that is good for sporting organizations in this country," he said. "The real test of democracy in your organization will be how well you embrace that side which lost. You must pull them into the fold of the organization because they all mean well for the sport in the country so bring them together so that they can work along with your vision for the betterment of the sport." At the junior level, Minister Bannister said that there are some advances that they must make as an organization to ensure that The Bahamas reclaims its supremacy as a sports power in the region or come close to it. He said that the new national stadium is still on schedule to be completed in July of 2011 and the track in Grand Bahama is set to be completed this weekend. In addition, he said that they just re-surfaced the Carl Oliver track in Nicholls Town, North Andros and will be looking at improving the track facilities in other islands as well. "Mondo in Grand Bahama this weekend laying the surface for the new track," said the minister. "It has met every international certification. It is a wonderful track and you must be able to include Grand Bahama in your events. We just re-surfaced the Carl Oliver track in North Andros very quietly, and you should have some events there as well. We believe in the discipline that this sport brings and we believe in young Bahamians. There are a lot of emerging young athletes in this country who can do well if they are given the proper facilities," he added. One of the first items on the agenda for the new executive team of the BAAA will be the staging of the end-of-year awards banquet which is expected to be held next month. Friday November 27, 2009