The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

“STRONGER, experienced and committed” were the key words echoed throughout the day by the ‘One BAAA’ team headed by incumbent president Mike Sands as they prepare for the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations’ annual general meeting and election of officers.

Challenged for the first time by a female, Rosamaude Carey, who heads the ‘United Purpose’ team, Sands introduced his slate of officers called ‘One BAAA’ that he feel will be successful when the elections are held on Saturday, November 28, at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture.

In a similar fashion to Carey and ‘United Purpose,’ Sands and the ‘One BAAA’ slate was presented one by one at their launch at the same venue on Saturday morning before they headed to Grand Bahama to impress the delegates there.

“I’m very, very happy and confident with the group,” Sands said. “When you look at it, we obviously coined the phrase ‘Stronger, experienced and committed’ because when you look at it, that is what we have.

“We have a experienced group that is going to be committed to make the BAAA stronger. So we are very confident that at the end of the day, we will be successful in being the new executives of the BAAA.”

In a solidarity move, Sands received the gold baton from Curt Hollingsworth, the candidate for first vice president, at the end of the introduction of all the ‘One BAAA’ candidates. The two embraced as they seemed to have got past their previous differences after Hollingsworth had called for a vote of no confidence in Sands.

Joining Sands and Hollingsworth on the slate are Norris Bain from Grand Bahama as the second vice president; Drumeco Archer as the general secretary; Stephanie Rahming-Taylor, also from Grand Bahama, as assistant general secretary; incumbent Philippa Arnett-Willie as treasurer; Laketah Charlton as assistant treasurer; Bianca Bethel-Sawyer as Public Relations Chairman; Anya Dorsett as Special Projects (Nassau); Grand Bahamian Wayne Smith as Special Projects (Family Islands) and Frank ‘Pancho’ Rahming as Technical Director.

One by one as they were introduced, the members received a gold baton from each other to signify their unified team that will be meeting with all of the stakeholders who have a chance to vote on November 28.

In what has turned out to be more of a political campaign, Sands and his slate made a pitch to the audience that was led by Curtis Pride, president of the Coaches Association, as to why they are indeed the better choice.

“We’re hoping and are confident that they will see the difference between our side and the other side,” Sands said. “The other side has a record of abandonment when the going gets tough and they re-emerge when it seemed as if all is well.

“But we are the ones who stuck with it in the trenches. I think the voters will realise that we have persons who are committed to working with the association through the good times and the bad times. This team is very committed, experienced and stronger than ever before.”

During the launch, the slate of officers articulated their core values, primary goals, commitment to coaches and athletes, their fundraising initiatives, committees they intend to form, the requirements of their administration, their plans for Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, the implementation of the High Performance Training Centre and how they intend to maximise their international relations through established strategic partnership.

The BAAA, which is currently headed by Sands, is in the process of completing the list of voting delegations. The list is expected to be completed by November 13.

Before they were done, Sands got an unexpected endorsement from historian Stanley Mitchell, who indicated that because of Sands’ international connections, he is indeed the “best man” to lead the BAAA for another term.