The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS 

Senior Sports Reporter 

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

ALTHOUGH they are still waiting on the final approval from the International Amateur Athletic Federation, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations ratified a new constitution that will go into effect on April 1.

In the special meeting called on Thursday night, the membership agreed 32-13 to accept the new constitution and while there was another vote for those against it, the membership voted 33-12 to unanimously pass it.

“The large percentage of votes cast in favour of the new constitution expressed the members desire for reform and confidence that the new articles met the evolving demands on the organisations and forms a reliable and principled framework to set the BAAA on a path of sustainable success,” said Rosamunde Carey, president of the BAAA, during a press conference yesterday.

She was accompanied by first vice president Tonique Williams, public relations officer Philip Gray, treasurer Sharon Gardiner and members of the constitution committee, including chairman Carl Oliver, BAAA assistant secretary Maybeline Miller, Curtis Pride, immediate past president of the Coaches Association and coach Patrick Adderley.

The membership, according to Carey, expressed confidence in the vision and work of the executive board as they continue to “raise the bar.”

The new constitution will fill the requirements as mandated by both the Government of the Bahamas and the International Amateur Athletic Federation (IAAF), the governing body for the sport around the world.

“It was constrained by a culture of politics, a lack of resources and a structure that stagnated the growth and development of athletics,” Carey emphasised.

Although they are still waiting on the ratification from the IAAF, the governing body of the sport, Carey said the new document meets the requirements of the office of the Attorney General and can be registered as a non-profit company so as to comply with government policies.

“Further, it satisfies the requirements of the IAAF and other international organisations,” Carey said. “It proves a number of significant changes to the Bahamian athletics system and the executive board that will enable the BAAA to expand its reach and resources and enhance its performance at all levels.”

Carey revealed the following as some of the key changes to the new constitution:

• Appoint a paid Chief Executive Officer, who would be charged with the day-to-day operations of the federation with a focus on efficiencies.

• Restructure executive board with specific portfolios towards sharing the demanding responsibility of managing the federation activities.

• Length of the executive board tenure will move from three years to four years starting from the 2018 general elections.

• Introduce regional associations towards decentralising athletics by enabling focused development in more Family Islands.

• Fix limit on the length of time an executive or council member can serve – no more than two consecutive terms, or the equivalent of eight years.

Immediately after bring elected in November 2015 under their campaign flatform ‘United Purpose,’ Williams said their executive team began the process of reforming the constitution and they can proudly boost of the completion of the document.

“This document was not about ourselves, it was not about self goals, but this was a document that was we thought represented where we thought the federation should be headed,” Williams stressed.

“One of the first pillars in this document mentions the restructuring and revitalizing the organization. That was what we felt was first and foremost and under this pillar, if you look at B, it says ‘reform our constitution.’ We’ve been in office now, a little over a year and we have successfully completed that process.”

With a new constitution in hand, Williams said they had to get past the “petty” politics that rocked the sport visibly internally and externally over the years and now they can move forward for the next 55 years.

“This documents essentially ends the petty politics of track and field in the Bahamas and in the BAAA,” Williams pointed out. “This administration is charging ahead with purpose.”

As they do, Williams said they have now removed the voting powers from the executives back to the people who matter - their athletes, coaches and affiliates.

And they will also be empowering all of their associations to do more work as the BAAA takes a step back once the New Providence Amateur Athletic Association is formed.

Carey publicly thanked the nine-member constitution committee that comprised of Carl Oliver, Patrick Adderley, Maybeline Miller, coach Rudolph Ferguson, Harrison Petty, president of the Parents Association; Pauline Davis, IAAF Council Member; Attorney Winifred Adderley; Kelly Albury, a coach from Grand Bahama and Curtis Pride, the former president of the Coaches Association.

Former BAAA’s president Desmond Bannister was also commented for the tremendous work that he did in assisting the committee in completing the document.