The Tribune

IS the Bahamas Association of Independent Secondary Schools (BAISS) going to hold their annual track and field championships at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium next week?

Reports reaching The Tribune Sports Desk is that the BAISS is considering not holding the meet from Wednesday to Friday because of a financial constraint placed on them by the National Sports Authority.

According to the reports, the NSA is charging the BAISS $6,500 per day to stage the meet and the BAISS is claiming that the fee is too exorbitant.

Up to press time last night, efforts to contact the BAISS to confirm whether or not they will hold the meet were not successful. However, one source close to the BAISS claimed that there is no way that the association will pay the fee to stage the meet, which will amount to $19,500.

When contacted, NSA’s general manager Jeffrey Beckles said he was unaware that the BAISS were contemplating not hosting the meet as they have already signed the documents to confirm that they intended to go on with the meet as scheduled.

Beckles had promised to check with the BAISS to confirm if there was a problem and he would get back to The Tribune. Up to press time, he was unable to be contacted.

Last year, the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations expressed some concern in the increased fees imposed on their clubs to host their meets at the original Thomas A Robinson Track and Field Stadium and the TAR National Stadium.

At the time, BAAA president Rosamunde Carey said she would have made some inquiries with the NSA with a hope of having the fees returning to its original cost.

So far, none of the clubs had to postpone their meets because of the fees.

The BAISS source, who wished to remain anonymous, said if they don’t host their meet next week, it could be detrimental to the BAAA, who uses the meet as one of the qualifiers for athletes wishing to make the team that will represent the Bahamas when the CARIFTA Games is staged at the TAR National Stadium over the Easter holiday weekend - March 30 to April 2.