The Tribune

The CARIFTA fever is in the air and so is the rivalry from the participating countries, who have been described as “extended families” of the host Bahamas by Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Michael Pintard.

In preparation for the top regional junior track and field event over the Easter holiday weekend, the organising committee launched its ticket sales yesterday at Thomas A Robinson National Stadium where Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Dominica joined the Bahamas in purchasing their tickets.

Pintard was the first to purchase his tickets, indicating that “Marco City” is accounted for. Immediately after, the other nations followed with the Bahamian “Golden Girls” Eldece Clarke and Pauline Davis, joined by Tonique Williams, danced to the rhythmic sounds of the CARIFTA Congo Junkanoo Group after they received their tickets. “CARIFTA, as an expensive undertaking, is more than worth the investment being made by the government and the corporate community,” Pintard said. “The bulk of the funds for this CARIFTA is being made raised from corporate Bahamas and of course at least one major regional partner.”

He said, however, that there is a very important model being established here and he congratulated the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations and the organising committee for raising the significant funding to host the games.”

And he said the government is committed to make their contribution to the BAAA in the success of hosting the games for a record eight times in its history since it was first started in Bridgetown, Barbados, in 1972.

With about four persons joining her in their traditional colours from the Hummingbird Association, an association of the Jamaican Diaspora in the Bahamas, Sharon Purser-Cooper said their association was formed during the hosting of the first Carifta Games here in 1976 and they have been supporting their athletes when they came back to compete in 1978, 1981, 1984, 1992, 2002 and the last time in 2013. “We are excited about the upcoming games and we are encouraging all Jamaicans to come out and get their tickets,” she stressed. “The Carifta Gamers have produced many world class athletes, more of whom came from Jamaica. So we want to be there to support our athletes.”

Jamaica can boost of being the perennial champions, having taken over from the Bahamas, who was the last country to win when it hosted the annual event in 1984. Jamaica is on a dominating 33 consecutive year reign of hoisting the championship banner.

Andy Gill president of the Barbados Bahamian Association said they are just as excited about having their country men and women come out and participate in the games.

“We’re looking for our athletes to participate since it’s been a long time that we’ve seen them,” Gill said. “So we are encouraging all Barbadians living in the Bahamas to come out and support our athletes.”

He noted that their association is not as big as Jamaica, but they are looking forward to making their presence felt during the three days of competition.

Clement Foster, the Honorary Council designate for Trinidad & Tobago, said he’s already advised all Trinidadians living in the Bahamas and those back in their country that they need to support the “athletes from Trinidad, enjoy the games and also support the Bahamas.

“Most of the people who will be coming to the games generally live here, but we come out and support everything here and we anticipate that we will have a great crowd on hand for the games.”

Clarke, a former sprinter who was a member of the Bahamas’ victorious team in 1984, said it’s a honor for her to join her fellow Golden Girls and all Bahamians in securing their tickets for the games.

“For the years I’ve participated, the Bahamas has always been the best in terms of hosting and the organizational structure and even performances,” she stated. “So I think the athletes are preparing and the country is ready for such an event and we will do extremely well.

“When I competed from 1980-84, we had some very good teams that have represented the Bahamas. So I wish this year’s team every success. But it’s a honor to have gotten my ticket and even being a part of the organizing committee.”

Clarke said it’s very important for Bahamians come out and support Team Bahamas and to wear your aqua, yellow and black shirts on the days that encourage you to wear them in solidarity for our athletes.”

Natasha Adderley, the Chief Financial Officer of the organizing committee, said the ticket booth at the stadium is now in operation from 11 am to 7 pm daily.

Prices per ticket are $5 for general seating, $10 for bronze, $15 for silver and $20 for gold. There is also a three-day package that consist of $50 for gold seats, $40 for silver and $25 for bronze. There are no three-day package for general seating.

Adderley said they will be running a special on the ticket sales until February 28, so she’s encouraging the general public to get them early.

A total of 26 countries are expected to participate in the games that will run from March 30-April 2 at the stadium, but all of the teams will have until the first week of February to confirm, according to BAAA’s president Rosamunde Carey, who also serves as the chief executive officer of the organizing committee.

For more than a decade, Carey said a group of persons that form the Carifta Congo Junkanoo Group have been paying their own way to the various islands around the Caribbean to provide the junkanoo music and they have been given the mandate to duplicate it here at home.

Perry Adderley, who co-heads the Junkanoo Congos with Ann Thompson, the BAAA’s office administrator, said they are glad that they will now get to give their visitors a true taste of what they give them when they attend the games around the Caribbean.

“We’re looking forward to putting on a tremendous show for our guest and providing some exciting music for them to enjoy,” said Adderley, who noted that they intent to amass a group of 30 members in an area that will be allocated for junkanoo inside the stadium.