The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

VETERAN basketball coach Wayde Watson, who has served as a mentor and community builder, is calling on the young men to cease the violence against each other after watching a series of attacks over the past several months, especially in Bain and Grants Town.

“However, New Year’s Day is not as celebrated as it could be for families of the many young men of the Bain and Grants Town community who have lost their lives to gun violence,” Watson said.

“As a coach, mentor and community leader in Bain and Grants Town, my heart is heavy and I am grieving because too many young lives are being lost to senseless violence.”

Watson, a former assistant on the men’s national basketball team, has coached at all levels, winning three titles in the New Providence Basketball Association, a silver and bronze in the Bahamas Basketball Federation, eight in the Bahamas Government Departmental Basketball Association and three in primary school.

But he said in all of his interactions with the community, he was touched when he recently spoke to Hollis Aranha before he was murdered and he told him that he was interested in doing something positive with his life.

“Here was a young man, cognisant of his past failings, yet in the face of mounting obstacles still found the courage to pursue being a better person,” Watson said. “And I vowed to help him. Now it is too late. Today, he is gone.”

As an old adage, Watson said he was constantly reminded that ‘young men are called because they are strong,’ but old men are to lead them.

“We need our young men to build and rebuild our country, to lead, provide and be shining examples for their children,” he said. “However, this quest is being challenged as too many, 70+ this year, of our young men are dead as a result of violent crimes.

“I am asking our young men to please put down the guns and seek other means to resolve their differences.”

Watson, who has also worked diligently with the CC Sweeting Cobras’ senior boys basketball team, extended his condolences to the families who have lost young men and is praying that God will strengthen them in their hour of bereavement.