The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

IMMEDIATE past president of the Bahamas Olympic Committee Wellington Miller is in agreement with Prime Minister Philip ‘Brave’ Davis that sports is a deterrent to crime in the country.

Miller was referring to Davis’ decision to join Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg in accompanying Team Bahamas to the 49th CARIFTA Track and Field competition in Kingston, Jamaica, over the Easter holiday weekend.

While the team finished second behind powerhouse Jamaica, it was confirmed during the congress meeting that the Bahamas will host the 50th version of the top junior regional track and field competition next year to commemorate the country’s 50th Independence celebrations.

“I want to congratulate the Prime Minister for going to Jamaica to help boost the morale of the young athletes, particularly since there was no sporting events held for the past two years because of COVID- 19,” Miller said. “I think that was a great gesture and a great boost for the young athletes. When you hear them talking about next year when those athletes who didn’t get a chance to win a medal or those who didn’t get to go, will have a chance to shine right here at home, I think it’s great for the country.”

Miller, who is also a past president of the Bahamas Amateur Boxing Federation, said Davis and his Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture revealed plans for the return of the World Relays as well as the Bahamas Games, all of which would bode well to help curtail some of the crime that has escalated in the country, mainly by young men.

“I’m happy that the Prime Minister recognises the power of sports and what sports can do for the development of the young people in our country,” he said. “Sports help you to socialise, which is an issue young men have a problem with.

“He also talked bout training to compete in an event and that is where discipline comes in and when you have a disciplined person, who have a strong healthy body that can achieve so much more than just resorting to violence and crime.”

With more emphasis being placed on sports, Miller said the Bahamas can help to root out some of the social ills that have caused a lot of havoc on the streets with so many youth turning to crime and violence.

“There are many young people out there who want to be able to compete in some wholesome sporting activities,” Miller said.

“We just have to find the right solution to get the country back on track.

“These events could help to build the morale of so many of our people and when they get the opportunity to be able to participate in different types of sporting events, it takes their minds off the social ills in our country.”

Miller said young people don’t have to be active competitors, but if they are given the opportunity to serve as volunteers and officials in a lot of sporting events, it gives them something to do and keeps them occupied at the same time. “The Prime Minister wants to make the Bahamas a sporting nation and with the idea of making it relevant on the country, will only bode well to the contribution of the youth of this nation.

“I want to commend the Prime Minister and the Minister of Sports for the direction that they are heading into with sports development in the country.”

Miller said it’s incumbent on Bowleg and his staff at the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture to embrace all sporting federations and associations, especially those which are preparing to host international competitions in the Bahamas over the next few months.

While the CARIFTA track and field competition will be back in 2023, Bahamas Aquatics has secured the rights to host the swimming competition in 2024 after winning their fourth consecutive title over the Easter holiday in Wildey, Barbados.

The Bahamas is also looking forward to hosting the Babe Ruth Caribbean Championships July 7-11 at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex, the first in a series of international baseball competitions being planned for this year.

Bowleg, the immediate past president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation, said all of the events are a part of the relaunch of Sports in Paradise - a concept the Progressive Liberal Party coined during their previous administration in office under then Prime Minister Perry Christie.