The BOA Elections

Sir George Roberts, Sir Gerald Cash, Eustace Myers, Hon. A.F. Adderley and several others at the time, about 55 years ago embarked upon an honourable path to bring the Bahama Islands on par with other sister Caribbean nations like Jamaica in the world Olympic Movement.

They gave birth to the BOA, primarily with sailors like Durward Knowles and Sloane Farrington in mind. The very sound idea was that Bahamian athletes and sportsmen deserved the right to represent their country on the world's largest sports stage rather than continue to enter that element under the accreditation of Great Britain.

It was a noble evolvement.

Over the years, Sir George Roberts, Bobby Symonette and Dr. Norman Gay were perfect fits in the leadership role of the BOA. These honourable gentlemen kept the BOA at a level of high respect in the country and around the world.

Alas, what has transpired in the BOA in the last two years in particular, under Butler's presidency has been appalling. In November of 2006, an aborted annual general meeting set off the nastiest sports row ever in this country. Court proceedings followed and the once hallowed institution became laughable to the Bahamian people, and high echelon sports persons in regional and international organizations connected with the BOA.

Ditched by his long-time supporters on the Executive Board of the BOA, Butler seemed to become a desperate man, his only objective being to hold on to the presidency, apparently at any cost, even if the situation brought much disrespect.

Now though, after months of fighting in and out of court, there is one more chance for those within the BOA family to salvage some honour and respect. Mrs. Justice Anita Allen on February 19 ruled against all of the points Butler brought against his former executive allies. Essential was the ruling that the executives could vote during elections.

Well, the BOA has scheduled this Thursday, March 6 for the continuation of the AGM that began that fateful night in November of 2006.

Some say that Butler is so set on remaining officially the president in order to go to the Beijing Olympics this year that he will do just about anything to cause the meeting to be put off once again.

This is as pivotal a time as any in this country's sports history. The BOA is the lead sports organization in the country and if the disorder continues a bigger cloud will hover over the entire sports landscape.

I call on all of the key players, President Butler, his estranged executive colleagues, and federation heads to be civil and let the elections go on.

De-emphasize the egos and the petty differences. Pledge to respect each other. Be quality role models to the thousands of athletes and aspiring sports administrators throughout the land.

Put this sorry chapter behind for the good of sports on the whole.

The BOA needs to make amends with its member federations, all of them before going forward.

Thursday approaches.