With all the rambling over and done with, Mike Sands has been returned as president of Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations (BAAA) and this time will head a group of executives who were among some of his strongest adversaries going into the election of officers on Saturday.
The elections highlighted the BAAA Annual General Meeting. In the voting process, Sands accumulated a total of 36 votes to beat out former Olympian Iram Lewis, who generated 23. Curt Hollingsworth, the former interim president, only picked up 14 votes.
Lewis eventually was voted in as the first vice president with a 34-24 victory and Livingstone Marshall had just 11. The second vice president was former president Foster Dorsett, who got 28 to beat out Grand Bahamians Sandra Laing and Felix Seymour, both of whom collected 11 votes.
A number of former athletes have been elected with Philippa Arnett-Willie getting the treasurer’s post, assisted by Lisa Mortimer.
The general secretary is Carl Oliver and Maybelene Miller is his assistant. Tonique Williams-Darling is the new public relations officer, replacing Alpheus ‘Hawk’ Finlayson, who declined another term in office.
“I am humbled by the membership of the BAAA for re-electing me to another term in office,” Sands said. “I am really humbled to be able to serve again.”
Sands was gracious in victory as he took on a lot of criticism from his rivals, but he managed to withstand the pressure and was thrilled to be given another chance to serve with his peers who campaigned against him.
“There was a lot of public relationships that went forth that wasn’t necessary, but the important factor was that I was able to move around on the ground and I got to touch base with the delegates,” Sands said.
“They were the ones who elected me, so I’m really pleased that I was able to garner as much support. As I told those who opposed me, this is all about the BAAA. It’s not about Mike Sands. Whatever it was that they had against me before the elections, they have now been elected to serve with me. So I hope that we can all put our differences of opinion behind us and get ready to move the association forward.”
In going forward, Sands said there are two major items on the agenda that need the immediate attention of the executives.
The first is the BAAA End of the Year Awards Banquet that is normally held at the end of December where the BAAA selects its Athlete, male and female, junior and senior, Official and Coach of the Year. The major fund raiser also honours those athletes and coaches who would have represented the Bahamas throughout the year on the various national teams.
Additionally, the Bahamas is scheduled to host the 2013 Carifta Games over the Easter holiday weekend.
“They were campaigning on the fact that they have the solution to our economic situation, so I hope that they realise that it’s no longer me or them. It is all about the association that we represent,” Sands said.
“We are all in this together now and whatever they were willing to do to take the association forward, I hope they are now willing to do that as an executive.”
While Sands said he is pleased to be associated with a virtually new group of executives, he’s hoping that they can all work together for the common good of the BAAA.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Sands said. “First, as a new group of executives, I’m glad that I was elected to lead them because I can get the opportunity to sensitise them properly on what goes on within the association. I know they have heard so much, but now they will get to see exactly how the association is ran. We need funding and hopefully with this new group and the ideas they have, we can accomplish our goals.”
A number of persons were also expected to serve as council members but the complete list was not available.
By Brent Stubbs
Tribune Senior Sports Reporter
