TWO PENDING general meetings should provide intrigue in the early days of the local sporting calendar for 2017.
All eyes and ears will be on the outcome of the elections of the Barbados Cycling Union (BCU) and the Athletics Association Of Barbados (AAB).
Cycling has been one of the most divided and controversial sports in Barbados for almost a decade, as a majority of officials and cyclists have broken ranks with the Keith Yearwood administration.
Yet president Yearwood has been able to survive amid some defections from his own council and calls for a dissolution of the body and the staging of new elections.
The High Court recently ordered the administration to stop all functions and put mechanisms in place for the elections. I am not aware that a date has been set for it to happen, but even without being forced to hold the ballot by a court ruling, I think it is necessary for the incumbents to test their popularity at the polls and allow for some form of stability to return to a sport, which had an enviable record not so long ago.
International cycling was its flagship as the then Steve Stoute-led administration gave Bajans the opportunity to see the world’s best riders in their prime. Since Stoute’s departure for higher office as president of the Barbados Olympic Association, the sport has faced many stiff challenges, but this era has arguably been the most contentious and divisive.
Notwithstanding the fact that track cycling became infrequent because of the poor state of the velodrome at the National Stadium, there has been a sharp decline in the numbers showing up for road races, an apparent protest by some of the clubs against the way cycling is being run. None of this has deterred Yearwood from soldiering on, and Barbados has still been able to send riders to international meets and there has been some training for officials.
In 2015 we were able to successfully stage the Caribbean Road Racing Elite Championships despite the civil war, so Yearwood could point to that as proof of his effectiveness as head honcho, along with a committee that can deliver at crunch time. Still, it didn’t quell the open rebellion by the so-called “friends of cycling” who called for them to go.
But the court ruling has presented the moment of truth for a speedy resolution to a long-term issue. If the opposing group has the numbers and the organisation, it is possible that the incumbents will be on their last ride. The election is necessary because the sport deserves better, and now is the time to divorce it from controversy, which has only hurt its good image.
Wants the top post
I am not aware that track and field has had the same internal issues as cycling, but former national athlete Gabriel Burnett wants the top post now held by veteran Catherine Jordan.
In fact, it can be argued that the period under Jordan has seen a cluster of outstanding athletes not seen since the 1970s. Many of them can be classified as world class. Surely, any incumbent would want to take credit for that on behalf of her executive.
The thing is that Burnett has made a healthy contribution to this movement as a high-class coach at school, club and national level. Still, there might be pockets of dissatisfaction that athletes might share with a coach or mentor that they won’t with a president or executive member.
I believe this is where the former 100 metres and sprint hurdler has gotten most of his motivation from in addition to his own vision to take the sport to another level.
I am certain that he will get support from the millennials, but it is very important to get them registered and even more vital to have them turn out in numbers on the day of reckoning. The one thing the old guard has been able to do at elections is get their people out to cast their votes. At the end of the day, it comes down to politics and who is most effective in this area.
BTC still awaiting response
I will also be keen to know when the Barbados Turf Club (BTC) will get a response from the Prime Minister’s Office in respect of their appeal to have lights installed at the Garrison in a bid to stage night racing. It has been more than a year since Town and Country Planning left it to the PM’s Office for a resolution.
There has been an objection to the lights on the grounds that it might be in conflict with UNESCO’s designation of Bridgetown And Its Historic Garrison as a World Heritage Site. At least, though, I think someone should have the courtesy to let the BTC know the score.
My eyes will also be on how the Barbados Football Association (BFA) handles the challenge of taking Premier League games back to the Stadium where there is reduced seating capacity because the stands are out of bounds for security reasons.
There will have to be great vigilance, especially for big games, where security can become an issue. The BFA is awaiting funding to complete its own facilities at Wildey and it appears that the cost will be prohibitive to stage matches consistently at the Usain Bolt Sports Complex.
Right next door, the hockey AstroTurf facility remains a white elephant despite the fact that the new surface to be laid has been in the island for more than a year. The issue is that the sand to lay it on has to be imported. I understand that this has been sourced, but the Hockey Federation is waiting for money to be released from the Government purse to get it.
Another unresolved matter is getting Mary Fraser her Barbadian passport. Is it fair that this is still in limbo when she has been a regional champion in athletics and boxing representing us? The travel document she uses limits her movement to countries within the region.
It’s in our interest to stay tuned for coming attractions.
• Andi Thornhill is a veteran sports journalist. Email andithornhill1@gmail.com