In fact, according to the BOA constitution, for the AGM to be official there must be a quorum of at least 13 eligible voters among federations and executive officers. Well, the quorum was in place. The former president Sir Arlington Butler had left prior to elections, no doubt because it was very evident that he had just two supporters for putting off the voting to another time (Romell Knowles of softball and Mike Sands of athletics).
Representatives from six other federations supported having elections. And, so elections were held. A new slate with several new faces is now in place to chart the course of the BOA for the next four years. It is possible that Butler will keep up his desperate efforts, seek appeals and try to denounce the authenticity of the meeting.
But, the returning General Secretary Davis told the media shortly after the meeting that the BOA will now push.
Butler has come out of the year-plus Olympic debacle looking very un-knightly. The longer he continues to employ tactics that have been deplored by most people in this country and those in the region, the more he will stain his reputation.
On the other hand, the BOA executive nucleus that fought Butler and several federations, must do some soul-searching.
Several of them have been hit hard with criticisms. Some sports leaders do not trust a few of the old guard who were returned to office. While the BOA Office has been a bright spot in the Bahamian Olympic Movement over the last four years or so, there has been disenchantment as well.
And so, the BOA has some image-mending work to do.
The revision of the constitution is in order.
Then, there should overall, be a new order in how the BOA functions.
It is good that some new faces are among BOA executive now as a result of last Thursday's elections.
Vice Presidents Oria Wood of baseball and Roy Colebrooke of cycling certainly represent the beginning of the new guard. Edith Powell, although a veteran sports person, is expected to bring a new vision from the Bahamas Lawn Tennis Association.
So, there is an appreciable element of newness to the BOA these days. It is my understanding that part of the revision of the BOA constitution will be a special representative group from federations. This group will form a sub executive board, thus enabling the federations to have yet a bigger involvement in the functioning of the BOA.
This is all good and an excellent way to bring about a healing within BOA family.
It would be good also if the BOA begin recognizing in a meaningful way, a most respected past president, Dr. Norman Gay. This man is considered by all who know him as the "great sports healer" who has always been extremely good at sitting down amid controversy and helping to solve differences.
The time for healing is upon the BOA.
The new elected board must seize the moment and restore honour to the BOA, the top sports organization in the land.
The Rev. Enoch Backford, the new president, has in the past been a problem solver in sports as well. He must now take charge and lead the BOA to full respectability once again.
- Austin DWI - New York DWI