Jack Warner Hits the Road BUT What About Lisle Austin?

Former President of CONCACAF Jack Warner

Former Vice President of CONCACAF, Lisle Austin

The unthinkable occurred yesterday, Jack Warner resigned as minister in the Trinidad and Tobago government and as Chairman of the COP. In unravelled very quickly after the Integrity Committee appointed by CONCACAF and headed by former Chief Justice of Barbados Sir David Simmons to investigate “several allegations in relation to specific issues”.  See related BU blog CONCACAF’s Integrity Committee Finds Jack Warner and Chuck Blazer Guilty – David Estwick Take Note re:Barbados Water Authority.

While the focus of the investigation was on the two high fliers Jack Warner the former president of CONCACAF and Chuck Blazer former General Secretary of CONCACAF the name of Barbadian Lisle Austin was mentioned five times in the report. Let us have a look to see why Austin was interviewed by the Commissioners. Bear in mind Austin is a former Vice President of CONCACAF who served under Warner.

On page 36 the report states:

15 Secondary School Principals Snub Minister Ronald Jones

Memorandum from ministry of education which instructed secondary schools to participate in BSSAC

BU continues to critical about the lack of leadership in almost every sphere of activity in Barbados. Have a look at the Barbados Today story Thumbs Up! Never thought the day would arrive when local media would have to run PR stories regarding how safe it is to be in Barbados. One of our enduring characteristics has been a low crime environment. It had been the main ingredient which underpinned the boast of being a stable country.

Removing the Funding Veil at the Barbados Football Association

Submitted by St. George’s Dragon

Randall Harris, President of the Barbados Football Association

Interesting article on FIFA’s activities in the Caribbean here:
http://www.economist.com/news/americas/21573977-another-fifa-scandal-bonus-money
.

No mention of Barbados but under the Barbados FIFA section here:
http://www.fifa.com/associations/association=brb/development-activities/goal/index.html
it lists a new headquarters in Bridgetown costing $600,000 (presumably US$).

I remember reading something about the pitch and how it was not installed right. Can anyone update us on the new headquarters? Does it prove Barbados to be an exception among football associations in the Caribbean? Are we actually spending the money as we should?

Young Barbadians Athletes Excel at CARIFTA Trials Despite No National Stadium Track

CARIFTA GAMES 2013 to be held in the Bahamas

A few days ago BU highlighted the sorry state of local sports with real possibility the National Primary Schools Athletics Championships (NAPSAC) and the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championships (BSSAC) are in danger of being cancelled – NAPSAC and BSSAC in Danger of Being Cancelled. The reason: the National Stadium track is under construction and has been unavoidably delayed.  Incredible though it seems there was no contingency planned for this eventuality.

The result of the poor planning means that our two premier track and field championships which affords the opportunity of our young athletes to showcase their talent remains uncertain on the meet calendar. The Ministry of Sports and the National Sports Council should offer a public apology to ALL athletes who have to train everyday day with the mental anguish created by the doubt that BSSAC and NAPSAC will not come off. To repeat, the thought of a similar mishap occurring in Jamaica or Bahamas is unfathomable.

NAPSAC and BSSAC in Danger of Being Cancelled

National Stadium track being relaid – Photo credit: Nation

Does anyone believe that the organizers of Sports in Jamaica would allow what is happening in Barbados to occur over there? We have a situation where the National Sports Council and the Barbados government made the correct decision to relay the track at the National Stadium. Unfortunately because of factors beyond the control of the actors in the project (we are told) the exercise has taken longer than originally planned.  As a result the two premier sporting events which target the youth and facilitate qualification for CARIFTA are at serious risk of being cancelled.

The National Primary Schools Athletics Championships (NAPSAC) normally scheduled at the end of February has been postponed as well as the Barbados Secondary Schools’ Athletic Championships (BSSAC). With so many vacant pastures in Barbados one is left to wonder why a committee comprised of of our brightest could not conceptualized and implemented a contingency plan. Obviously if the young ones do not perform on a track which is accredited they forego having their times officially registered but which is the lesser of the two evils, performing on a non-accredited track or not performing at all?

Barbados’ Premier Sporting Event: 2013 Sandy Lane Gold Cup

The Big prize

It has become a tradition of sorts for BU to keep an eye on the Gold Cup horse race albeit for the controversy it has generated in recent years. The race program looks exiting to the punters, the weather is good in Barbados and all and all it looks like Turfites will be pleased.

And they will be under starters orders (watch live feed) in a few hours!

Related BU links on the Gold Cups going back three years:

• 2012 Sandy Lane Gold Cup Fails To Attract Foreign Entrants

• Sandy Lane Gold Cup 2011 Marred By Controversy

• Excitement Comes back To The Sandy Lane Gold Cup

Electioneering – Barbados Olympic Association Style

Steve Stoute, President and Erskine St. Simmons, secretary general of the Barbados Olympic Association, arrived at Northgate Sports Centre as part of their visit to the East of England  to find a suitable training camp for the London 2012 Games.

“…for we fight not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness in high places”

Barbados Underground (BU) has taken up a number of untouchable causes over the years in the interest of integrity and transparency in public life in Barbados and the region. Politics and political shenanigans have tended to dominate our agenda in this regard, and the court system ranks highly on our list. But recently BU has become interested in the operations of the Barbados Olympic Association since it has become clear that its role as a facilitator of sport in Barbados has been poorly executed over the years while its fat cat directors have been around for decades living the lives of royalty on the millions of lottery dollars provided to it each year.

BU became specially interested in the phenomenon where, with an election process in place, failed directors could manage to gain reelection to their position for decades with such poor performance records, and also enjoy such overwhelming votes of confidence.

From BU’s investigations, it now appears that this longevity is largely due to a rigged election process which essentially gives absolute control to the directors, and which uses the sports bodies merely as pawns to present a false front of democracy and fairness and to justify receiving the Lotto handouts.

Lt. Col Trevor Browne States Why He Is Qualified To Be President of the Barbados Olympic Association

Lt. Col Trevor T Browne

My attention has been drawn to your excellent new era medium and in particular to your articles on the upcoming elections at the Barbados Olympic Association. As you correctly indicate, I am a candidate for the position of President, as is Mr. Steve Stoute who has held that post for the past 16 years.

I wanted to take the opportunity to explain that mine is not at all a negative campaign against the incumbent. Indeed I have nothing but the utmost respect and admiration for Mr. Stoute – who has contributed a large part of his adult life to the service of sport.

My interest is in moving local sport to the point where it can realize its true potential as a National Developmental Tool, and where the unquestionable talents of our youth can be harnessed for their own personal benefit, and for the national good. All the basic requirements are in place for sport to be a major success story in Barbados.

Steve Stoute, Trevor Browne – Get Set, Ready, Steady, Go!

Submitted by Jeffrey Thompson

Trevor Browne, Craig Archer, Steve Stoute, Erskine Simmons (l-r)

I see all the talk flying around about BOA elections and whether Stoute should or should not step down, but I have a few questions for the esteemed leader which I think he should answer to all Barbados and his constituents before he even thinks about another 4 years. IF RETURNED TO PRESIDENCY

Time To Dump Dead Weights Leaders – Jones, Stoute… Frundy?

Submitted by Charles Atlas

Steve Stoute, President BOA , Ronald Jones, President BFA, PM Fruendel Stuart

What is really wrong with Barbadians? There must be some kind of curse hanging over our heads. How else can we explain the proliferation of such mediocre leadership in so many areas of national life? Why does Ronald Jones think that he should impose himself on Barbados football for another four years? The sport has fallen into chaos – with falling rankings, a reputation for violence and hooliganism, low standards, and accusations of bribery under his watch. Even in his other conflicting national role he has shown his total inability to lead – best exemplified with the Alexandra affair.

In any other civilized country Jones would claim ‘personal reasons, medical reasons or just plain tiredness’ – and step aside to allow someone else to make an effort to turn things around. It is not as though there are no alternatives…. Randy Harris has shown himself to be more than capable of doing a better job in this position. One can only assume that Jones is hooked on the personal perks of the position and cares nothing about the success of football.

Developing Sports and Culture, the Way Forward

Stephen Lashley, Minister of Sports and Culture

Currently, the sports and culture ministries fall under the same minister. In the minds of most Barbadians these two ministries rank poorly when compared to finance, economic affairs, health, education and foreign affairs. This is unfortunate, the ability of Barbados to sustain a lifestyle anchored in consumption requires a never ending quest to be competitive by fully developing all of our productive sectors.

The current reality which sees Barbados totally reliant on tourism in 2012 sums it up. On this note BU restates its support for Trevor Browne and Craig Archer who have taken on the Herculean task to oust the ensconced Steve Stoute and Erskine Simmons. And also call on Erskine ‘Boozer’ King, head of the national sports council, to step aside. With a new leadership in position at two of our critical sports authorities there is hope that a new dispensation will breed success.

Despite half billion investment in ‘traditional’ education annually by successive governments the potential of sports and culture remains hidden in the rough. An example of how serious we are about culture and how we treat with stakeholders in this sector can be seen in the initiative to find a solution for the restoration of the Empire theatre. One year later, nothing.

Time For Steve Stoute To Step Down

Steve Stoute, President of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA)

The dust has settled after the 2012 London Olympics and predictable utterances have started to pour forth from the mouths of sports administrators and politicians. At the end of every Olympiad you can bet on the sports administrators who rush to speak authoritatively about what is required to prepare for the next Olympics.  This time around it is a Gline Clarke reported to be the Chief Operating Officer of the Barbados Olympic Association (BOA). In a press conference today he trumpeted that the BOA  will be consulting with key sports agencies to build out a 4-year program to prepare athletes for Rio, Brazil.

BU finds it amusing that a spokesman of the BOA would suddenly be enlightened to the fact that preparation for Olympics requires robust preparation. By reading between the lines BU gleaned that the practice has been for the BOA to support a 2-year program (BU is willing to apologize on this point). Surely an organization established since the 1960s should not be scrambling to mobilize any program to adequately prepare sporting agencies for upcoming Olympic Games.  Also of concern to BU is that BOA is leading the effort to plan for Rio. BOA has the deep pockets to fund the several sports agencies all agree but its role should be defined within the framework of a national strategy for sports.

Steve Stoute has been in a leadership role of the BOA since 1968, he needs to relieve himself of office for two reasons. Forty years is too long to lead anything or anyone. Secondly the ass-covering Big Interview he gave to the press on the weekend is the other reason. A scan of the BOA Executive reveals individuals who should be able to make the step up. Note that we have bypassed Ralph ‘Bruggadung’ Johnson and Austin Sealy who similarly disqualify themselves because of the long periods served as Vice President and IOC Member respectively. BU makes the observation for what it is worth that the two top positions of the BOA are occupied by ‘Bajan Whites’.

Caribbean, a Nation in Sports

Submitted by sportybajan

Stephen Lashley, Minister of Sports

Just the mere fact that the West Indies Federation has been over since 1962 is enough indication that West Indies and Cricket is now an ancient concept, long past its glory days. Even if  we can return to the top of this colonial sport, is it enough to sustain our individual national pride, and make us stand out as one regional people?

I submit that Track and Field now already does that, and therefore must be heralded as our lofty nest. We must embrace the sport greater than we once did King Cricket, to do otherwise would be to deny the future generation of their heritance to the throne of sporting kings.

What Cricket has once given us Track has now surpassed. Olympic Games 2012 – Caribbean Domination Women’s 100m = Gold, Bronze, Men’s 100m = Gold, Silver, Men’s 400m hurdles = Gold, Bronze, Men’s 400m = Gold, Silver, Bronze.

The Track And Field has only now started. For Barbados to get back on track with the Caribbean where Oba had placed us, we first must remove the present free loading administrators, starting with those on the AAA’s council. President Mrs. Maynard is now on her official 9th Olympic tour, and has never been an athlete…