Amateur Athletic Association dissolved

Ian Gray

Earlier this year, the Belize Amateur Athletic Association came under fire by its own members. A discord with the president and members resulted in election that was not sanctioned by the international governing body. So after a mutiny in October 2011, it appeared that the BAAA was operating with two heads. It caused chaos when sending athletes to international games because one group had access to funds and the other group was recognized by international associations. Arbitration was held in February and a decision was made on Thursday. Under the directive from the regional office, it appears that neither leaders will be in control of the BAAA. According to Ian Gray, the current local administration has been dissolved and for the interim a team of past presidents will preside over the association’s affairs until a sanctioned election is held.

Ian Gray, Says BAAA Has Been Dissolved

“Yesterday the decision came in from our headquarters. It’s simple; in essence we have been dissolved to say the least. We have been asked to step aside because the directives that were given were not followed; the disenfranchised six members from the association acted in disregard to the IAF and the directives given down; they acted in bad fate in several circumstances. They held an election which was used against me and they were also given directives not to hold the election. And if they went ahead on their own accord and had the elections and presented the results which were tainted—because they allowed children as young as nine years old to vote. So those elections were bad on its fate and as a result they were deemed null and void by the international committee. As it stands as of yesterday, our elected body from August 2010 has been dissolved and a new adhoc committee has been put in place. The other committee will comprise of five members of the past presidents list. So far we are looking at the list to see which five members will be selected. Those five members will then be forwarded to the regional headquarters in Jamaica. They will  be approved after which they will sit down as the adhoc committee to do two things—which we would like to do in February—that is to rectify our statues to reflect equality the apparent body. We were given a template constitution back in February 2011 and up to this day, we were unable to get it approved or rectified. Our second order of business given to us is that we should have purged our voting list of every minor under the age of eighteen. Currently we have a team on the ground in Managua, Nicaragua. They started competing this morning and I am pleased to say that we have won two medals so far. Kenneth Medwood has won the gold medal in the four hundred meters men’s hurdles—he defended his crown from last. And we also have Tricia Flores who brought in the bronze medal in the women’s hundred.”

Reporter

“Now if the association is as you say largely dissolved, is this a one man’s show? Are you running the show?”

Ian Gray

“No. not at all. I must go through the adhoc committee. Everything is beign based through the adhoc committee and those presidents are senior presidents: Josephine Flowers, Nelson Hyde, Freddy Evans, Ned Pitts, David Craig, Joan Burrell, Mister Richard Coye. So we have Lorraine Wade. So we have eight or so solid, well seasoned, well groomed, well experience people.”

Reporter

“Does this boil down to a battle of egos?”

Ian Gray

“At times, yes you can say that. I mean it has happened and it’s sad because my first and foremost objective is to come and advance the sport. And I have already said it; if Ian is the problem, then I have no problems stepping down for the advancement of my country and the sport.”

Within the next five months, the association is expected to ratify a new constitution, purge the voters list and hold an election.