By BRENT STUBBS
Senior Sports Reporter
bstubbs@tribunemedia.net
THERE’S been a slight change in the top of the ladder at the National Sports Authority with deputy chairman Grafton Ifill Jr now replacing Greg Burrows, who previously served as the chairman.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Mario Bowleg confirmed the changes made about two weeks ago, indicating that there was a need at this time based on the direction that his ministry is heading.
“We talk about developing the Family Island facilities and we have redeployed Mr Burrows to help with the development of those facilities in the Family Islands,” Bowleg said. “I think that project needs someone who can spearhead that, particularly as we move towards the return of the Bahamas Games next year.”
Bowleg said Burrows, who began his tenure in office with the restructure of the softball fields at the Baillou Hills Sporting Complex for the hosting of the recent Babe Ruth Caribbean Tournament in July, will now have the responsibility of developing the facilities in the Family Islands.
“The transition should move smoothly. The board is empowered to do their job and they will continue to do that,” Bowleg said. “It was never an individual thing, but a board thing. The board is still there and they will continue to do what they are empowered to do.”
Having visited Grand Bahama for the staging of the North American, Central American and Caribbean (NACAC) Track and Field Championships in August, Bowleg said there are some proposals for the improvement of the Grand Bahama Sports Complex and Burrows will be engaged in that aspect as a part of his redeployment.
“I’m presenting a paper soon to the government of the Bahamas for review on the improvement of the facilities that come under the NSA and those that exist in Grand Bahama and the Family Islands, which Mr Burrows will now oversee,” Bowleg stated.
One of the projects that will fall under Ifill’s jurisdiction as the new chairman of the NSA will be the completion of the new national baseball stadium.
According to Bowleg, all plans are going ahead for its completion at the end of November.
The Bahamas Baseball Association has already revealed that they are looking at hosting an international tournament in December to coincide with the opening of the facility.
Ifill Jr, a former sprinter whose son Grafton Ifill III holds the distinction of being one of the few athletes to defeat Jamaican sensation Usain Bolt as a junior athlete, said he welcomes the opportunity to serve in his new capacity.
“Since January of this year, I was asked to serve as the assistant chairman to Greg Burrows,” Ifill said. “Since that time, the country has been awarded the bid for the hosting of the 2023 CARIFTA Games to coincide with our 50th anniversary of Independence.
“I’m also serving on the bid committee for the return of the 2024 World Relays and that proposal is expected to be submitted by the end of this week. So, there is a lot of work and my major focus right now is the development of our facilities.”
With a competent board in place, comprising of persons who have been around sport for a while, Ifill Jr said they will engage a number of sub-committees to assist in the operation of the various projects on the horizon.
Board members include Bahamas Olympic Committee president Rommel Knowles, Tim Munnings, representing the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, Philice Albury from swimming, Margaret ‘Muggy’ Albury from volleyball, Kevin Farrington, a former police officer and now an attorney-at-law and Nicole Pratt, a sports enthusiast.
“With this team, I think we can meet the objectives established by the ministry and the Government,” said Ifill Jr, who will remain in office until the Minister of Sports at the time deems it necessary to replace him.
“We have a lot of work to do and so I’m looking forward to working with the board members and the management and staff of the NSA to make things happen.”
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