Press Release — In the wake of a severe oversight that has left four of Antigua and Barbuda’s most promising young track and field athletes unable to compete in the upcoming World Athletics Under-20 Championships, Cleofoster Harris, a concerned member of the Antigua Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA), has called for the immediate resignation of the ABAA President, Everton Cornelius, and the entire executive committee.
The failure to register these athletes, who had all qualified at the National Track & Field Championships in July, has been described by Harris as a “national disgrace” and an “embarrassment” to the country. The athletes, representing the Power Speed Endurance (PSE) Track Club, were set to compete on the world stage in Lima, Peru, later this month. However, due to what has been cited as “poor communication, poor management, and lacklustre organizing” by the ABAA, their dreams have been dashed.
Harris did not mince words in his statement, expressing profound disappointment with the current leadership and calling for urgent change. “The offices of the ABAA should be regarded as the premier institution for the development of athletes throughout Antigua and Barbuda, and what has transpired with this year’s registration for the World Athletics Championship only echoes the need for drastic change,” he said.
In addition to calling for the immediate resignation of President Cornelius and the entire executive committee, Harris also announced his candidacy for the presidency of the ABAA. He emphasized his commitment to restoring trust, improving the association’s management, and ensuring that such oversights never occur again.
“I am running for the presidency of the ABAA because I believe that our athletes deserve better. They deserve a leadership that is accountable, efficient, and fully dedicated to their development and success on the world stage. I look forward to the full support of the general body in this endeavor, as we work together to build a brighter future for our nation’s athletes,” Harris stated.
The incident has sparked widespread outrage within the athletic community and the entire country at large, with many echoing Harris’s call for accountability and reform. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on the ABAA’s next move, with the hope that swift action will be taken to rectify the grave disservice done to the country’s young athletes.
