By Neto Baptiste
President of the Antigua and Barbuda Athletics Association (ABAA), Everton Cornelius, has welcomed the departure of the body’s Third Vice President, Dr Philmore Benjamin, who tendered his resignation during an executive meeting held last Friday.
Benjamin’s resignation comes on the heels of an administrative blunder that resulted in the association missing two registration deadlines for four athletes who had qualified for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships slated for August 27-31 in Lima, Peru.
Cornelius, however, criticised his former VP for being selective as to the meetings he attended since his election, while suggesting he made little to no contributions to the body.
“He will never be missed and I am not surprised and he should have done that a long time ago; I am very passionate about that. He makes no contribution to our sportm because since he has been elected he has only been to about three meetings. All three meetings [were] when there were controversial issues and one sensible meeting he never stayed at. Only when something is controversial he shows up and he makes no contribution as far as I am concerned. I am very straight with that and I don’t have to cut corners; I talk straight,” he said.
Despite reports that a decision was taken during last Friday’s meeting to dissolve the executive and host fresh elections within 90 days, Cornelius said the ABAA is slated to have constitutionally due elections in April next year.
“People like you want to see my back so I will leave track & field to the people who can run it. We don’t like things run right; we like when things run bend so we can chat about people. I had a vison for track and field and I delivered it. I didn’t get the stadium I really wanted to get, but I got a certified track. I put seats and toilets in YASCO even though they came in and destroyed all we had and left us with nothing, but I did it,” the former athlete said.
Despite public calls for resignations, Benjamin was the only executive member to leave the organisation because of the debacle.
Sprinters Kasiya Daley, Ajani Daley and Geolyna Dowdye, 2022 Under-17 Carifta gold medallist in the 100 meters, Dwayne Fleming and LaNica Locker had all qualified for the event.
Locker had however, reportedly opted out of going to the meet. The athletes all hail from the Power Speed Endurance (PSE) track club.
