By Neto Baptiste
Potential candidate for the pending Antigua and Barbuda Athletic Association (ABAA) electoral congress and former national athlete, Teddy Daley, has expressed disappointment over the possibility that the body could go into the next track and field season under the current leadership.
“We know that Carifta is a major event for us so if Carifta usually takes place in March and April then to me, an election should be at least, maybe, six months prior to that, to give the new persons an opportunity to really handle the situation properly. In addition to that, the constitution speaks to the responsibility of certain officers. For example, there are certain things that the first vice president, second vice president and the third vice president would be responsible for and there is where you need to give all the candidates an opportunity to engage with the persons who are going to be voting at the election,” he said.
Daley, in August this year, became the third member of the body to tender his resignation following news that the association had missed deadlines to register four athletes who had met qualifying standards for the 2024 World Athletics Under-23 Championship held in Lima, Peru, from august 27-31.
Third Vice President Dr Philmore Benjamin submitted his letter of resignation also in August, but there has been no significant movement since then.
Daley believes he has made significant strides towards convincing the body’s electorate.
“In some cases, I’ve convinced persons that I am the best person who is willing and able to get this done. I would think that maybe a couple of weeks ago, I got a call from one of the club members who wanted to engage me; they asked me a lot of questions because they had not yet made up their mind but I think that after the conversation they were convinced this can be done. I showed them evidence that it could be done using evidence of things I can’t yet put into the public at this time,” he said.
Asked if he thought the body needs a fresh start in terms of the make-up of the executive, Daley said he believes there are some people on the current body who still have a lot to offer the sport.
“There are persons on the executive that possess the necessary skillsets, they have the sport at heart and they have demonstrated over the years their willingness and their ability to get things done and so I don’t think that because there was this mishap, as bad as it was, that some of these persons cannot continue to serve and even build and do better than the good job they have already been doing,” the former national athlete said.
Two others, Cleofoster Harris and Shawna Charles Joseph (who is the current Second Vice President of the association), have also expressed intentions to challenge for the body’s top spot.
Elections are constitutionally due in March 2025.
