By AVA TURNQUEST
Tribune Staff Reporter
aturnquest@tribunemedia.net
FORMER Minister of Sports Desmond Bannister yesterday defended the right of track star Stephen Newbold to compete in next weekend’s CARIFTA Games.
Newbold, 18, appeared in court and was released from custody yesterday after he was arrested following an early morning poolside shooting incident in the US.
Mr Bannister, also a former president of the Bahamas Amateur Athletic Association, said: “This young man is a former world champion for the Bahamas, he’s done so many positive things for our country, the least that Bahamians can do is let the whole matter unfold and see what’s happening.
“If he comes home for CARIFTA [the country should] support him, let him know that the positive he has done means something to our country.
“Too often we judge our young people by speculation, innuendo, or allegations. He’s not been convicted by any court.”
Newbold, a quartermiler and a member of the Bahamas team for the regional track and field competition, was arrested along with fellow Florida State University 4x400 relay runner Ronell J Mance.
Both men were charged with resisting arrest without violence. Newbold was also charged with discharging a firearm in public, and a judge set bond for Newbold at $500 for each charge.
A police report said that the two were arrested after shots were reported being fired at an off-campus apartment complex in Tallahassee, Florida, at about 3.30pm on Thursday.
Police were called.
According to WCTV, Newbold posted his $1,000 bond and was required to turn over any firearms in his possession after his release. Newbold has a case management hearing in April, at which time a public defender will be appointed to represent him.
WCTV said attornies for Ronell Mance say their client is innocent and they have the evidence to prove it.
Since his release, Newbold has made several statements on his Twitter social media website.
He said: “They can’t keep a good man down! Lol people making it seem like life is over, Im out, Im gucci, back to work.”
Supporters yesterday encouraged the track star not to be discouraged by the arrest.
Both men have been suspended from the FSU track team. It is unclear whether or not Newbold will be participating in the upcoming CARIFTA Games.
Minister of Sports Daniel Johnson, and representatives from the BAAA, could not be reached up to press time.
Mr Bannister said: “Too often we dispose of young people at the first instance something negative is said.
“There is nothing that says he can’t be eligible on the national team because of allegations.
“If he has the desire and if he’s the best, then he should be allowed to compete.”
Comments
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
First Hubert's red shirts regime sent a paid team of lawyers over to The USA with a briefcase full of cash to "un jail" them straw vendors who found themselves in trouble with the law over their alleged dealings in fake goods.
And, now Hubert's former red shirts minister of da sports Desmond Bannister is jumping to the defense of Comrade Stephen's right to compete in the CARIFTA Games?
This young man is is presently on bail and until he can answer to the Judge he shouldn't be a representative of Bahamaland, or our young Bahamians. He has an upcoming court date, not a competition date.
blueothello 11 years, 1 month ago
Agree Tal Russell! The boy has two charges against him. It is more on a matter of principle and integrity (of which young master Newbold or the venerable Mr. Bannister has yet to learn) the BAAA's needs to rescind his invitation as part of the team. If not it may very well end up looking like it's more about greed and desperation in wanting to win than keeping the integrity of the BAAA's intact.
pilgrimagerock 11 years, 1 month ago
With two charges against him, the Bahamas Integrity take precedence over winning any metal. This idiot is an embarrassment to this country, his family, the BAAA's and the Carifta team.
Denton 11 years, 1 month ago
totally agree!!
Thinking 11 years, 1 month ago
Maybe the former Minister's support is the reason why Mr. Newbold made those calm, collective statements on twitter. He should not be allowed to participate in this year's Carifta games.
lazybor 11 years, 1 month ago
shameful, he and who's supporting him
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hnhanna 11 years, 1 month ago
This young man is only 18, none of us has a perfect life, I hope he learn from his mistake and move on to better things in life. I hope the team allow him participate in next weekend’s CARIFTA Games.
Denton 11 years, 1 month ago
“Dirty” Newbold was directly charged with discharging a firearm in public and due back in Court. If he is a part of any Relay team medaling at CARIFTA, will his teammates lose their Medals if he is found to be guilty?
Dirty said "They can't keep a good man down! Lol people making it seem like life is over, Im out, Im gucci, back to work." and Bannister has shown by his comments that Dirty is right.
John 11 years, 1 month ago
Obviously yall who wan't to throw this young man to the dogs aint gat no children...he's young, he's immature and he's headed down the wrong path and needs guidance, support and counselling. I agree that he souldn't be a part of the Carifta team as part of his punishment (remember he only fired a gun into an empty swimming pool, he didn't try to injure or kill no one). When the prodical son returnd home to his father after squandering all his money in the city and after having to eat pigs swill ( I worked on a farm and i know what it is..you dont even have to eat it to be smelling like it all day) what did his daddy do...he didn't lock the door on him and turn him away..he said bring his best lamb and prepare a feast for his son (who was dead and is now alive again ((back home)) and bring the best garments or robes...and what did Jesus Christ himself say..if he had 100 sheep and one was lost.. he would go and search and bring that lost sheep back into the fold..o ye hyprocrites! sign this John 3:16
Denton 11 years, 1 month ago
Your words "he only fired a gun" says it all about your integrity!.
John 11 years, 1 month ago
My words are" he only fired a gun into an empty pool, he did ot try to injure or kill no one" and , now, according to todays Tribune, he claime he did not fire the gun. remember he's only 18 and you want to throw his life away?
John 11 years, 1 month ago
So You don't have to look it up John 3:16 says : For GOD so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son to die..so whosoever believeth on Him, should not perish but have everlasting life........and yall wann kill off a 18 y/o aint the streets doing enough killing already?
BaystreetTrader 11 years, 1 month ago
Which comment are you referring to? I do not see a comment here where anyone is saying that one should "kill off a 18 y/o". Majority of the above comments are advocating that this young man should suffer the consequences of his actions (i.e. not competing in National event).
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
well put !!
audleymitchell 11 years, 1 month ago
Mr. Newbold is charged with committing a criminal offence. His opportunity to participate in the Carifta Games should have nothing to do with how good he is, what he has done previously or whether he is a potential medal winner. The standard that we hold in such matters should be in place irrespective of the identity or potential of the individual. He is currently suspended from his university's team. Let us stop quoting scripture to justify irresponsible actions. We must never condemn and write off persons for their mistakes - old or young persons - but we must require that they are held accountable for their actions and face the consequences. The consequence of bad company / irresponsible activities / criminal intent and actions may be to miss a competition or may be prison time. If he is guilty and is held accountable, let us hope the experience fosters character change. If he is not guilty, let us hope and pray that the lessons are still heeded. If he is guilty and allowed to escape the consequences of his actions, we are fostering the creation of a popular monster, a menace to whatever society in which he will exist, and an example to others that uncommon and / or popular talent is a pardon for bad behaviour. No matter the outcome, it will be an example to young aspiring and current athletes everywhere.
John 11 years, 1 month ago
Me thinks the law in the Bahamas, where he is a citizen, and the USA, where he is resident says "Innocent until proven guilty", and according to today's Tribune no weapon was ever found.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Exellent post ,,Audleymitchell funny the bible thumpers want to be so lienent about guns and immoral sexual acts , R Frazier , but then they go round saying ,spare the rod ,eye for eye ,hang em high ,gays are going to hell .. some of this is anti foriegn rhetoric ,b/c the U/S got him . IF he was shooting across some once back yard in Marathon ,or Kennedy sub would John be so forgiving..
TalRussell 11 years, 1 month ago
Comrade Bay street trader I think the majority are telling former minister Desmond that if we as citizens and residents of Bahamaland do not collectively ban together to end this damnable love affair our young men have with guns, soon there will come the day when live rounds of bullets will be flying into our tourists packed hotel pools and beaches? Why do you think it's so far fetched when they have already recklessly fired bullets right on bay Street, forcing our tourists to duck for their very lives?
Still some have the balls to ask why is it we want to be so harsh, after all it was only a gun he fired into a pool? May God Almighty help us all when that attitude day spreads. Are you listening to me former minister despond?
The minister must recognize he was mistaken and retract his public support. Families must also be willing to warn their sons that as parents, guns WILL NOT be tolerated and they must be prepared to accept the fullest punishment of the law, while you're working at getting your life act back in sync with what Bahamaland's Christian society is prepared to accept as acceptable behavior. Or, Comrades have we as a people lowered our Christian standards when it comes to raising our children?
Amen!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
Bannister let me down on this one Tals
MADD_FACE 11 years, 1 month ago
It is absolutely heartbreaking to see how Bahamians are ready to condone this young man's behavior. Lets say this young man was Jamaica's Usain Bolt, he would lose ALL sports endorsements, he would not be allowed to participate in any sports events at all. Don't believe me...... ask Oscar Pistorius, the athlete who earlier this year was accused of murder. Should we wait until this young man kills someone before we try to curb his attitude. People, our country is confused, we suffer from the "not my good child" syndrome. Your good child could have killed someone. It seems, as young Mr. Newbold puts it, "Its all GUCCI". Well JAIL is not the end of the world, nor is missing Carifta, we'll have more. Take some time and consider your actions, consider your parents and anyone else who could be hurt as a result of your actions. The reform happens after the penalty. What punishment has he faced thus far..... Missing Carifta is NOT enough. How about he sits out a year. If he truly loves what he does he will train and practice everyday and return ready to show us all that he has grown from this.
John 11 years, 1 month ago
Lets start with "innocent until proven guilty", and he claims he did not fire the weapon. furtherore no weapon was found. That is a far, way far different scenerio from the Pistorius case, where his dead girlfriend was found in his apartment, with apparent gunsshot injuries, and he admitted to firing the weapon, and furthermore some information he gave to police was contrary to evidence they found.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
there is a eyewitness saying he fired it ,,he took off running and hid the gun ,,they had to use a K,9 dog to sniff him out ....
John 11 years, 1 month ago
the eyewitness also said he was shooting at persons in the pool..Why havent the 'targets' come forward yet and say they were shot at?
nowonder 11 years, 1 month ago
The way I see this stay in your own country if you want to break the laws .
Understandfacts 11 years, 1 month ago
You see it in a very horrible way.
moncurcool 11 years, 1 month ago
SInce when does an individual being charge with something makes them guilty. What happens when the case is tried and it may be found that he was innocent all along.
Until he is proven guilty and sentenced he has every right to participate in Carifta.
blueothello 11 years, 1 month ago
His hearing isn't until April. So he should be allowed to compete because he hasn't been convicted? Tell that to FSU who has suspended him indefinitely over the incident. If we treated everyone with your way of thinking, then no one would ever be suspended, or placed on leave without pay pending investigation. The point is, he should sit and cool his heels in suspension until the matter is sorted out. His actions at the scene aroused suspicion and were highly inappropriate hence his being charged with two misdemeanors. It would look much worse on the BAAA'S if he was allowed to run at CARIFTA and then he's found guilty later on, wouldn't it?
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
the U/S murder rate id 4 per 100,000 ours is 27 per 100,000 ,,,,6 times higher ,,FSU is right and we should not let him complete also ,,plus how can he travel on bail ??
John 11 years, 1 month ago
The fact that he IS allowed to travel on bail..confirms that we (in the Bahamas) are blowing this matter ways out of proportion.. again I ask who did this young man kill, attempt to kill or injure?. How many guns are fired into the air in the USA on independence day, on new years day, even when favorite teams win a game... Some people would wish to see every (black) Bahamian bahind bars and in chains. Thats the onlyest (sic) concern they have for our citizens.
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
SO B/C SOME PEOPLE ARE PREJUDICE WHOLE RACES OF PEOPLE SHOULD BE REWARDED FOR GETTING INTO TROUBLE WITH THE POLICE ???????????????
Denton 11 years, 1 month ago
moncurcool, your mindset is why we have so much gun violence in our Bahamas. FSU immediately suspended him from competition and college because "they don't play"!! The University abides by their rules, but we live in a lawless society where guns are "Gucci". He should be suspended from CARIFTA as a consequence of his actions.
Bannister, you and your administration did nothing about the high crime in the Bahamas and guns, so I say to Bannister to retract his comments and shut up, cause he did not "put up".
John 11 years, 1 month ago
We are a TOURIST country. what does the ahamas do when young, immature students some here to party and get into mischeif? They give them a stern warning, or a mall fine and send them back to finish their college career. What happened in the Bahamas "stays in the Bahamas", and is not platered over the front page on their hometwon newspaper , even when 3 more bahamians lost their lives after the alleged incident> What happened to the barefoor bandit,....?
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
JOHN THE MURDER RATE IN THE U/S IS 4 PER 100,000 WE ARE AT 27 PER HUNDRED THOUSAND ,,OUR MURDER RATE IS 6 TIMES AS HIGH AS THE U/S ...SO IF YOU WANT TO AWARD GUN TOTING IDIOTS JUST B/C THEY CAN RUN AND ARE BAHAMIAN, ITS ON YOU WHEN HE SHOOTS UP KENNEDY SUB OR MARATHON ..YOUR NEVER ENDING QUEST TO PAINT FORIEGNERS AS THE CUASE OF ALL THE BAHAMAS PROBLEMS NEVER STOPS ,,,,,,,,,,,IT GETS OLD AND IS INSULTING ,,OUR WE NOT AN INDEPENDANT COUNTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR OWN ACTIONS WITH ONE OF THE HIGHEST MURDER RATES IN THE FREE WORLD ??
John 11 years, 1 month ago
you are the one who is old and insulting (concernedcitizen) when you keep trying to pin your racist (especially against Black Bahamians) and Anti-Bahamian sentiments on me. Yes regardless on the topic being discussed you try to paint me as being anti-foreign and racist. Stand up and express your opinions on your own two feet and stop tryiing to hide your stripes by trying to paint them on other people..the truth will soon come out as to why you are so angry and filled with hate. (directed towards Bahamians) Three murders happened in this country (just this weekend) since young Newbold got into trouble. I haven't seen a single comment on them from you. The discussion here is weather this athlete should be allowed to compete in carifta or not and you quoting the murder statistics..Get real...better, yet get a life!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
NO UNTIL HE IS CLEARED HE SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO COMPETE IN CARIFTA ..NOW MY OPINION ON YOU AS A XENOPHOPIC ANTI FORIEGN PERSON HAS NOT CHANGED ,I DON,T BLAME MY LOT IN LIFE ON ANYONE OF ANY COLOUR ,NOR DO I SING THERE PRAISE IF I DO WELL ,,,,,YOU SHOULD TRY IT ,ITS LIBERATING ,WHEN YOU GET TIRED OF SUCKIN THEET AN SAYIN " HOW WICKED WHITEY IS AND HOW HE ALWAYS KEEPIN A BROTHER DOWN " THAT CHAIN WAS LIFTED OFF US IN 1973 ,NOW IF YA WAN SHOOT A GUN IN PUBLIC MAN UP AND FACE THE MUSIC ,,ONE THING ,WE BETTER KILLERS THAN THE U/S ,,,27 PER 100,000,,OR ARE THERE AMERICANS IN BAIN TOWN KILLING US ,BRO ,,LOVE YA SELF FIRST
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
EVERY TOPIC YOU DISCUSS YOU PAINT YOURSELF AS ANTI FORIEGN AND RACIST . WHEN WILL THIS TRUTH ABOUT ME BE REVEALED ,OH GREAT SWAMI ..JEEZ YOUR A LAUGH RIOT ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
waiting on the truth according to john ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,lmfao
John 11 years, 1 month ago
I don't dwell on ignorance. but.if you dn't like the Bahamas move back to the country you came from. Since I come in contact with people with complexion other than my own on very few occasions except when I travel outside this country I have no reason to be racist. When I travel to the US and have to be strip- searched and questioned for the reason for my visit and how much money I am travelling with, I don't view America as anti-foriegn. I realize they are trynig to protect their borders amd keep their nation safe Likewise when I stand up against some foreigners, some who are wanted criminals in their own and other countries and others who have no good intentions for the Bahamas or Bahamians, and who want to look down on us as being ignorant, criminals and killers even and wish us back into slavery, I consider myself to be a nationalist and not anti-foreign...When they deport persons, like you, the message is "we cannot stop you from saying what you want to say about the Bahamas, and Bahamians, but we can stop you from saying from in the Bahamas...get thee behind me satan!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
i was born in Nassau and my people came from Eleuthra , you xenophopic twit ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,where you want to deport me to ,Porky rock ,Water cay ,Cocina bank ,,Pipe cay in the exumas..,,,,get thee behind me satan ,,,,,,,,,,did u really say that john ,,,,lmfao dude your emotive race baiting rhetoric is too funny ,,come bro don,t hold back ,man up and go all the way with your anti yankee , anti white man rhetoric ,don,t cloak it ,,,.don,t soften it ,,speak your mind my brother !!
John 11 years, 1 month ago
You cannot be Bahamian...snakes native to the Bahamas are not poisonous and a serpent spewing poisonous, deadly venom, like you, has to be an imposter..get thee behind me satan!
concernedcitizen 11 years, 1 month ago
your an all day laugh riot ,,lets see your not racist ,but in your above post you compare non Bahamians to satan ,,wth ,,then u sit in judgement of me like some bloated god ,,,we don,t got no poisonous snakes here ,,where you live boss, the monestary ,,we got as many wicked people as anyone else ,,who got us in the top 10 murder rate ,,Zion baptist,Calavary bible ,,geez lousie you sure are entertaining
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