The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

AFTER having the distinction of being the first female elected as president of the Bahamas Association of Athletic Associations, Rosamunde Carey was voted out of office, replaced by her incumbent secretary general Drumeco Archer, who will now serve as president for the next four years.

Archer and his ‘Be The G.O.A.T’ - Greatest Of All Time - team went in with a landslide victory, winning every post over Carey and her Bonafide Innovators team during the elections held on Saturday at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium. It was so impressive for Archer that he pulled out a real goat to celebrate.

Obviously not the results she had hoped for, Carey said they gave it their best, but the delegates spoke and they have to accept their wishes.

“It’s definitely not what we expected, but the people have spoken and they voted based on what they thought was the best team,” Carey said.

“We thought we ran a very fair, decent and honest campaign. We thought we put out the strategies that would move the federation forward.

“At the end of the day, the clubs had the votes. Obviously, there were some people who say they would vote for us and some who said they wouldn’t. When we look at the numbers, we knew that it was close, but we knew we had the edge. But it is what it is. I am grateful and thankful to have been the first woman president and to have led and did a lot of good for the federation.”

She said they got a lot of their initiatives done and the ratification of the new constitution was one that allowed the coaches to control the outcome of the elections.

“We have done a lot of good in our three years. I wish Mr Archer well in his term as president and we wish the federation much success,” she said.

Having said all that, there were some who were of the opinion that Carey and her team should have made themselves available to answer to a number of issues that the coaches had but were not able to get any clarity because they didn’t take any questions or appear on any forum where they could have been quizzed.

But Carey said she doesn’t believe they could have done anything any differently.

“We had persons who were a part of the team, who felt like they needed to part ways because some initiatives that we were doing, they were not in agreement with,” said Carey, without calling any specific names. “We realised that there are some people who will be with you for a season and not all through.

“There were some persons who were hell bent on not working along with the federation and it showed. But in spite of all that, we still did a lot. Not a single international or regional team did not travel, not a single athlete was disenfranchised and no coaches can say they were disenfranchised under us. So I think we did an awesome job.”

However, Carey said it’s clear that the delegates want a different direction and they say things differently. “I’ve heard stuff and you don’t want to say it, but you just leave it and you accept it. It is what it is,” she said. “My legacy will always stand. That is something they can not take away.”

As the immediate past president, Carey said she still sits on the executive board for a year, so she hopes to lend her expertise and experience, if they so desire. Other than that, she said she has a lot of things planned ahead.

“We want to give the new team their space and allow them to govern as they said they will govern,” she summed up as she faded into the sunset.