I hold the view that there are opportunities to be taken advantage of that will lead to a resurgence of Grand Bahama. The island that is so important to the general progress of this nation is on hard times these days. Grand Bahama can come out of the doldrums however.
The Ministry of Tourism is working hard. There are some signs that the Grand Bahama Port Authority will become that vibrant engine once again and some folks are sounding more hopeful. In particular, the sports factor could be huge for Grand Bahama.
David Morley is a former Bahamas Basketball Federation (BBF) President and presently serves as a vice president on the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC). He is also the regional representative for The Bahamas Anti-Doping Commission. Morley is a prominent national sports figure indeed and happens to be, as well, a great believer of sports power in Grand Bahama.
The evidence is clear. Just this past June, Grand Bahama hosted the most exciting National Track and Field Championships, ever in the country.
More recently, the Bahamas Sailing Association (BSA) took its National Optimist Championships to Grand Bahama and the awareness of the sport was boosted tremendously. On Easter Saturday, it rained heavily in Freeport during the early evening. A boxing event was scheduled at the YMCA and the organizers faced a washout. Amazingly, when the rain stopped, scores of patrons showed up and the event ended up being a surprising success.
Grand Bahama, led by the Tabernacle Baptist, has the top high school basketball talents in the country. It can be argued that the best junior baseball program is in Grand Bahama.
In November, basketball players from major colleges in the United States will converge on Grand Bahama for an annual tournament. The island has a rich softball legacy. Grand Bahama has produced some of the nation's best athletes in track and field.
One could go on and on listing the sporting assets of Grand Bahama. On a per capita basis, New Providence does not begin to compare with Grand Bahama in sports. Without a doubt, the sports landscape is one of those elements that can propel Grand Bahama during this moment in time.
While on a recent visit, I met with Morley and found out that he holds a most compelling position, one that he has no difficulty expressing.
"I don't care. I can tell you that the problem today is the Grand Bahama Sports Council. It's always the same old crew, seeming all the time to be functioning without any new ideas. There needs to be a new breed that will be able to take advantage of the opportunities to maximize the sporting product in Grand Bahama. The biggest problem in sports for Grand Bahama is the council. The council has seemed to me, to be only interested in stepping up to the plate during The Bahamas Games," said Morley.
Coming from such a veteran sports administrator, the criticism of the GB Sports Council should be fully digested by all within the sporting fraternity in Grand Bahama. Morley has called out the Grand Bahama Sports Council. Perhaps a line needs to be dawn in the sands. One thing is certain. The sports potential in Grand Bahama should be properly assessed. The island's sports program could be a powerful vehicle of resurgence.
(To respond to this column, kindly contact Fred Sturrup at fredericksturrup@gmail.com)

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