Five candidates will be contesting for three executive-level positions when the BVI Athletics Association general elections commence at the Althea Scatliffe Primary School today at 6 pm.

Those candidates include Ralston Henry and Karl Scatliffe for Vice President, incumbent Chantel Scatliffe and Jennifer King-Grate for Assistant Secretary, and Nelda Huggins for Athlete’s Representative.

Five executive positions to include current elected individuals will go unopposed at this year’s election. These include President with Steve Augustine, General Secretary with Stephanie Russ-Penn, Treasurer with Willis Todman and Public Relations Officer with Cleave Farrington.

Speaking to BVI News in anticipation of a clear path to his second successive term, President Augustine who served through both the 2017 hurricanes and the COVID-19 pandemic stated that despite the challenges his work persevered.

“The drive to continually build BVI Athletics as an internationally-recognized sporting organisation is a drive that burns from within. Whether opposed or unopposed, my desire to see our athletes shine locally, regionally and internationally remains unchanged,” Augustine said.

“I have fought a good fight over the past four years and I am adamant about making BVI Athletics even stronger in the four years to come,” he added.

Strategic and Developmental plans ahead

Augustine also outlined some of the plans which he wishes to execute during his next four-year tenure.

These include hosting a technical Official Education & Certification level-one course to build greater internal capacity in officiating at sporting events. He said this could encourage more regional meets in the BVI.

Augustine also plans to schedule a series of development meets throughout 2021 to provide competition opportunities for local athletes and continue the BVI’s kids athletics exhibitions at the community level to strengthen and build upon the BVI grassroots programme.

Augustine will also seek to provide mentorship and guidance sessions as a means of preparing the youths for greater athletic roles, construct a World Athletics-certified throwing cage for throwers, complete the outfitting of the BVIAA medicine room to provide controlled onsite treatment, and complete and furnish the new BVIAA office at the track with the aim of providing dedicated office hours.

The president further said he will also seek to purchase needed finish line equipment to ensure the BVI’s timing system meets international standards. He also said he plans to progress discussions of the new pavilion structure; ensuring that the end product caters to a multiplicity of uses that benefits multiple sports.