Mitchell elected president of new GAA executive

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, Aug 22, 2026 - Johnell Mitchell has been elected president of the Grenada Athletic Association (GAA), moving up from First Vice President to lead a new seven-member executive through 2029.

Mitchell was elected during the association’s Annual General Meeting at the National Cricket Stadium on Saturday. He succeeds Conrad Francis, who did not seek re-election.

Mike Baptiste was elected First Vice President, while Albert Joseph will serve as Second Vice President.

Desiree Stephen retained the position of General Secretary, with Aida Bedminister-Joseph elected Assistant General Secretary. Vaughn Joseph is the new Treasurer, and Shere-Ann Noel will serve as Public Relations Officer.

Mitchell and Stephen are the only two members of the new executive who served under Francis. The other five are new to the association’s leadership.

The new board will be responsible for overseeing the development of athletes, clubs, competitions, and national programmes during its term.

Mitchell said the executive will hold its first meeting on September 1, when its members will begin discussing their priorities and the preparation of a strategic plan.

“There are several things I would like to see as the new president, including stronger club structures and greater stakeholder engagement,” Mitchell told GrenadaSports. “But I want to discuss those matters as an executive and get their input as we begin putting our strategic plan in place.”

He also called on the new executive to work together and build upon the association’s long history.

“We have inherited a foundation from over 100 years and need to leave it better than we received it,” Mitchell said.

Kerlon Peters, who also contested the presidency, congratulated the newly elected team and extended his best wishes for its term in office.

“Thank you for the support, and congratulations to the new GAA team,” Peters said. “I am grateful for all the support as we continue to work for the development of sports.”

Team Kerlon Peters announces slate for GAA elections

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, August 21, 2026 - Team Kerlon Peters on Friday announced its seven-member slate to contest the Grenada Athletic Association’s elections on Saturday.

Peters will contest the presidency, with Mike Baptiste seeking the post of First Vice President and Albert Joseph nominated for Second Vice President.

Jamila Lewis will contest the position of General Secretary, while Valene Hagley will seek election as Assistant General Secretary.

Vaughn Joseph is the team’s candidate for Treasurer, while Lester Smith will contest the position of Public Relations Officer.

Peters said the slate brings together professionals with experience in several fields, including sport and administration. All seven candidates have also been involved in track and field.

“I am answering the call to serve, and I am confident in the people who have agreed to be part of this team,” Peters said.

“We have assembled a balanced slate, with each person bringing different skills and professional experience. At the same time, every member understands athletics and the work required to move the sport forward.”

Peters said the association needs people who can work together and listen to athletes, coaches, clubs, officials and other stakeholders.

“No one person can manage the association alone,” he said. “We believe we have a team capable of working together and putting the development of athletics first.”

The elective general meeting will be held at the Kirani James Athletic Stadium, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

GAA must clear the air before Saturday’s election

Sports Commentary by Michael Bascombe

Before the Grenada Athletic Association casts a single vote at its elective general meeting on Saturday, August 22, it needs to clear up the questions now hanging over the process.

The association recently circulated a list of affiliates deemed eligible to participate in the election. That list should have brought clarity. Instead, it has created more confusion.

Several clubs and schools that competed in GAA-sanctioned events this year are not listed among the eligible affiliates. Those events included the National Relay Meet, National Championships and Whitsuntide Games.

Among the missing clubs are Top Flight Athletics of St John, Momentum Track and Field of St Mark and Altitude Track Club of St Andrew. These are not unfamiliar names. They have athletes competing regularly and have been part of the local athletics season.

Let us be fair: paying an entry fee to compete in an event may not be the same as paying an annual affiliation fee. Participation in a sanctioned meet may not automatically carry voting rights. Schools may also be allowed to enter competitions without holding the same membership status as athletics clubs.

But that distinction is precisely what the GAA must explain.

If these organisations were permitted to register athletes, pay event fees and compete under their club or school names, were they told that they were not financial affiliates? Were they given notice of the outstanding affiliation requirements? Was there a deadline by which fees had to be paid for them to participate in the electoral process?

Or were they accepted throughout the season to encourage maximum participation, only to discover shortly before the election that they could not vote?

We understand that both Altitude Track Club and Top Flight Athletics are questioning their omission from the list of financial affiliates. Representatives of both clubs have confirmed that their affiliation fees were paid at the start of the year.

Those payments should be easy for the GAA to verify against its receipts and financial records. If the clubs are financial, the list should be corrected before Saturday. If there is another reason for their exclusion, the association should explain it clearly.

There are also no clubs or schools from Carriacou and Petite Martinique listed among the affiliates eligible to participate in the election. For an organisation responsible for athletics throughout the State of Grenada, that absence should be concerning.

It may point to a wider problem with the structure of athletics in the sister isles rather than anything connected directly to the election. Either way, it deserves attention. A national association should be able to demonstrate that it is creating opportunities for organised clubs and schools across Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The uncertainty surrounding the date of the meeting has not helped.

The election was constitutionally due in January at the end of the executive’s four-year term. It was postponed to maintain administrative continuity ahead of Grenada’s hosting of the CARIFTA Games in April.

That explanation was understandable. However, several people with whom I have spoken said they were informed that the elective meeting had been rescheduled for September. It is now being held on August 22.

Who decided to change the date? When was that decision taken? When and how were affiliates officially notified? Did the notice satisfy the requirements of the GAA’s constitution? Were clubs given enough time to settle outstanding fees, nominate candidates and prepare for the meeting?

The timing has attracted further attention because Kerlon Peters, who has confirmed his interest in contesting the presidency, was abroad representing Grenada at a World Anti-Doping Agency regional symposium when the new date became known.

That circumstance alone is not evidence that the meeting was scheduled to disadvantage anyone. It would be irresponsible to present it as such. However, elections must not only be properly conducted; the process must also give every candidate and affiliate confidence that the rules were applied fairly.

Poor communication creates suspicion, even when there may be an innocent explanation.

I have argued in earlier commentaries that our national sporting associations cannot become stronger without properly organised affiliates. Clubs cannot exist only in name or appear only when there is a competition.

A functioning club should have recognised officers, a membership structure, proper records, coaches, athletes and a development programme. It should hold meetings, account for its finances and meet the affiliation requirements of its national governing body.

Some clubs and schools may need to do better in those areas.

But responsibility travels in both directions. The national association should maintain an updated register of affiliates, communicate annual fees and deadlines, provide reasonable notice of meetings and help developing clubs meet the required standards.

Governance cannot suddenly become important during election week.

The GAA can settle much of this uncertainty before Saturday by publishing the formal notice of the meeting, the relevant constitutional provisions, the deadline for becoming financial and the basis on which each affiliate’s eligibility was determined.

It should also explain why the meeting moved from the widely understood September date to August 22 and provide an opportunity for any omitted affiliate to seek a review of its status.

If the exclusions are legitimate, the association should have no difficulty showing that the same rules were communicated and applied to everyone. If mistakes were made, there is still time to correct them.

Transparency is not a favour to any candidate or club. It protects the association, the electoral process and whoever is eventually elected.

The next GAA executive should take office with a clear mandate, not under a cloud of unanswered questions that could have been settled before the first vote was cast.

Peters confirms bid for GAA presidency ahead of Saturday’s election

by Michael Bascombe

ST GEORGE’S, Grenada, August 20, 2026 - Kerlon Peters, founder and coach of Max Potential Sports Club, has confirmed that he will contest the presidency of the Grenada Athletics Association (GAA) at its elective Annual General Meeting on Saturday.

The election is expected to produce a new president following reports that incumbent Conrad Francis will not seek another term.

Peters confirmed his candidacy while returning from Lima, Peru, where he represented Grenada at a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Regional Symposium. The meeting was held to prepare stakeholders for the changes and requirements under the 2027 World Anti-Doping Code and International Standards.

Before leaving for Peru, Peters had already begun reaching out to GAA affiliates and discussing his plans for the association.

“My initial information was that the meeting was scheduled for September, but I only learnt recently that it will be held on Saturday,” he said. “That has not changed my focus on representing the interests of the athletes.”

Peters said one of his main objectives is to increase participation in track and field, not only among athletes but also in coaching, officiating, and administration. He also wants the association to place greater emphasis on developing a strong grassroots programme.

However, he stressed that greater attention must also be given to Grenada’s elite athletes, particularly those returning home without the support needed to continue their careers.

“We have athletes returning home, and there is no structure for them,” Peters said. “Along with the grassroots programme, we also have to take care of our elite athletes.”

He said a coaching programme should be established to give returning athletes continuity and help them remain competitive. His plans would also address athletes’ welfare, benefits, and insurance coverage.

Peters believes the GAA needs a strategic plan with a business component to attract support and create more opportunities. He also wants greater attention paid to athletes’ intellectual property rights and how their names and images are used.

Up to the time of publication, the GAA had not released an official list of candidates for Saturday’s election. However, reports indicate that three members of the outgoing executive - First Vice President Johnell Mitchell, General Secretary Desiree Stephen, and Public Relations Officer Kwame Hypolite - have expressed an interest in contesting positions.

It is not yet clear which posts they will seek.

The election was constitutionally due in January, at the end of the executive’s four-year term. Affiliates agreed to postpone it to preserve administrative continuity while Grenada prepared to host the 53rd CARIFTA Games from April 4–6.

Francis was elected president in January 2022. The outgoing executive also includes Second Vice President Abrel Patrick, Assistant General Secretary Geraldine Thompson, and Treasurer Claudia Francis.

Denise Williams serves as the coaches’ representative, Jelani Franklyn as the athletes’ representative, and Devon Layne as the officials’ representative.

Saturday’s meeting will determine the leadership entrusted with guiding Grenadian athletics through its next administrative cycle.

Grenada's Ministry of Sports must sit down with the GCA

Sports Commentary by Michael Bascombe

What exactly is happening with cricket in Grenada?

That question became even more pressing following Saturday’s TalkSports programme, when it was revealed that the Grenada Cricket Association (GCA) has been attempting to meet with the Ministry of Sports to discuss several outstanding matters.

If that account is accurate, it should concern everyone who cares about the development of cricket.

A recognised national sporting association should not have difficulty securing a meeting with the ministry responsible for sport. The government and the GCA will not always agree. Still, they must be able to sit around the same table and discuss funding, facilities, national team preparation, youth development, regional competitions, and the long-term direction of the game.

A meeting is not a favour. It is part of the working relationship that should exist between the Ministry of Sports and every national sporting association.

There is also the troubling report that thousands of dollars remain outstanding to stakeholders who worked alongside the Grenada Cricket Association in hosting matches, tournaments and series. The GCA itself is not reportedly owed the money. However, payment is said to be delayed because documents requiring government approval or a signature have not been completed.

We have not seen the relevant documents, and the report should not be presented as an established fact. However, it has been repeated often enough to warrant an official response.

How much money is outstanding? Which stakeholders are awaiting payment? What services did they provide? What document requires the government’s signature, when was it submitted, and who is responsible for approving it? Has Cricket West Indies communicated directly with the Government of Grenada?

The Ministry of Sports can bring clarity to the matter. If the information is inaccurate, it should be corrected. If approval remains outstanding, the reason should be explained. If there is no legal or administrative obstacle, the process should be completed without further delay.

Although the money is not owed directly to the GCA, the situation could damage its relationship with the people and businesses that helped to stage these events. Stakeholders may be reluctant to provide services, extend credit or support future competitions if they are uncertain about when they will be paid.

The GCA could also suffer reputational damage despite not being responsible for issuing the payments. Grenada cricket depends on the cooperation of many partners, and those relationships must be protected. A prolonged delay could make hosting future regional and international cricket more difficult and more expensive.

This is also about much more than one payment.

The GCA has reportedly developed a three-year plan that includes a high-performance centre alongside a grassroots cricket programme. That proposal deserves serious consideration.

One of the weaknesses in Grenada’s cricket structure is the limited amount of competitive cricket being played at the Under-15 level. The Under-19 players also need more matches, strong competitions, and a clearer pathway into senior cricket. Coaching sessions are important, but they cannot replace regular match play.

The proposed programme would also involve families and use Masters Cricket as a means of connecting experienced players with the younger generation. That makes sense. Former players have knowledge that should not be lost when they stop playing competitively. They can mentor young cricketers, help them understand the demands of the game, and reinforce the discipline required to succeed.

The proposed high-performance centre would be particularly important for Grenadian players who are not contracted by the Windward Islands Volcanoes. Without a structured programme at home, those players can easily fall into a gap between domestic cricket and the regional professional system.

Grenada has a useful pool of talent. Andre Fletcher, Johann Jeremiah, Teddy Bishop, Darron Nedd, Ryan John, Darel Cyrus, Kirt and Kirtsen Murray, Shermon Lewis, and Preston McSween are among the players who demonstrate the depth and potential that exist.

Not all of them are at the same stage of their careers, but there must be a system capable of supporting established players, emerging talent, and those pushing for another opportunity at the regional level.

A high-performance centre would require proper examination. The GCA should be prepared to present its budget, coaching structure, player-development targets, staffing requirements, and expected results. The Ministry does not have to accept every aspect of the proposal without question. But it must be willing to hear it, assess it, and determine where the government can assist.

That is what consultation is supposed to accomplish.

There is also the approaching Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. With cricket included on the programme, the GCA is understandably watching the qualification possibilities for players from smaller Caribbean countries.

The eventual pathway may involve movement through the Windward Islands structure and then the wider Cricket West Indies system. The precise arrangements will have to be confirmed by the relevant cricket and Olympic authorities. Whatever the final process, Grenada cannot wait until qualification begins to think about preparation.

If our players are to have a realistic opportunity, the groundwork must start now.

Infrastructure forms another part of the discussion. During my recent visit to Grenada, I toured several of the country’s major sporting facilities, including those used for track and field, football, and cricket. I also visited the aquatic centre now under construction.

There is visible investment, and that should be acknowledged. However, investment must eventually produce facilities that meet the required standards and can be used to attract regional and international competition.

At the National Cricket Stadium, I was advised that adjustments are still required to the recently installed lights as part of the process towards securing the necessary ICC grading and approval. That work must be followed through to completion.

Installing lights is one stage. Having a properly certified venue capable of hosting international and day-night cricket is the outcome that matters.

The development and renovation of sporting facilities must also include consultation with the people who will use them. National associations, athletes, coaches, grounds staff, event organisers, and broadcasters should be involved before important decisions are finalised.

Broadcasting requirements, for example, cannot be treated as an afterthought. Camera positions, sightlines, commentary areas, lighting levels, power supplies, internet connectivity, and space for technical equipment all affect whether an event can be properly presented to audiences at home and overseas. It is far less expensive to address those matters during planning than to correct them after construction has been completed.

The immediate way forward should be straightforward.

The Ministry of Sports should schedule a meeting with the Grenada Cricket Association. The reported funding issue should be clarified, the documents should be examined, and the GCA should be allowed to present its three-year development plan.

The GCA, for its part, must arrive prepared to provide details, budgets, timelines, and measurable targets. If Cricket West Indies needs to participate in the discussion, it should be invited to do so.

This should not become another prolonged disagreement in which letters are sent, meetings are requested, and nothing moves.

The people who suffer most from that kind of delay are not the administrators. They are the young cricketers who are not playing enough matches, the national players trying to prepare without adequate support, and the Grenadian players seeking a route into regional and international cricket.

Grenada has talent. It has facilities. There are development ideas on the table, and funding may be accessed.

What is needed now is a serious conversation, and there is no good reason why that conversation should not begin immediately.