Sailing to become the NEW National Sport of The Bahamas, Resolution gets Bi-Partisan nod

By Rashaed Esson

Staff Writer

#TheBahamas, April 17, 2023 – At the House of Assembly on April 12th, 2023, the Honourable Clay Sweeting, Member of Parliament for South Eleuthera and Minister with Responsibility for Agriculture, Marine Resources, Cooperatives and Local Government, ahead of the Exuma Regatta, announced a resolution for making Sailing the National Sport of The Bahamas; It is supported by the Opposition and the Government.

A section of the Resolution spoke to approving Sailing as a National Sport of The Bahamas, ‘where the people of The Bahamas are known for their unique wooden vessels known as Sloops,’ used for decades throughout The Bahamian cultural and sporting events known as Regattas and whereas the participation of The Bahamas in the sport of sailing is recognized by the winning of bronze and gold medals in the Olympic competitions in 1956 and 1964 respectively.’

It would mean that the sport of Cricket would no longer hold the title.

Making Sailing the National Sport has been desired by Bahamians as stated by Sweeting. He said, “sailing has been a long awaited announcement by Bahamians. Sailing has been and always will be a part of who we are as Bahamians.”

Considering this, Sweeting spoke to the long history of sailing in the Bahamas, highlighting that Bahamians have been referred to as “masters of the sea” for hundreds of years dating back to the Lucayans and Arawaks.

He further mentioned that sailing has evolved to play an integral part of Bahamian culture, evident in the Regatta competitions first held in Exuma in 1943 which later became more organized, comprehensive and technical in the late 1950s.

He referred to Regatta as a “formidable economic driver for the family islands.”

As expressed by Sweeting, Regattas are crucial to the Social, Economic and Cultural development of The Bahamas. They encourage sustainable domestic tourism.

Evidently, each island where Regattas are held, benefit from  significant economic boost.

Regattas has also made a name for itself in the international community hence the once creation of a yachting community formed fund called [Out Island Squadron] for Regattas.

The involvement of the late Duke of Edinburgh as not only a patron, but also a participant in a Regatta in 1959 in George Town, also contributed to the popularity of the sports today.

The Honourable Micheal Pintard, Member of Parliament for Marco City, who is the opposition’s leader and former minister with responsibility for marine resources, expressed support for the resolution in a detailed speech following Sweeting’s address.

He said making Sailing the National Sport has been a long aspiration of both the Progressive Liberal Party and the Free National Movement.

He highlighted that the resolution is an opportunity to aid on the homogenization of the ministries, making sure that the right departments fit within the context of the appropriate ministry the way Sailing does.  This is under the issue of disconnection in the public eye when it comes to the relationship between departments and their ministries.

He further spoke to the fact that discussions have been had off the record to make Sailing the National Sport of The Bahamas under previous Government’s, indicating that the desire to make the sport official has existed.

In reference to this, he spoke to Deputy Prime Minister Chester Cooper who stated in an article in 2020 in the Nassau Guardian, that he would second a bill to make Sailing as National Sport.

Another reference that he spoke to was V. Alfred Gray, former Minister, in a letter, congratulated the advancement and said that when he was in office they attempted to make it the National Sport but wasn’t given the opportunity before they were out of office.

Sweeting expressed hope that Sailing is approved as the National Sport of The Bahamas.