With the CARIFTA Games little over four months away, Sports Minister Dale Butler has gone on record as saying he believes all is well with the preparation for what will be the biggest international athletics meet this country has ever hosted.

Judith Simmons, president of Bermuda Track and Field Association, who will be almost wholly responsible for the organisation of the event, has insisted that the governing body are ready and capable.

But not everybody, it would appear, shares their confidence - certainly not when it comes to choosing the athletes who will actually represent Bermuda.

Two letters to Sports Mailbox this week, both from 'disgruntled parents', and another from a young athlete in today's edition (see Page 26) suggest there's serious concern among some of Island's athletic clubs over the selection process that has been adopted by the BTFA.

The real fear, it would appear, is that come April Bermuda will not be in a position to field its strongest team.

Normally the host country would be expected to have a full complement of athletes in all of the events, and as such be able to challenge for a large share of the medals.

Indeed, it was that way when Bermuda last hosted these Games some 20 years ago.

But as we all know, times have changed ? and not for the better.

Bermuda is no longer recognised as a force in junior (or senior) athletics within the Caribbean region.

If we've picked up more than two or three medals at CARIFTA ? a meet specifically aimed at those under the age of 20 ? that has been considered a success in recent years.

And there's no doubt that the BTFA must shoulder much of the blame for this gradual and continual drop in standards.

Yet the anomaly here is that Bermuda still seems to produce an abundance of young talent, whose potential often shines through in road races, cross-country and triathlon, but rarely on the track.

For whatever reason, many are not included in the national programme run by coach Gerry Swan.

With CARIFTA just around the corner, that again threatens to be the case.

As of December 15, all clubs have been told by the BTFA that their youngsters hoping to earn selection for the Games team must train within the national programme under coach Swan.

In effect, they've been told to sever ties with their own clubs.

As one parent of a highly successful athlete pointed out this week, that simply doesn't make any sense.

Track and field is not a team sport. It's about individuals, most of whom have their preferred coach and a training programme which fits their particular need.

There's absolutely no reason why any young athlete aspiring for success at CARIFTA and beyond should be railroaded ? almost blackmailed ? into joining a national programme which might not be of any benefit.

Sadly, this BTFA ultimatum is another example of the dictatorial manner in which track and field has been administered in this Island for as long as many of us can remember.

If athletes have the ability and the desire to succeed, and are progressing within their own clubs under their chosen coach, they should be left to do just that.

All that matters is that when Bermuda does host these Games it puts out its very best team.

And the best way to determine that is through trials, perhaps a month before the Games begin.

At that point it could be determined who's in the best form, and who deserves selection ? no different from the trials which all major countries hold to select their Olympic athletes.

These Games are costing Bermuda an estimated $700,000, some of which will be raised through the private sector but most of which will likely have to be underwritten by Government.

Bearing that in mind, Minister Butler needs to ensure that it's money well spent.

He could start by demanding that the selection process for our own team is fair, equitable and inclusive.