The Bermuda Track and Field Association remains on a “very satisfactory” course in the build-up to hosting the CARIFTA Games in April.

Despite having been forced to defend itself in recent weeks over the organisation's qualifying policies, president Judith Simmons says that everyone is focused and looking forward to the big event with justified enthusiasm.

“We are very satisfied with the way things are going, if you look at our first track meet on December 13, there was instant satisfaction when four athletes qualified in five events and with the next track meet coming up this weekend we are hoping to see the number of qualifiers increased,” she said.

“We are very pleased with what is happening in the national programme and our athletes are reaching the standards required of them. There are a number of athletes who have joined since the original deadline of December 11 and things are really going fine, our coaches are doing a good job with them.”

The president would not say how the task of raising the $715,000 required to host the event was going, but she did admit that the public would be appraised in time.

“I can say though that, administratively, things are going very good also,” she said. “We had a meeting on Friday with the Police to go over security matters and other concerns. With quite a few dignitaries expected here from other countries we have to make sure that everyone is secure.

“As far as the fundraising is concerned, we will let the public know in the near future where we are. However, I can say that our committees have been out there working and we meet every two weeks and get appraised of their progress.

“In fact, we had a social meeting with these committees on the weekend and thanked them for the great effort they are putting into this, the sports minister was even present.”

As far as criticism levelled at the Association was concerned, Simmons said people should heed the words of former Island triple jumper, Brian Wellman who urged everyone to get behind the Association.

“Brian has always supported and respected the BTFA and he would be the type of person to say that. He has been to the top, seen the world from the top and still is the world champion record holder in the indoor triple jump,” she said. “People need to recognise that as much as they may not like the policy, even the most successful athletes train as a team, even Marion Jones has a training team that trains with her - she does not train alone and most other top athletes do that.”

But without or without wholesale support, Simmons said the BTFA would carry on regardless.

“Our administrators are working hard, our committees are doing likewise and we are also in constant touch with the sports minister. We are determined to carry this out to the best of our ability and make this CARIFTA Games a huge success,” she said.