The Barbados Olympic Association’s longest serving treasurer and the Barbados Volleyball Association’s longest serving president John Griffith was honoured on Wednesday, May 10, 2023, with the planting of a tree at the BOA’s Headquarters in Wildey.

Griffith who passed away last year was remembered by a large number of members of the BOA’s and BVA’s executives with his widow Carol Griffith and daughter Erica Griffith being part of the planting ceremony.

President of the BOA Sandra Osborne described the gesture as fulfilling part of the IOC’s mandate of moving towards a greener environment while honouring those persons who play small and big roles in advancing the spirit of olympism.

BVA’s president Kenmore Bynoe indicated that the Black Pearl tree was significant since all of volleyball regarded John as a Black Pearl who had done so much for local regional, and international volleyball.

“The symbolism of this ceremony is not lost on the past volleyball generation who through the work of John nurtured our growth where we found roots as players and administrators in our sport.

“Similarly, the growth of the tree and its branches will provide shade and coverage for future generations who will play our sport and perhaps gain scholarships and international opportunities, thanks to John,” said Bynoe.

The Barbados Volleyball Association has been thrown into mourning once again after the longest serving president John Griffith passed away on Sunday after a lengthy illness.

Griffith, 66, held the BVA’s top post from 1996 until ill health saw him retiring in 2018. He also served as the Treasurer of the Barbados Olympic Association from 2004 to 2017. The former vice-president of CAZOVA and Norceca’s Treasurer also held the position of FIVB’s Internal Auditor.

Griffith, a Fellow of Chartered General Accountants functioned as the Financial Controller of the Barbados National Bank for over two decades and he worked as the Director of Finance in Bermuda for three years prior to retirement.

John oversaw a golden era of Barbados volleyball where the men won 10 successive Caribbean titles and the women clinched six with Barbados’ national teams taking part in Norceca championships, CAC and Pan American Games as well as World Championship Qualifiers. In 2001 Barbados became the first English speaking Caribbean nation to host a Norceca senior men’s finals.

Current president of the BVA Kenmore Bynoe indicated that Griffith’s financial acumen and his style of management led to the significant maturation of the Association and Barbados’ volleyball.

“John allowed his council members to grow into their respective roles which empowered the individuals and fashioned the BVA into a very competent and stronger unit. His drive to guarantee the successful future of volleyball saw John placing the greatest of emphasis on the development of our junior players.

“John’s declaration that the national players should focus on training and playing while leaving funds-raising to the BVA played a key role in Barbados’ tremendous regional success for over two decades,” said Bynoe.

John who would have celebrated another birthday on December 10 leaves to mourn his wife Carol and daughter Erica.