Latest update September 15th, 2026 10:20 AM
Guyana moves closer to hosting CBC Championships
Neil Kumar
Godwin McPherson
By Edison Jefford
Guyana moved a step closer to securing the rights to host the 2009 Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Senior Championships when a correspondence requesting a further commitment to host the event was disseminated.
In a Memorandum addressed to the Guyana [Amateur] Basketball Federation (GABF) President, Godwin McPherson, CBC President, Usie Richards requested a ‘Letter of Commitment’ with “sincere interest” in Guyana’s bid.
According to the document, McPherson and a member of the Government or the Guyana Olympic Association is to sign the ‘Letter of Commitment’, which is an agreement to among them to fund and host the mega event.
The Memorandum suggested that the signed commitment should be submitted to CBC on Monday. It is not clear whether a similar document was dispatched to the other countries that had bided to host the competition.
But what is clear is the evidence of “interest” in Guyana to accommodate both male and female versions of the event since the other countries that submitted bids did so to host either the men or women’s Championship.
“Please note that we are sincerely interested in your decision regarding this matter and the members of the CBC anxiously await your decision,” the Memorandum stated, adding that the decision is necessary to assure the competition.
Kaieteur Sport understands that Guyana is the only country that submitted its ‘Letter of Interest’ to host both competitions. British Virgin Islands submitted to host the men and Netherlands Antilles bided to host the women.
Trinidad and Tobago also had an interest in bidding to host the event but withheld when they became aware that Guyana was submitting a bid. This newspaper was personally updated of the Twin Island’s position.
The Trinidad federation was sceptical of their Government’s support since they will host two other major events this year, namely the Summit of the Americas and the inaugural Caribbean Games, which are less than three months apart.
Contacted yesterday, McPherson informed that while he has not yet received this recent correspondence, steps will be taken to assure a timely response upon its receipt. He was adamant that Government would not renege.
“I have not received it yet but I met with Neil [Kumar] on Thursday and we talked about some arrangements for the tournament. They [Government] have given commitment and it should not be a problem getting the letter,” he said.
Kumar functions directly in unison with the National Sports Commission and Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport as the National Director of Sport. He had expressed readiness to back the event once Guyana procures the bid.
“I don’t have a problem. We will support it. I think that Guyana should really try hard to host. We have all the facilities. I would be very happy to see Guyana host [the event],” he had told this newspaper two weeks ago.
Guyana submitted its bid well before the March 1 deadline on February 18 and the GABF President remained optimistic that the tournament could return to where it started in 1981 for the first time since the dawn of the New Millennium.
The country known as ‘The Land of Many Waters’ had hosted the junior male and female contests in 1999 but last accommodated the senior tournament in 1994 when the national male team lost in the final against Barbados.
Guyana had also hosted both versions of the CBC Championships in 1988, seven years later than the inaugural event. So far, this country has successfully hosted three senior competitions and one junior championship.
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