Government, GABF reaches impasse

Mar 14, 2009 Sports

source pessimistic on ‘Letter of Commitment’

By Edison Jefford
Supercilious statements such as ‘Mac is Back’, which basically gave the impression that Guyana got the needed green light to host the Caribbean Basketball Championships, will fall flat when an impending stalemate is publicised.
This is the beginning of publication of an impasse between Government and the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) where a wellplaced source has given Kaieteur Sport sufficient information to form conclusions.
The informant, who is extremely close to the National Sport Commission (NSC), told this newspaper yesterday that Government did not accept the requested budget for the signing of the ‘Letter of Commitment’ with the GABF.

“The budget was highly inflated. It was made out for 20plus million dollars. The GABF also included costs to fly in [Guyanese] players from overseas among other things that needed further clarification,” the source informed.
Director of Sport, Neil Kumar had requested the GABF to submit a budget following the development that the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) needed a ‘Letter of Commitment’ from the local federation.
The regional basketball authority had specified that either the Government or an Olympic Association must sign the document in conjunction with the GABF. It is at this point that Kumar was engaged in “negotiations” last week.

Prior to last week, the National Director of Sport had welcomed the prospects of Guyana hosting the event saying that the GABF should “try hard to host” and “he don’t have a problem” with the country’s ambition to host.
Kumar even went as far as stating that Government is prepared to support should Guyana secure the hosting rights. The ‘Letter of Commitment’ was a step forward in securing the rights after CBC expressed “serious interest” in Guyana. Earlier this week, GABF President, Godwin McPherson was mum on the document that had a stipulated deadline of March 2. He told this newspaper quite clearly that he does not have an update on the position of the letter.

What is known now is that the document has passed its deadline and it remains unsigned up to yesterday. From all implications and from conversations that cannot be published, it seem as though Government will not sign the document.
“In its present form, we cannot sign that. It [the document] was sent to the Minister [of Sport, Dr Frank Anthony] and the Permanent Secretary [Keith Booker],” the source said, which exonerated Kumar from present negotiations.
Kaieteur Sport understands that apart from the reported inflation within the budget, other concerns over the financial support for the tournament were raised, so much so that the Guyana Olympic Association has declined support.

Notwithstanding Government’s concern over the budget, the present situation brings into question the approach toward a National Sports Policy where one of the key points in the draft is the need for collaboration with national associations.
In addition, the Policy also makes reservation for the hosting of international tournaments but in this case, Government could argue that it has not been enacted in Parliament and until that time comes, they are free of obligation.