Latest update May 25th, 2026 12:35 AM
What happened with the Guyana Basketball Officials Council?
With the recent years plagued with poor officiating at basketball games in Guyana and the lack of discipline among players we would have hoped that by now there would be motions in play to formalize a Basketball Officiating Council. With three International Basketball Federation (FIBA) certified referees and many potential referees in the pipelines, it is time for action.
When Sherwin Henry became certified in 2007 both the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and Mr. Henry were addressed in starting an Officials Council to govern all officials as they will be accountable for the responsibilities bestowed upon them. To date nothing has been done and Sherwin Henry is yet to conduct a clinic nationally or even in his hometown Linden.
Just like the sub-association the Officials Council would have to be self sustaining and governed by its own constitution. This would prevent the federation or the sub-associations from delegating its roles and responsibilities.
In June 2009 when the Haynes Foundation (HF) advocated with the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC), FIBA and the GABF to produce to more FIBA certified referees, both Aubrey Younge and Lugard Mohan stepped up to the challenge and were accredited Guyana’s latest addition to the FIBA Referee pool.
I am privy to first hand sources that the HF has since worked with FIBA to develop a comprehensive constitution and By-Laws (8 page document) that will govern the Officials Council with all regularities adhering to FIBA rules and regulations. I have done some fact finding and this constitution was well written and was modeled after the FIBA National officials Manual produced by FIBA in collaboration with various basketball experts from around the world, is a complete and comprehensive collection of information to assist each National Officiating Council in their everyday operations and for the overall future of basketball in each country.
Inside sources confirmed that this document was presented to Mr. Mohan, Mr. Younge by the HF while they were visiting Colorado, US to attend the FIBA Referee Clinic. A copy of such document was also sent via email to GABF Acting President David Patterson, Georgetown and Linden heads Abdullah Hamid and Trevor Rose and other basketball administrators.
As of last Sunday September 20, 2009 there was still negative push back from the Linden officials stating that the FIBA approved constitution was too rigid and Guyana cannot survive under such rigid codes.
While visiting the S.C Lady All-Stars clinic led by Coach Davis in Linden, I couldn’t help but over hear a group of “basketball persons of interest” discussing that “this FIBA modeled constitution will not fly in Linden and these rules are too stiff and fat people and old people will not have a chance to referee since we cannot pass the physical test.”
Are we going BACKWARDS with this game or am I just immune from settling for mediocre.
Winston Johnson
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