Former national athlete turn businessman to contest for GABF Presidency

Jan 08, 2014 Sports

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Nigel Hinds believes he can change the fortunes of the sport

Guyana was once a formidable force in the sport of basketball and well respected throughout the Caribbean. But for some reason (s) the sport which, in its glory days attracted hundreds of fans at the Mecca, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH) has constantly been on a downward spiral.
But as the saying goes, “Behind every dark cloud there’s a silver lining”. Well, former national basketball and hockey

player Nigel Hinds who is now Managing Partner of Nigel Hinds Financial Services believes that he has what it takes to lift the sport and return to the glory days.
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) is set to hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Saturday January 11 at the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) Headquarters, High Street where a new president will be voted in.
Current President David Patterson MP will not be seeking re-election and according to reports, President of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball association (GABA) Michael Singh is the other likely candidate for the GABF top spot.
In his quest to win the presidency, Hinds, who represented Guyana at hockey from 1984 – 1991 and basketball from 1985 – 1992, has come up with a business plan which is being presented to the affiliates of the GABF in order to garner their support.
The former Guyana Hockey Board Secretary (GHB), who is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and former, Fellow Chartered Certified Accountant (FCCA), is of the view that basketball in Guyana has not kept pace with the growth of the sport in the other CARICOM nations positing that the lack of growth needs the collective planning and implementation by the federation’s executive.
Quoting United States President Barack Obama who said, “Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”, Hinds notes that his candidacy for GAPF president is to say, “We can make the changes needed to uplift the sport of basketball in Guyana.”
Using the slogan, “Determination and dedication accompanied by action”, Hinds believes that the keys to success are teamwork, planning and budgeting and regular communication and meetings within and between the executive of the federation, General Council, Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport and the international organizations that the GABF is affiliated to.
Among his key objectives are: adhering to the constitution of the federation and where necessary, amend with a view to strengthening the administration and development of the sport: work diligently and extensively for the growth and development of the sport with the sub-association across the ten regions whilst assisting with funding and administrative improvement; set up a mechanism to allocate funds to the members of the federation in a fair manner; maintain and strengthen the federations relationship with Federation International Basketball (FIBA), Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA).
Hinds’ Action Plan also includes working with the Ministry of Culture Youth and Sport to ensure adequate access to the CASH; participation of the men’s and women’s teams at the CBC championship, July 1-12 in the BVI; roofing of the Burnham Court, Middle street and Mackenzie Sports Club Hard Courts for conversion to all-weather facilities with adequate lighting; rehabilitation of the Vrymen’s Erven Basketball Court with adequate lighting and eventual roofing; improvement of basketball facilities on the East Coast, Georgetown, East Bank, West Demerara, Essequibo, Bartica, Linden, West and East Berbice; employment of counselors to work with the sub-associations towards strengthening their constitutions bringing it in line with the federation and FIBA; maintain political and religious neutrality; zero tolerance for any form of discrimination; ensure audited financial statements are presented by members of the federation within one month of the AGM along with a list of serving officers.
Hinds also said he will be working closely with the ministries of Education and Sports to promote schools basketball.
Tapping into the overseas fraternity with a view to getting assistance with funding for developmental projects and exposure for local players is also on the cards. Encouraging and supporting masters and veterans in the sport and the Guyana Basketball Officials Council, Referees and Table Officials are also part of the Action Plan.
Hinds, who is currently Treasurer of the Guyana Amateur Powerlifting Federation (GAPF) says he will not be seeking re-election this year.

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