NSC reneges on decision to honor GABF’s authority

Jul 25, 2014 Sports

– federation moves to impose FIBA sanctions

The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has indicated in a press release that the National Sports

Nigel Hinds

Commission (NSC) has reneged on its earlier decision to honor the federation’s role in the selection of national teams.
Specifically, the federation highlighted the flouting of its role as it relates to the Inter-Guiana Games team. Below is the full statement from the federation as it relates to this new development as regards the NSC:
“During my recent telephone conversation with Mr. Gervy Harry, Chief Assistant to the Director of Youth & Sport (Neil Kumar) on Wednesday, July 16, 2014, I was informed that the agreement reached at the July 3, 2014 meeting between the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) relating to the basketball component of the Inter-Guiana Games (IGG) was no longer in effect based on a decision by the NSC.
Present at the (July 3, 2014) meeting were Gervy Harry; Karen Pilgrim, General Manager IGG; Nigel Hinds, GABF President; Michael Singh, GABF Vice-President; Kenrick Thomas, GABF Vice-President and Chris Bowman, IGG Committee Member.
An extract from the email sent (on July 7, 2014) by the General Manager (Karen Pilgrim) of IGG confirming the agreement is below:
The Federation will select the IGG 2014 Basketball team.
1.   The Federation will appoint the Coaches. (Lugard Mohan and Ann Gordon will be asked.)
2.   The Federation will appoint the Referees and all Game officials and shall be responsible for running the competition.
3.   Pilgrim is to forward the “Long list” of athletes, IGG Protocol and IGG Basketball Rules
4.   Chris Bowman is to advise the Federation on the areas to be covered.
After I informed Dr. Pilgrim via email of the (new) decision by the NSC, I received (from Dr. Pilgrim) the email (on July 18, 2014) below:
I am not aware of any changes made since our July 3rd meeting, but please note again that I only assist with management of the Games and have no reason to expect that all NSC decisions will be reported to me.
The GABF subsequently asked Dr. Pilgrim for a meeting that would bring clarity to the situation; to date we have not received the response.
Harry could not say whether there was a full meeting of the NSC Board that made the decision to circumvent the GABF; the NSC Board comprises of: Conrad Plummer, Vidushi Persaud, Peter Green, Alicia Fortune, Sean Richmond, Frank De Abreu, Steve Ninvalle, Hector Edwards, Pradeep Balram and Cheryl Thompson or if the decision was made by the Chief Executive Officer of the NSC, Mr. Neil Kumar.

Chris Bowman

Considering that our presence at the meeting and a key reason for the meeting on July 3rd referenced above was to have IGG Basketball played with GABF approval and authorization, it is sad that some professional administrators have reduced themselves to “rubber stamping” to seemingly maintain insider status.
One is reminded of the role played by Samuel Jackson in the movie Django Unchained as Stephen where Jackson plays the loyal house slave to a plantation owner. One is also reminded of a statement made by Ato Boldon at the Sports Management Workshop in June 2014 when he emphasised the need for a “culture of sport” if Guyana is to develop and reap success.
At the meeting on July 3rd the GABF pointed out that using the National Gymnasium facility on Mandela Avenue as accommodation for the basketball players was improper as the Gymnasium was not equipped to be used as a hotel.
When it is also considered that basketball players from Suriname and French Guiana are to be hosted at Ocean View Hotel; the current presence of some members of the Guyana Under-19 teams at the Gymnasium speaks to the lack of respect shown to athletes in Guyana.
Based on the decision by NSC as conveyed, Gervy Harry and the non-response from IGG “General Manager” Dr. Karen Pilgrim on the request for a meeting, the GABF in carrying out the statutes of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), which is recognised as the sole competent authority in basketball by the International Olympic Committee (IOC); FIBA is represented in Guyana by the GABF.
GABF makes the following declaration:
All basketball coaches, officials, referees and players are asked not to participate in the 2014 basketball component of the IGG. Any participation by coaches, officials, referees or players will be subject to disciplinary action from the GABF.
In addition, those who participate will likely not be supported by GABF for scholarships or participation in clinics, workshops and tournaments in Guyana or overseas. Sponsors are respectfully requested not to play any role in undermining the opportunities for our youths through basketball.
Parents and Head Teachers of Schools are hereby asked to ensure that extramural basketball activities obtain the approval of the GABF before having their kids participate in such activities.
Under the statues of the GABF and by extension FIBA, the approval of GABF is required for any basketball related activities including clinics, workshop and tournaments in Guyana or the use of any affiliated member/s to participate in basketball activities outside of Guyana. Such approval has not been given to the NSC or any entity appointed by the NSC.”