Jagdeo pledges support for women’s basketball team

Aug 09, 2025 Sports

The Ramlall siblings (L-R), Arshia, Ashna and Amisha, along with Vice President, Bharrat Jagdeo ahead of the GBF’s Georgetown Women’s Classic basketball tournament.

Kaieteur Sports – Vice President Bharrat Jagdeo has pledged his full support for the upcoming Georgetown Women’s Classic basketball tournament, which will see Guyana’s national women’s team take on Suriname on August 10 and 11 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.

Jagdeo, who also serves as General Secretary of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C), met with members of the team on Thursday at Freedom House.

During the meeting, he expressed his commitment to encouraging greater female participation in sports, particularly basketball, and emphasised the importance of providing opportunities for women athletes to showcase their talent on the national stage.

Jagdeo met GBF representatives, and the Ramlall siblings, Ashna, Arshia, and Amisha, who will be making their debut for Guyana against Suriname. The tournament marks their first time competing on home soil in national colours.

The Ramlalls share a long-standing family connection with Jagdeo. The former President recalled growing up in Unity, Mahaica, alongside the players’ father, Sunil Ramlall, with whom he played sports during their youth.

Jagdeo told the players he was proud to see them representing Guyana and commended their dedication to the sport.

He highlighted the Government’s ongoing investment in basketball and reaffirmed his commitment to continuing nationwide efforts to develop sports infrastructure, training, and programmes for athletes at all levels.

This is not Jagdeo’s first time supporting basketball directly. Earlier this year, he was a key sponsor of Guyana’s first-ever FIBA 3×3 Quest tournament hosted in Guyana, underscoring his personal interest in the sport’s growth.

Reflecting on his own sporting background, Jagdeo said that while track and field and cricket were the disciplines he competed in as a young man, he recognises basketball as a vital part of Guyana’s sporting landscape.

He wished the players success in their upcoming matches and is expected to be in attendance at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall to witness the action.

Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) President Michael Singh welcomed Jagdeo’s contribution, noting, “It’s always encouraging to see strong support for women’s basketball. It sends a message to the players and to the country that the sport matters.”

The Guyanese squad will be captained by Europe-based professional Joy Adams. While Adams has represented Guyana in the FIBA 3×3 format, this will be her first appearance in the traditional five-on-five game for the national team.

Having migrated to the United States at a young age, she built an impressive collegiate career but has never played basketball domestically in Guyana.

The Georgetown Women’s Classic is part of the GBF’s ongoing push to revitalise its women’s basketball programme, offering both experienced players and new talent the platform to compete at a high level.

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Bharrat Jagdeo, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, PPP/C, support, Women’s Basketball

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