Basketball fall-out intensifies
Douglas takes aim at McPherson
By Clyde Pestano
Stabroek News
February 14, 2004
The current impasse in relations between the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) and the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA) took another twist yesterday with GABA President Rafael Douglas taking aim at GABF head Col (rt) Godwin McPherson.
At a GABA press conference at GTV studios, Douglas dared the former colonel to tell Guyanese his reason(s) for not wanting him (Douglas) to be president of the association.
The GABA head showed the media a copy of a police clearance from the Guyana Police Force (GPF) as well as a letter from a Canadian court, which purportedly sets aside his conviction in that country several years ago. He said, "I was exonerated and I am now taking further action to clear my name."
Reading from a prepared statement, Douglas said that since his term in office, basketball has been energized to the benefit of youths in this country. He said he was shocked at McPherson's claims that the expulsion of former secretary and treasurer of the GABA - Perry Woolford and Eon Andrews - was wrong. According to him that decision was unanimously taken by the executive of the GABA since the two men had disgraced and humiliated Guyanese while on tour in St Lucia with a team of under-19 basketball players. He reiterated that their removal was because of their failure to respect the rules governing the constitution of the GABA.
In response to McPherson's claim that monies owed were being repaid, Douglas said he was informed recently that the debt at the regional airline Caribbean Star had been reduced by a mere $30,000 with $126,000 still outstanding.
He added that as far as he knew there had been no movement with regard to the debts incurred in St Lucia.
Douglas stressed that he was democratically elected to head the GABA, but he could not say the same for McPherson, who he claims is not legitimately in office.
Responding to questions from the media, Douglas said he was unaware of where and when elections for office holders of the GABF were held in 2002, as claimed by McPherson, nor was he aware of who were the persons present at that event. He added that he found it very strange that as president of the GABA he was not invited to be part of those elections, since a past vice-president of the federation had informed him that as president of GABA he would have automatically become a vice-president of the GABF.
Douglas said he is yet to verify whether this is so, because he has been unable to locate a copy of the constitution of the federation. He told the media that checks at the Supreme Court Registry were unsuccessful.
And with regard to the Yohance Douglas Memorial tournament, he disclosed that the competition will conclude on March 13, at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall. On that day the final of the women's competition will be run off, after which there will be the presentation of trophies and incentives to the various winners.
The GABA president is appealing to the GOA, the NSC, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport as well as the Caribbean Basketball Federation to investigate the GABF with a view to determining its legitimacy.
Duane Fowler, secretary of the GABA, called on McPherson to disclose to the public the minutes of that meeting when the elections were held. Fowler also said he was very concerned at the statement made by the former colonel that the constitution of the GABF had been amended to extend its term in office to four years. The secretary stated that this is inconsistent with the fact that elections at the club and the association levels are for two years.
Fowler, who is the coach of the Scorpions Basketball Club, said the association would soon be hosting several events including a mini basketball clinic for male and female players as well as an under-19 league in schools. He also said that the GABA and officials of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association were to meet yesterday to thrash out several issues.
The association has set in motion plans for an `All Star' weekend slated for July 2, 3 and 4, which will be combined with a best-of-three match-up between teams representing Georgetown and Linden. Fowler said later that month elections would be held as per the association's constitution, to elect office bearers for the next two years.