GABF clears the air
By Leeron Brumell
Guyana Chronicle
April 4, 2004
THE Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has once again come out to clear the smog that has been placed at its doorstep.
At a press conference Friday, Perry Woolford and Eon Andrews, who represented the GABF as Co-opt and Special Assignment Officers said that an article carried in another section of the media was false and seeks to damage the name of the sport.
Woolford said that a crisis has evolved into a situation where there seems to be no amicable solution.
He further added that the GABF does not recognise the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA).
The response came in view of an article printed yesterday in which tournament coordinator of GABA, Vijay Panday, noted that players of the Emperors Basketball club are being victimised and marginalised since they were not included in any of the national squad short-listed by the GABF.
He also said that the Club was not included in the current National Club Championship.
“While we recognise Panday as co-opt member of GABA he is not authorised to speak on behalf of GABA. Panday had no power to speak on behalf of GABA. A Co-opt officer can only do such unless instructed by the president,” Woolford said.
Woolford said that Panday contacted him via telephone and he explained to him the criteria for selection of teams to participate in the Club Championships. The ‘ousted’ secretary of GABA said that the records they received did not have the Emperors Club in the top rankings, therefore they were not considered.
As regards the player-victimisation issue, Woolford said that Kester Gomes an Emperor player with potential was included in the team and invited to meetings. He however failed to show up.
Panday also said that national heptathlon bronze medallist Nayota Peters was not included in the team. Woolford noted that she is and currently trains with the national team.
Woolford said the time has come for the executives to get tough with defaulters and as such GABA has until April 30 to ‘put its house in order’ before action is taken -- a no confidence vote will be cast or an interim committee will have to be set up.
Still after months of slugging, Woolford said that neither he nor Andrews has been served with notices saying that they have been expelled from GABA.
He said that GABA has five executives and three councillors two of whom were ‘expelled’ (Andrews and Woolford), while the position of Assistant Secretary Treasurer has not been filled, thereby leaving the president and vice-president Michael Singh.
Woolford said that Singh did not vote for any expulsion therefore it is illegitimate.
The GABF wants to know if the Mini-basketball clinic, which was scheduled to start yesterday on the Burnham Court, has been sanctioned by the legitimate authorities.
Andrews said that when it comes to dealing with schoolchildren, the Ministry of Education’s blessing is needed.