Michael Singh returns as GBF president

Michael Singh returned as president of the local custodians for basketball, now formally known as the Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF), following Sunday’s Congressandelectionsatthe G u y a n a O l y m p i c s Associations (GOA) LiliendaalHeadquarters.

Singh, who will be severing his second term as president, was unopposed while being re-joined by General Secretary Patrick Haynes, who was also unchallenged for the position.

Singh and Haynes were the only two executives returning from the previous body,astheGBF’saffiliated membersmovedtoaddfresh faces and some newcomers t o t h e b a s k e t b a l l administrationinGuyana.

Rawle Toney, president of the Linden Amateur Basketball Association (LABA), president of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Jermaine Slater, and former female National PlayerSoniaRodney,arethe three Vice Presidents of the GBF DeputyAuditManager at the Caricom Secretariat

Chavez Branche is the new Treasurer,andQuincyBaird, GTT’s Accounts Payable, Treasury and Tax Manager, will serve as the GBF’s A s s i s t a n t

Secretary/Treasurer

Sileena Arjune got the nod in votes against Julian Haynes for the position of Technical Director, while DennisClarke,DeonFerrier andLeonaKytewerenamed the three ‘At Large

Members’oftheGBF

Singh, following the elections, thanked the associations for entrusting him with the responsibility of governing basketball in Guyana while applauding the diverse membership of theExecutiveCommittee.

He welcomed new faces to administration for local basketball and told the gathering at Olympic House and those who joined via zoom that the new GBF Executive Committee will work closely to ensure that game is properly-governed locally

Singh said the new body istomeetsoontoaddressthe immediate issue of funding for the National team and current Caribbean

Champion, being prepared for their title defence of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Championships.

The GBF, Singh said, w i l l b e m a k i n g a presentation to Government and Corporate Guyana, to aid in the infrastructural developmentofthegame,as well as construction of its ownindoorfacility

The development of female basketball will also take centre stage, Singh highlighted, following the inclusion of three women (Sonia Rodney, Sileena Arjune and Leona Kyte) on theExecutiveCommittee.

Meanwhile, the local basketball Federation made two changes to its constitution.

The Michael Singh-led body voted unanimously to change the name from the GuyanaAmateur Basketball Federation (GABF) to the Guyana Basketball Federation.

Additionally, Congress voted solidly to add ‘At L a rg e / C o m m i t t e e ’ members; a move the GBF said is to add in their ability to properly govern basketballinGuyana.