PRESIDENTIAL hopeful of the Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF), Nigel Hinds, in a release said he will work assiduously with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport for the betterment of the game locally.

Hinds, a former national basketball player now-turned-businessman said the key objectives once elected for the four-year term will be the GABF adhering to the constitution of the Federation and where necessary amending it to strengthen the administration and development of the sport.
He said, also, the GABF will build a strong relationship with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and will work diligently and extensively with the sub-associations across the 10 Regions of Guyana to assist with funding, administration and development.
Maintaining and strengthening the Federation’s relationship with Federation International Basketball (FIBA), Caribbean basketball Confederation (CBC) and the Guyana Olympic Association (GOA) are also on the cards as well as the setting up of mechanism to allocate funds to members of the Federation in a fair manner.
Hinds who is a Chartered Accountant and holds an Accounting distinction from the University of Guyana and Masters in Accounting and Finance from the University of Everton, Florida, USA said once elected, he would ensure the Federation could access funding for the development and promotion of the sport in Guyana.t.
In his Mission statement, Hinds said the GABF would be united for the development and growth of basketball across the 10 Regions of Guyana.
The key to success he said is teamwork, planning and building and regular communication and meetings within and between the executives of the federation, the General Council, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and International organisations affiliated to the Federation.
The main attributes of Action Plan for GABF, Hinds said, is to work with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport to ensure that minimum days/nights per year are set aside free of charge for basketball at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall and to ensure the participation of Guyana’s men and women’s teams in the 2014 Caribbean Basketball Confederation’s championships from July 1 to 12 in Tortola, BVI.
Roofing of the Burnham Basketball Court inclusive of lighting is also high on the agenda as is the roofing of the Mackenzie Sports Club hard court.
Rehabilitation of the Vryman’s Erven basketball court in Berbice with proper lighting and eventual roofing and working with the various municipalities and management to ensure that washroom facilities and outdoor basketball facilities are accessible and in good condition are also Hinds’ plans, once he wins the elections which will be held after the AGM tomorrow.

(By Michael DaSilva)