By Peter Haynes

TOP officials of the Caribbean Basketball Confederation (CBC) Glyne Clarke – president, Patrick Haynes – vice-president, Marketing and Finance, will pay an official five-day visit to Guyana from April 27 to May 1 next.The CBC officials will be in Guyana to ascertain whether the requirements stipulated by FIBA for member federations to host international tournaments are available.
The Guyana Amateur Basketball Federation (GABF) has secured the bid to host the CBC. Under-16 Youth – Boys and Girls – championships this year. The tournaments are scheduled to be held from July 3 to 17.

Clarke, in an interview, stated that his team will be looking at the tournament venue, Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and practice venues; the separate hotel accommodations for the teams (players and team officials), the referees and tournament commissioners, and the FIBA officials including vice-president Patrick Haynes, Secretary-General Sabina Mitchell, the Divisional Director and himself, to determine their suitability, in accordance with FIBA regulations.
The last occasion the Guyana Federation hosted a CBC championships was 1999 – the Under-19 Boys and Girls categories. These tournaments were both won by the Bahamas, while the last Under-16 championships held by the Caribbean Basketball Confederation were in 2008 in Antigua.
There are twelve (12) countries who have indicated their interest in participating this year in the BOYS – Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago and host Guyana.
Eight (8) in the GIRLS – Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Jamaica, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago and host Guyana.