(Georgetown, Guyana – 18-01-2023) The Guyana Basketball Federation (GABF) commends the Government of Guyana on the recordbreaking fund allocation to the transformation of sports in Guyana in the 2023 National Budget.
The 2023 National Budget as presented by Hon. Dr. Ashni Singh, Senior Minister with responsibilities for Finance under the Office of the President, has seen more than a 33% increase in funds being allocated for the development of sports in Guyana with $4.3B this year as opposed to the $3.2B in 2022.
The sport of basketball will benefit directly through the National Basketball Academy and the rehabilition of the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall (CASH), Guyana premiere indoor facility. Imporvement to the CASH will now enable Guyana to bid for the hosting rights for both International Basketball Federation (FIBA) World Cup and AmeriCup Qualifiers, which will give both Guyana and the GABF opportunities to earn revenue through sports tourism and event ticket sales, along with giving national team players the opportunity to represent Guyana at home in a modernize sports facility.
Basketball being classified as one of the twelve core sports by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport, Hon. Charles Ramson Jr. and the National Sports Commission (NSC) demonstrates the Ministry’s seriousness in partnering with the GABF to develop, grow and promote basketball and 3×3 basketball in Guyana. The GABF have benefited via the implementation of the Natioanl Basketball Academy and funding for our senior and junior national basketball and 3×3 basketball teams during 2022. In 2023, the Guyana senior and junior national teams will have the opportunity to represent the Golden Arrowhead at the FIBA AmeriCup 2025 Caribbean Qualifer, the FIBA Women’s Centrobasket Championship and theFIBA Centrobasket Qualifiers for U15 and U17 Boys and Girls. The Guyana senior men’s national team won the last FIBA AmeriCup Caribbean Qualifer in 2018 in Suriname.
It is critical that the NSC have a strategy to unite sports through a shared vision where all will have the opportunity, motivation and access to play sports. This Strategy is based on research and best practices with input through dialogue, planning sessions and consultation with national sports federations and successful sports programs that offers actionable ideas for national federations/associations, coaches, officials, communities, schools, parents and policymakers to support sport participation for all.
