GBF hails bright future for basketball after meeting with Minister Jacobs

…Government reaffirms commitment to basketball’s growth

The Guyana Basketball Federation (GBF) believes the future of basketball in Guyana is brighter than ever, following a fruitful meeting on Monday with Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs.
Representing the Federation were Vice Presidents Rawle Toney and Jermaine Slater, who engaged Minister Jacobs as part of his ongoing series of one-on-one consultations with national sports associations.
The initiative aims to reaffirm the Government’s commitment to sports development while also identifying new opportunities for collaboration and areas for improvement.

Minister Jacobs underlined that under the leadership of President Dr Irfaan Ali, this Government remains steadfast in delivering on its manifesto promises for sport.
Key among those commitments is the creation of pathways to ensure athletes are prepared for life after competition, while also prioritising the holistic well-being of sportsmen and women.
Jacobs highlighted employment opportunities through coaching and mentorship as areas that can provide both personal and professional growth for athletes.
“Whatever is in that manifesto must be done and completed,” Jacobs affirmed, making clear the Government’s seriousness in executing its plans for the sector.
The Minister was also briefed on the GBF’s longstanding relationship with the Ministry, a partnership that has strengthened in recent years under the stewardship of Minister Charles Ramson Jr.
According to Toney and Slater, the Federation has benefitted tremendously from Government support, including funding for national tournaments, assistance for teams travelling to overseas competitions, and collaborations that enabled Guyana to host major regional and international events.
Minister Jacobs, himself a former national cricketer, underscored that his approach will be to build on the solid foundation laid by Minister Ramson.
Drawing on his own sporting background, Jacobs expressed a keen understanding of the challenges faced by athletes and administrators, while reiterating that Government support goes beyond financing, noting that it is about creating long-term investments that allow athletes and coaches to thrive.
During the meeting, the GBF leadership presented the Federation’s plans for basketball’s growth in Guyana.
These include programmes targeting grassroots development, school-level engagement, and structured competitions for male and female athletes across various age categories, in both traditional and 3×3 formats of the game.
With Guyana set to host the FIBA Women’s Caribbean Championships from November 9 to November 17 at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall, and the national teams scheduled to participate in several international tournaments, Minister Jacobs reiterated the Government’s full backing.
He noted that new initiatives would be rolled out to complement the work already being done by the GBF, ensuring that basketball continues to develop with the Government leading from the front.
The GBF, in turn, expressed its optimism about the sport’s direction and its confidence in the continued partnership with the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.