SURINAME (Caribbean Basketball Confederation) – The Caribbean Basketball Confederation Executive Committee and General Assembly met on February 2 and 3 in Paramaribo, Suriname, to discuss a wide range of topics and make decisions on future events in the Sub Sub-Zone of the Caribbean.

The 2018 CBC Assembly was opened with welcome remarks from the Government of Suriname Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Hon. Joan Dogojo, the Chairman of the Suriname Olympic Committee Dr. Ramon Tjon A Fat and Telesur ATV Director Mr. Guno Cooman (the presenting sponsor for the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Caribbean Pre-Qualifier and the FIBA Women's Caribbean Cup) in support of the hosting of the CBC Ordinary Assembly and the CBC’s flagship competitions in June 2018 at the Anthony Nesty Sports Hall in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Dr. Ramon Tjon-A-Fat, chairman of the Suriname Olympic Committee, said his organization will do everything to support the CBC and the Surinaamse Basketbal Associatie (SBA) to establish a "historic event".

Telesur ATV Director Mr. Guno Cooman and the Hon. Minister Joan Dogojo of Sports and Youth Affairs also expressed their support. Hon. Minister Dogojo spoke of "a milestone" to bring the CBC Ordinary Assembly and the CBC Championships to Paramaribo and look forward to deepening the relationship between her ministry and the SBA.

FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Caribbean Pre-Qualifier
The CBC Executive Committee reviewed the plan for implementing the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Caribbean Pre-Qualifier that will be held in June 2018 in a tournament format. The ranking and grouping for the FIBA Women's Caribbean Cup were also held on Friday, February 2 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

2018 Events Calendar
The Sub-Zone Executive Committee approved the 2018 Events Calendar for the Caribbean, where the FIBA AmeriCup 2021 Caribbean Pre-Qualifier and the FIBA Women's Caribbean Cup will be held in Paramaribo, Suriname, and the IBF Antilles 3x3 U18 Championship for Men and Women in Georgetown, Guyana. The FIBA U16 Caribbean Championships for Men and Women, the FIBA Women’s Centrobasket Championship, and the FIBA U15 Centrobasket qualifying tournaments are also on the calendar for 2018.

Reports
FIBA Americas President Mr. Usie Richards and FIBA Americas Executive Director Mr. Carlos Alves updated the Assembly on the Development in the Americas. CBC’s Vice President of Finance and Marketing, Mr. Patrick Haynes updated the Assembly on the International Basketball Foundation – IBF continued initiative of the Antilles 3x3 International Youth Championship for territories in the Lesser Antilles, the current marketing strategy, the importance of the .basketball identity and the approved 2018 competitions. The new Officials Licensing OL2017+ along with the new Coaching platforms were also presented at the Assembly.

The Executive Committee Meeting was chaired by CBC President Mr. Glyne Clarke (BAR) with the attendance of the CBC Secretary-General Ms. Sabrina Mitchell (VIN), CBC Vice President of Finance and Marketing Mr. Patrick Haynes (GUY), CBC Vice President of Technical Operations Mr. Frederick Brown (BAH), CBC Vice President of Development and Programmes Mr. Marland Nattie (JAM), CBC At-large members Mr. Guy Malone (IVB) ad Mr. Victor O'Garro (CAY), along with the FIBA President Mr. Horacio Muratore, FIBA Americas President Mr. Usie Richards and FIBA Americas Executive Director Mr. Carlos Alves.

The Ordinary Assembly was attended by Presidents and Secretaries-General from fourteen (14) National Member Federations including Antigua and Barbuda, Aruba, the Bahamas, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Suriname along with the CBC President Mr. Glyne Clarke (BAR), CBC Secretary-General Ms. Sabrina Mitchell (VIN), CBC Vice President of Finance and Marketing Mr. Patrick Haynes (GUY), CBC Vice President of Technical Operations Mr. Frederick Brown (BAH), CBC Vice President of Development and Programmes Mr. Marland Nattie (JAM), CBC At-large members Mr. Guy Malone (IVB) and Mr. Victor O'Garro (CAY), the FIBA President Mr. Horacio Muratore, FIBA Americas President Mr. Usie Richards and FIBA Americas Executive Director Mr. Carlos Alves.

The Assembly concluded with the CBC Award of Excellence being presented to the National Federations of the British Virgin Islands, Guyana, and Saint Lucia in recognition of their outstanding performance and dedication in promoting and developing basketball within their countries and the Caribbean over the past four years.

The CBC President Mr. Glyne Clarke stated, “It was a great pleasure to have the leadership of FIBA, the Americas Zone, and the CBC Sub Sub-Zone together to plan the 2018 activities and to implement the Americas 2018-2021 Strategic Direction. The CBC Secretariat greatly appreciated the input and decisions made to promote and develop the sport in the Caribbean Sub Sub-Zone, with a clear focus on the vision, mission, and position of FIBA in our Sub Sub-Zone.”

FIBA President Horacio Muratore, present at the Assembly said: “FIBA's commitment to the development of our national federation is made possible by dedicated leaders focused on the growth of our sport throughout the world and the CBC Sub Sub-Zone is key in our objectives for the Americas. It is always a pleasure for me to attend this Assembly and contribute to the productive conversations and decisions made by the Caribbean Basketball Confederation in order to achieve the goals set forth by FIBA for the future of basketball in the region.”

FIBA