After about three months without basketball being played at the Burnham basketball court due to the absence of backboards and rings, the outdoor facility has finally been fitted with a pair of brand new backboards and rings.
Former president of the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA), Trevor Rose finally delivered on his promise to install the two backboards and rings recently after months of delay owing to the boards and rings being stuck at the airport awaiting clearance.
Competitive basketball was not played at the Burnham court since last November after one of the backboards at the facility was removed putting two of GABA’s tournaments on pause.
According to new GABA president David Carto, the new administration is looking to jump off a tournament as early as next month now that the backboards and rings have been installed.
In an interview with Stabroek Sport on Tuesday, Carto did not hint at restarting the two GABA tournaments (the Kevin Worrell Memorial tournament and GABA’s second division knockout tournament) that were halted simultaneously, but said that he will be meeting with the clubs to jump off a tournament.
Meanwhile, the past and present GABA executives are working towards the smooth transfer of administrative duties and a major part of the transfer of power is the transfer of the Burnham Court Rehabilitation Project.
The installation of the new backboards and rings were a part of the now-completed first phase of the project but, according to plans laid out by Rose detailing the project, further work at the facility is outstanding.
The Burnham Court Rehabilitation Project entails the extension of the bleachers for patrons, a new lighting facility, new backboards, players’ benches and an officials’ box. In addition, Rose had also stated, with the City Council’s permission, the possibility existed that more comprehensive rehabilitation could be undertaken at the facility such as the construction of a more modern facility with a new concrete bleacher, dressing rooms, washrooms and canteens.
Rose and Carto have expressed their interest in seeing the project continue.
Carto stated on Tuesday that with Rose’s assistance in introducing the new administration to stakeholders that were involved in sponsoring the first phase of the rehabilitation project, he will be seeking sponsorship for the continuation of the project.
Under Rose, GABA had acquired a $3M of a $10M grant for the funding of the Rehabilitation Project which, according to Rose, has a final cost of approximately $20M based on the design submitted by the architect.
“I don’t mind people picking up the plans that I had and run with it, once they can execute it, I would be happy to see the sport move forward” Rose told Stabroek Sport recently in relation to the Burnham Court project.
