A tribute to the trailblazers

The victorious 1981 Jamaica team, the inaugural men’s CARICOM basketball champions.

Statistician Charwayne Walker salutes the stars of the first Caricom Basketball Championships highlighting the outstanding performances of over 30 years ago

Thirty seven years ago in August of 1981, Guyana hosted the inaugural CARICOM Basketball Championships. Seven countries participated; hosts Guyana, Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Suriname, Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica.

Jamaica emerged as inaugural champs defeating Trinidad and Tobago in the final 93-79.  The tournament was declared open by then Deputy CARICOM Secretary-General, Roderick Rainford of Jamaica and Guyana’s Minister of Sports the late Roy Fredericks.