BVIBF Elects New Executive Board
Under the chairmanship of the BVI Olympic Committee´s own Cleve Farrington the BVIBF conducted its elections for the 2010 - 2014 executive body. The body was nominated by the coaches and managers of the competing teams from the 2009 BVIBF League.
As nominations commenced for the post of President, incumbent Guy Malone and Byron Hodge were selected as candidates by the managers. Each gentleman made a brief 2 minute presentation outlining a few of their future goals and voting commenced amongst the managers present. Fourteen ballots were cast and in the first instance which resulted in a 7 -7 tie. In accordance with the newly developed constitution a second vote would be taken and if it resulted in another tie the chairperson would cast the deciding vote. Before the second round of voting however the candidates responded to questions raised by persons present concerning topics ranging from future development of basketball to the 2010 BVIBF league. After the discussion segment concluded the managers again cast their votes. Again the balloting results were close but in the end Byron Hodge edged Guy Malone for the presidency by a count of 8 - 6 to become the new BVIBF president for the 2010 - 2014 term.
The Presidency was however the only contested seat as the incumbent Vice President declined nominations for re-election thus Roy Garraway was the only person nominated for the post and took the post uncontested. Delia Jon Baptiste also took the vacant Secretary post uncontested. The post of Treasurer also saw only one candidate in the person of Faith Maduro-Powell as the incumbent Treasurer also declined nomination and as such Mrs. Maduro- Powell was named the new Treasurer. The Public Relations Officer post which was vacated by the newly elected President was filled uncontested by Rawlston Williams. Keith Malone was unanimously selected to continue as Player Representative. The posts of Assistant Secretary, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant P.R.O and the secondary Players´ Representative were not filled initially, however the executive body intends to recruit and present candidates for these posts to the Coaches and Managers for their approval.
After the conclusion of elections Mr. Hodge made brief remarks in which he thanked the coaches and managers for having faith in him and stressed the importance of unity within the basketball community as the catalyst for developing basketball further. Mr. Farrington speaking on behalf of the BVI Olympic committee congratulated the new board and informed them that the Olympic Committee had begun preparations for assisting in the training of the Basketball National teams in the form of Sixty Thousand Dollars to be distributed over a period of 2010 - 2012. The funding is however dependant on the board presenting outlines of their intent of use for the funding. Mr. Garraway also made brief remarks thanking the managers and expressing his intent to further work with the youth programs already established to further development of youths in Basketball. He also commended the initiative made by Brian Brewley and the BD Basketball committee and stressed his support to making sure the program continues to thrive. In closing the new president again thanked the coaches and managers and assured them he would give his utmost to the increased development of basketball in the territory. He also informed the managers and coaches present that there would be a meeting scheduled in the near future to begin plotting the way forward not only for the annual league but for basketball on a whole.