Pacesetters Chairman erupts over GABA tournament

Sep 28, 2011 Sports

– says its purpose is to prevent no-confidence vote

By Edison Jefford
Chairman of the Courts Pacesetters Basketball Club, Dennis Clarke has labelled the Georgetown Amateur Basketball Association (GABA)-planned ‘Pre-Season Knockout Tournament’ a charade stating that its real purpose is to prevent a no-confidence vote.
In a statement issued to Kaieteur Sport yesterday, Clarke, on behalf of his club, indicated that the information that was circulated about the tournament, which was expected to start yesterday, had breached basic norms within the administration of the association.
“Because they heard that clubs are getting ready to move a no-confidence vote against them, they came up with the thought to run a tournament for all associated clubs,” Clarke said, while adding that it is basic protocol for the GABA Secretary to write the clubs.
“For all the associations we have dealt with, the Secretary usually writes the clubs with notice of tournaments telling them about the purpose, date and what they would be playing for etc. It is the GABA (prerogative) to send all clubs notice of their intention to run a tournament and clubs have seven days to complete their registration,” Clarke indicated.

David Carto

However, when contacted last evening for comment, President of the GABA, David Carto, stated that Pacesetters was out of the loop of information because they were not registered. On the issue of the no-confidence vote, Carto said that he is unaware of such a move.
“Only registered clubs were informed. Only eight teams were registered and Pacesetters were not among them. The point is that they need to get registered and get involved,” Carto said, adding it is unfortunate that the matter would become an issue for Pacesetters when the club is aware that it has not registered with the association.
The Courts Pacesetters Chairman was reacting to the announcement of the tournament via media while no correspondence was apparently sent to his club informing them about the contest.
When this newspaper received the email about the tournament, the Division I ranked Pacesetters as one of the teams not listed as a registered club in Georgetown. The release indicated that the deadline for registration has since closed and clubs interested in playing the GABA League afterward will have to pay a $2,500 late registration fee.

Dennis Clarke

Following the announcement of the tournament with the omission of Pacesetters, Kaieteur Sport contacted Coach, Robert Cadogan, who had indicated that the registration documents for his club was stolen from his car while it was parked at the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall.
Clarke made reference to the incident in his correspondence, informing that the registration form, $18,000 registration fees and team photographs were stolen from Cadogan’s car. He said that the GABA is deliberately attempting to bench Pacesetters in Georgetown.