The Tribune

By Brent Stubbs

Tribune Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

OVER the weekend, Ricardo Smith unveiled his plans and slate of officers who intend to run with him when he contests for the office of president of the New Providence Basketball Association this weekend.

Smith, a former executive of a semi-pro basketball league, will be vying for president against incumbent first vice president James Price when the elections take place 10am Saturday at the Ministry of Education’s training room.

Smith and Price will be put to replace Eugene Horton, who opted not to seek another four-year term as president after he was recently elected as the first vice president of the Bahamas Basketball Federation.

“A number of persons spoke to me about the state of basketball in New Providence and they believe that I can do something to improve it,” Smith said. “So after long consideration, meditation and prayer, I decided to give it a go.

“But in order to achieve this major undertaking, I had to go deep into the personnel for persons who have the skills set and the time to devote to the sport so that I can achieve my objective.”

Smith’s ‘One Team, One Dream’ slate of officers include Steven ‘Stretch’ Culmer as first vice president, Mario Pickstock, second vice president, Uriel Adderley, third vice president, Michael Demeritte, fourth vice president, Jemique Sands-Taylor, secretary, Requel Sands, assistant secretary, Carla Jackson, treasurer, Dwayne McGregor, Commissioner, Attorney Domek Rolle, Assistant Commissioner and Marcellus Hall, public relations officer.

In putting together his team, Smith said he tried to find a competent group of men and women who have the ability to take basketball to the next level.

During their term in office, if elected, Smith said they intend to pursue the following:

• Award division one champions a $10,000 cash prize

• Open the 2019/20 season live on television

• Introduce big game nights to feature each team

• Re-introduce the NPBA All-Star weekend

• Host gala awards presentation banquet

• Introduce new team business manager position

• Make monthly financial statements for all teams mandatory

• Introduce plans for two league fundraisers

• Secure sponsor for team refreshments during games

• Roll-out new league marketing plan and half-time entertainment schedule

• Open new NPBA office

• Introduce a new 40-and-older league

• Introduce new Project Phoenix summer programme

• Introduce new all-division two teams for travel and exposure

Smith said while he has engaged the services of Hall to run their marketing programme and Carla Jackson to operate the financial affairs, he’s even more thrilled that Pickstock Demeritte has consented to be in charge of their vibrant youth programme.

“We have a solid team and a very good programme in place and so we just have to get the fans more involved in coming out and being a part of it,” Smith said. “It’s going to take a lot of work, but we are prepared to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.”

With the introduction of a business manager, Smith said that person will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of the league, which will make it so much easier for the executive officers to carry out their function.

“We are moving into a new direction and a very purposeful direction,” he said. “For far too long, only those persons who work around the table and officiate the games have benefitted.

“We intend to make it so attractive that the players will be able to benefit from what we do as well by providing more incentives for them as they play the game. We have to show the players a lot of our appreciation.”

Although he called it a very “comprehensive programme,” Smith said it’s achievable and so he’s asking for the voting delegates to put a tick towards his team to make the dream a reality.

Smith’s team and the programme were launched at the Hilton hotel on Friday.