Guyana’s Under-15 schoolboys basketball team has departed for St. Maarten to compete in the Paradise International Basketball Tournament after a dramatic last-minute diplomatic intervention secured their travel documents.
The 11-member squad, drawn from seven schools that featured in this year’s National School Basketball Festival, is representing Youth Basketball Guyana (YBG) at the regional tournament running from October 3 to 7.
Participation for part of the contingent was thrown into uncertainty as late as Friday, with five members of the delegation awaiting the return of passports and visas processed by Dutch authorities in Paramaribo.
The situation was resolved following swift assistance from His Excellency Virjanand Depoo, Guyana’s Ambassador to Suriname, and his diplomatic staff, enabling the full squad to make the journey.
Led by head coach Warren Wilson, alongside assistants Judah Stephney and Calix Bernard, the tour is intended to give young student-athletes vital international match experience while gauging the standard of junior basketball in the Caribbean. Team manager Chris Bowman and chaperone Leona Kyte are overseeing the delegation.
The venture has received substantial backing from primary sponsor G-Boats Guyana, which covered nearly half of the tour’s budget, alongside financial contributions from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport.
The Guyana Defence Force also provided logistical support for airport transportation.
According to YBG leadership, the tour is part of a broader strategy to establish a sustainable pathway for youth development, leveraging athletic competition to build character and create educational opportunities for young players.
Source: NEW ROOMS SITE
