From as early as next year, two-year terms could be a thing of the past for future executive councils of the Barbados Amateur Basketball Association as the governing body looks towards implementing four-year tenures.
Word of the possible constitutional change comes from current BABA president Carlos Moore at a time the basketball head is contemplating returning for a second term at the helm.
“FIBA has mandated that all its member federations switch towards having four-year tenures in order to match with either the Olympic or World Championships cycles,” forwarded Moore as part of the reason for the shift.
“Even if it’s not me that implements it next year then I would urge the next president to do so and I would make myself available to help with the process.”
If Moore succeeds it will be the second time in less than a decade that the BABA has extended the shelf life of its executive, following an earlier shift from one-year tenures under then president Gay Griffith.
It’s just part of a wider constitutional reform Moore deems necessary for the local sport to keep a measure of continuity under its amateur status.
“Total constitutional reform is a necessity because our constitution is only four pages long,” Moore noted.
“We have a tendency to look at the local competitions as priority but really we are hamstrung to get things done because of the structure of our constitution.
Need addressing
“There are some gaps in there that need addressing and so certain things aren’t looked at, especially under the playing rules,” he added.
But while Griffith is in agreement with the total reform, the former long-standing chief is against the implementing of four-year terms due to the lack of willing manpower.
“We are not ready for that type of organisation because the council is not professionally run nor does it have full-time staff,” reasoned Griffith, who sat at the helm of the BABA for 15 years.
“The BOA suggested such a change years back but unless the council puts in place a system where it can remove non-functioning executive members over that course, then this shift will make no sense.”
Elected in 2009, the 35-year-old Moore is coming to the end of his first term and is still undecided about facing reelection next January following a mainly uncontroversial stint as president.
“It’s definitely been a learning experience in leading a volunteer organisation,” said Moore, who cited personal commitments as a possible deterrent to returning in office.
