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News : Grand Bahama Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM


GBPA & Junkanoo Jam Announce Completion of YMCA Gym
By GBPA
Sep 16, 2009 - 9:40:06 PM

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Official handover of newly refurbished YMCA Gym: Left to right – Ms. Rosalyn Pinder, Manager, Niche Markets & Sports Department – Ministry of Tourism; Mr. Ian Rolle, President – GBPA Group; Mrs. Karon Pinder-Johnson, Executive Director – YMCA; Mr. Neal Holden, President – Basketball Travelers Inc.; Mrs. Geneva Rutherford, Director of Community Relations – GBPA Group and Mrs. Ginger Moxey, Vice President – GBPA Group Photo: Derek Carroll

Freeport, Grand Bahama - Today, members of The Grand Bahama Port Authority, Limited (GBPA) and Basketball Travelers Inc. participated in a press conference to officially handover the newly refurbished basketball facility to YMCA executives. 

Commenting on the refurbishment of the basketball court floor, score clocks, bleachers and wall panels was Ian Rolle, GBPA President.  “This project began back in April of this year when GBPA partnered with Basketball Travelers and Junkanoo Jam to rebuild the YMCA.  This was an awesome project that provided GBPA with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate our vision of ‘Bettering the lives of the Grand Bahama Community,” said Mr. Rolle.

Basketball Travelers Inc. has hosted an annual ‘Junkanoo Jam’ Basketball Tournament in Grand Bahama Island since November of 2003.  Due to the physical devastation caused by the Hurricanes of 2004 & 2005, they were unable to hold tournaments at the YMCA.

Now that the facilities have been restored, ‘Junkanoo Jam’ President, Neal Holden, is excited about this year’s tournament in the fall.  “Our tournament will increase by fifty percent in 2009 as we move to a twelve team tournament.  Twelve universities representing all four corners of the United States will participate with an overall injection into the local Grand Bahama economy of over $750,000,”  stated Mr. Holden.

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President Rolle Takes A Shot Mr. Ian Rolle, President – GBPA Group, Members of the Tabernacle Baptist Academy and Bishop Michael Eldon Girls Basketball Teams Photo: Derek Carroll

Also on hand for the handover ceremony was Mrs. Karon Pinder-Johnson, Executive Director of the YMCA.  “Even though the hurricanes destroyed our buildings, the spirit of the YMCA still lives on in the community,” said Mrs. Pinder-Johnson as she reflected on the physical progress made to date. She expressed gratitude to corporate sponsors GBPA and Basketball Travelers Inc. and urged other businesses and individuals to step forward and contribute to the YMCA, in recognition of the vital role it plays in the community.

The court is valued at approximately $40,000 and is made with durable first rate materials created by SportCourt.  Since 2003, Basketball Travelers Inc. The Ministry of Tourism, and President Lawrence Hepburn of The Bahamas Basketball Federation have worked together to produce the ‘Junkanoo Jam’ tournament, one of the prestigious women’s events in NCAA D1 college basketball.


Related articles:

GBPA partners with the YMCA and Basketball Travelers to refurbish the Y's basketball court

2008 NCAA Women's Junkanoo Jam Basketball Tournament wraps up


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