It is of no surprise that the Covid-19 pandemic has affected the regular proceedings of sporting activities in Dominica. For how long? It remains to be unanswered.

Mr. Peter Ricketts, President of the Dominica Basketball Association (DABA) expressed, “Covid-19 brought all sporting activities to a screeching halt, basketball national league included. We did not choose this pandemic. However, Dominica Amateur Basketball Association has chosen to take action by engaging stakeholders such as the international organization FIBA, the Dominica Olympic Committee, The Ministry of Health, the Sports Division and others, in order to plot a pathway back to the court.”

According to Ricketts, the DABA has liaised with the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 Vaccination Unit in hosting a virtual education forum on Thursday November 11^th 2021 to answer the questions and concerns of the basketball fraternity on the Covid-19 vaccines.

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Moreover, he indicated that the DABA has been instrumental in seeking to implement a restart and oversight committee with the aid of Sylvester Jno Baptiste, the assigned Covid-19 Compliance Officer. He expounded that the DABA is seeking the help of the Covid-19 Vaccination Unit and is calling on teams to form part of the Committee. This is with the aim of aiding the association in better understanding the realities affecting various teams and communities across Dominica.

As per Ricketts statement, each community will be responsible for making their own restart plan and submitting it to the DABA for review and approval by the committee. Each team is also tasked with preparing their own Covid-19 plan. This will help the DABA in understanding the steps that the teams are willing to take to protect themselves as athletes.

Moreover, president of the DABA stressed that the covid-19 guidelines do work. According to him, the wearing of masks, sanitization and vaccination are all effective solutions to combat this dreadful virus. “However, when it comes to close contact sports there are only two measures that can be utilized, testing and vaccination,” he added.

According to Ricketts, “For over a month we have been running a preparation camp for our under 23 team to compete against 23 other teams for the first time at the Junior Pan Am Games in Cali, Columbia from November 28^th to 30^th.” All players and staff who are participating in this preparation camp are fully vaccinated. He noted that there were under 23 players who could have been selected but given their unvaccinated status, will miss the opportunity of being recognized at the international level. Accordingly, he stresses that vaccination is important and will be a decisive factor in the lives of the athletes’ participation and success.

Ricketts is confident that vaccination is the solution to have competitive sports reintroduced in Dominica. “Enough time has passed for everyone to observe the many vaccinated Dominicans who are not affected by adverse reactions to the vaccines. Ultimately, we must convince the local health authorities that we are able of achieving safe play of basketball amidst this global pandemic,” he opined.  

Moreover, he expressed that the DABA stands committed in doing its part and request that the athletes do their part as well. Covid-19 is far from over. However, if each person plays their role in this fight, life and sports as it used to be will return to Dominica.