Page Last Updated 02/19/2008 08:48:44 AM

The Caribbean American Netball Association (CANA) came into existence following the disorganization of the American Netball Association (ANA) in the summer of 1995, when Ms. Ingrid Sylvester made a phone call to Ms. Irene Thomas and Ms Pat Defour and expressed her intentions to form a new organization. Ms. Sylvester who had been the secretary of ANA for the previous two years felt that netball was not moving in the right direction and saw the need to move away from ANA to form a more vibrant league.  

Therefore in July of 1995 the following persons met to discuss the formation of a new netball association. Ingrid Sylvester, Irene Thomas, Pat Defour, Albert Telemaque, Edson Lewis, Gailene Windsor, Hezron Gurley, Keith Ann Superville, Bernice Jaques, Betty Looney, Jannet Rose, Winsome  Morgan, Kathleen Pierre, Gloria Lewis and Jackie Farrell. 

At the suggestion of Ingrid Sylvester Caribbean American Netball Association (CANA) was adapted as the name of the new organization and the motto “Discipline Dedication Determination” was suggested by Mr. Cuss Defour, the husband of Pat Defour. This was accepted by all those present after Mr. Defour explained to the meeting that the motto should signify how the game of netball should be played. 

The colors of Purple, Red and White were approved at the meeting and each one is detailed below:

• Purple – this is the first color of the world which our ancestors made.

• Red – to signify the blood that was shed for Americans to be free.

• White - the purity of the Caribbean Islands from which the majority of our membership are direct descendants.

 After seeing what went wrong with ANA the groups focus was on the implementation of a  Board of Directors. The main purpose of the board would be to continue the running of the association in the event that the executive body fell apart. The board would be there to act as a steering committee to keep the league running until replacements were made via the proper channels as provided for in CANA's constitution. 

The idea for a Caribbean Cup tournament and a Winter League were well received since netball needed to be going in a new direction and it afforded players the opportunity to play more netball during the year. It was also felt that there was a need for a men’s league since they had been highly involved in the development of netball in Brooklyn.

CANA’s Inaugural season was in 1996, and took place at its current summer location, The Lincoln terrace Park, under the presidency of Ms. Ingrid Sylvester.

Past Presidents of CANA

• Ingrid Sylvester - 1996 - 2000

• Sonia Creighton - 2000 - 2002

• Gailene Windsor - 2002 - 2004

• Edson Lewis - 2004- 2006

• Matthias Wilkie - 2006 - 2008

C.A.N.A - COPYRIGHT 2006 - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED