Cabinet Confirms NBA Player Kemba Walker Will Be Made Ambassador

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NBA basketball player, Kemba Walker, is to be appointed Ambassador-at-Large by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda.

On Thursday morning, Cabinet announced the decision that the Detroit Pistons guard, who has Antiguan and Barbudan parentage, has indicated his willingness to promote Antigua and Barbuda across the USA.

Walker, speaking recently on the Good Morning Jojo Sports Show, said talks with the government had been ongoing for some time.

Cabinet spokesperson and Minister of Information, Broadcasting, Telecommunications & Information Technology, Melford Nicholas, said the arrangement and the responsibility on both ends will soon be finalised.

“This appointment will take place in short order when he gets his instruments, but that is the intention for persons like him who would be exposed at very high levels in industry and commerce because of their particular role. To be able to carry that title, to be able to carry the imprimatur of an Antiguan ambassador, will always be able to position Antigua in those arrangements in a positive way,” he said. 

Nicholas said the Cabinet is hoping the relationship will be mutually beneficial as they look to promote Antigua and Barbuda as sports tourism hub.

“The idea of an ambassador such as his, because he has been exposed in the United States’ NBA programme and he will become an emissary wherever he has impact with influential persons, being the ambassador. It will be to promote Antigua and Barbuda as a tourism destination and other areas for investment as well, and so it is really as — maybe you would call it now on social media — an influencer,” he said.

After graduating from Rice High School in 2008, Walker played college basketball for the Connecticut Huskies. In their 2010-11 season, he was the nation’s second-leading scorer and was named consensus first-team All-American. He also led the Huskies to the 2011 NCAA championship and claimed the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player award. Walker is a four-time NBA All-Star.

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