MINISTER within the Ministry of Finance Bishop Juan Edghill last Sunday during his feature address, applauded the management of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC) for their visionary leadership.

Bishop Edghill, who received a standing ovation from the packed audience at the culmination of his address, was delivering same during the Club’s 24th Annual Award ceremony which was held at the St Francis Xavier Training Centre.
Bishop Edghill spoke widely of the importance of discipline, hard work and how to achieve goals persons would have set for themselves, even as he used his own personal background and upbringing to inform his attentive audience that every goal could be achieved with forward and progressive thinking.
He praised the management of the RHTYSC for their visionary leadership and stated that he was delighted to be present to see first hand, the outstanding work of an organisation he had read a lot about.
He challenged the management and members of the Club to always strive to uphold the high standards they have set themselves and to share their vast experience with others, as many view the RHTYSC and its membership as positive role models.
Those who attended the ceremony which was chaired by the Secretary of the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Youth Club Veronica Narain, heard a comprehensive report of the RHTYSC from Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster.
The veteran secretary described the period January 2013 to May 2014 as a highly successful one despite numerous challenges, saying the club was able to successfully complete 200 programmes/activities and a total of eleven of its members represented Guyana at different levels.
Special emphasis was placed on the pro-education and anti-suicide message while numerous organisations received assistance from the club, including $1M worth of school bags to less fortunate students and the distribution of $5M worth of educational footwear and hygiene materials.
They also sponsored 32 sports tournaments in Berbice and assisted over 40 sports organisations with gear, uniforms and stationery.
Among the numerous projects undertaken were Annual Cricket Academy, Summer and Mathematics Camp, Magazine, Tribute to Heroes, Mother-of-the-Year, Basil Butcher Cricket Trust Fund, Western Union Junior Cricketer Trust Fund, Ansa McAl Award of Excellence and Gregory Gaskin’s award for sports.
RHTYSC president Keith Foster hailed the achievements of the club which rose from a simple one into Guyana’s leading youth and sports club and noted that very member of the RHTYSC should be proud of its progress over the years.
The president traced the struggles of the club since its formation in 1990 and noted that it took dedication and hard work to make the club what it is today – an institute of excellence.
Other speakers at the event included Guyana Teachers Union president Mark Lyte, former West Indies Test legend Basil Butcher and Father Ramesh Vanan of the St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic youth club, who all praised the club for its outstanding work and positive difference it is making in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.
The club also used the opportunity to unveil major plans for its upcoming silver anniversary celebration in 2015 and the hosting of a countywide Scrabble tournament.
Dozens of its outstanding members were honoured along with outstanding teachers, retired teachers and several others at the gala event.
National Under-19 player Askay Homraj was named the Mohamed’s Enterprise Cricketer-of-the-Year and carried home over $600 000 worth of prizes including an airline ticket to the USA compliments of Travel Span, $200 000 cash from Mohamed’s Enterprise, tablets, designer clothing and watches, household items and a bicycle, among others.
West Indies female star Shemaine Campbelle carried home close to $200 000 worth of prizes as the runner-up Cricketer-of-the-Year, even as national player Rajiv Ivan received $100 000, a West Indies medallion, compliments of King’s Jewellery World for his benefit year and at the next awards ceremony would receive a financial grant from the RHTYSC.
The full list of the awardees are as follows: Farfan and Mendes Under-15 Batsman and Cricketer-of-the-Year – Bhaskar Yadram, Under-15 Bowler – Brandon Corlette; Bakewell Under-17 Batsman and Cricketer-of-the-Year – Brandon Prasad, Bowler – Azam Khan.
Pepsi Under-19 Batsman and Cricketer-of-the-Year – Akshay Homraj, Bowler – Keon Sinclair, Metro Female Batter and Cricketer-of-the-Year – Shemaine Campbelle, Bowler – Erva Giddings; Bakewell Second Division Batsman – Devin Baldeo; Bowler and Cricketer-of-the-Year – Shailendra Shameer.
Gizmos and Gadgets first division Batsman and Cricketer-of-the-Year – Rajiv Ivan, Bowler – Clinton Pestano; Most Disciplined Players – Kumar Jeer (Male) and Shabika Gajnabi (Female); Most Committed Member – Plafianna Millington; Most Improved Cricketer – Veeramootoo Senwasie; Most Promising – Kevlon Anderson; Fielder-of-the-Year – Dominic Rikhi.
The Club’s Role Model-of-the-Year is national opener Assad Fudadin; Worker-of-the-Year – Moonish Singh and Most Committed Cricketer-of-the-Year – Dominic Rikhi.