… Office to be renamed on Monday

IN SEPTEMBER of 1939, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) was formed to administer the gentleman’s game of cricket in the Ancient County and last Sunday at the St Francis Community Development Centre, the BCB hosted a 75th anniversary dinner, which kick-started their Diamond Jubilee month of celebrations.President Donald Ramotar, Minister of Sport Dr Frank Anthony, Minister of Agriculture Dr Leslie Ramsammy, the respective Regional Chairmen of Region Five and Six, Bindrabhan Bisnauth and Permaul Armogan, 81-

year-old Basil Butcher and Albion Cricket Club’s first Test player Sew Shivnarine were some of the guests who graced the occasion with their presence.
During his brief remarks, President Ramotar congratulated the BCB on reaching such a wonderful milestone, even as he urged them to aim for higher heights and deeper depths in the future.
“I must congratulate the BCB on achieving this milestone here today, since without doubt, some of the talent that came out of Berbice have entertained on the world stage and of the highest caliber.
“This is more than cricket. It is part of our culture, part of our national life and that is why it is so tremendously important to national development as well, and moreover, it has inspired literature and historians and music,” said President Ramotar, who referred to Dave Martin’s Cricket in the Jungle.
President Ramotar regaled his audience which also included BCB president Keith Foster, former Secretary Mortimer George and several Under-19 cricketers including Shimron Hetmyer and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, of his memories of matches seen in days of yore.

“Cricket inspires things in our country, with cricketers going on to be role models for other youths. I recall being in Canada when Basil Butcher was honoured there and that alone speaks of the inspiration cricketers give to the world back then, amidst the fight against colonialism.”
He told of seeing a lot of Test players from Berbice, while admitting that he never saw their first Test player John Trim, but felt there was nothing sweeter to watch than a Basil Butcher on-drive, or to remember his double-hundred against England.
“I have had the good fortune of seeing a lot of Berbice cricketers and I have seen the best of them, with the only one who reached greatness that I have not seen is John Trim. But I have seen, for the first time when I witnessed a cricket match at Bourda in 1960, I remember the electricity in the air as Kanhai stepped onto the field.
“Still have that picture in my mind, of Kanhai walking to the crease, kerchief around his neck, sleeves buttoned down and from the first ball he signalled his intention with a boundary, as he added for the first time, 100-odd with Sir Gary Sobers who went onto to score a century while Kanhai made 55,” said President Ramotar.
He said the cricket fraternity in Berbice must thank GuySuCo for their tangible and unwavering support given to the game, adding that not enough credit is given to that entity.
“I don’t think enough credit is given to sugar for its contribution made to cricket in our country. It has been extremely important for the development of cricket and if you follow Berbice cricket closely, you would see that the star players came out of the estates which supported them to create that.
“Now that we are at the point of reorganising and reconstructing the sugar industry, we cannot fail, as sugar still has a part to play with the development of our country, not only in cricket, but other areas as well, as they are the most responsible corporate member in our society, contributing more than any other corporate entity.”
President Ramotar applauded the BCB on their achievements over the years, amidst the changes being made in the game, hence the Government’s investment in the Ancient County, pointing out the lights that were recently installed and commissioned at the Albion Sports Club, adding that the BCB can count on the support of his Government, who will continue to work along with them.
President Ramotar also thanked George, for his work done, in reference to the former Secretary taking his time to document in four books, the history and achievements of cricket and cricketers coming out of the Ancient County of Berbice.
In the preview on the list of activities planned for this month by the Special Events Committee of the BCB, which is headed by its Public Relations Officer Hilbert Foster, the burly Foster said the BCB’s office which is located in New Amsterdam, will be renamed the Leslie Amsterdam Office, with such a ceremony set to take place next Monday.
On that same day, a Hall of Fame for Administrators will be launched while distribution of schoolbags for less fortunate children will be done, with the BCB unveiling two days later, a portrait of their greatest Test player – Rohan Kanhai.
Several other activities, including donation of cricket balls to four clubs, hampers to 75 less fortunate families, feeding of orphans and donation of television set, renaming of pavilions and dressing rooms and a quiz competition are all part of the month-long celebration.
After launching George’s two books, and receiving well wishes from Bisnauth and Armogan, along with Dr Anthony and Dr Ramsammy, the BCB hosted their Tribute to Heroes Programme, which saw Oscar Ramjeet, Bobby Deonarine, Sam Suchit and Milton Pydanna being honoured.
They also honoured their past and present Test players, with Foster crying foul at the no-show of their present crop of Test players – Veerasammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin, Narsingh Deonarine, Devendra Bishoo and Sewnarine Chattergoon – calling it disrespect and scant disregard to the hard work being done by the BCB to honour them.
The presentation of Diamond Jubilee souvenirs was done to past and present administrators of the BCB, before Angela Haniff moved the vote of thanks and later invited the guests to partake in the anniversary dinner, after cutting the cake with President Ramotar.

(By Calvin Roberts)