ON Sunday December 27, the Berbice Cricket Board successfully held an Annual General Meeting (AGM) at its Cheddi Jagan Street office.

The AGM was the first one held in the history of the BCB, after the constitution was amended earlier this year to allow the board executives to serve two-year terms.

It attracted attendance from nine of the BCB’s membership club and one sub-association, but notable absentees were Albion and Port Mourant Cricket Clubs.

During the meeting, members discussed and expressed their satisfaction at the developments taking place with cricket in the Ancient County, noting the many tournaments played in the county, from the Under-13 to Senior levels and the success of the county’s Under-19 and Senior levels.

The delegates also expressed their delight at the amount of Berbicians representing Guyana at all levels and also the selection of Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Royston Crandon, Shemaine Campbell and Tremayne Smartt to represent the West Indies during the year.

The AGM received and discussed reports from president Keith Foster, secretary Angela Haniff, treasurer Anil Beharry, Competitions Committee chairman Carl Moore and Special Events Committee chairman/PRO Hilbert Foster.

The president in his report hailed the efforts of his executives noting that 2009 was an unprecedented one in the history of the Board. He however stated his displeasure at some of his executives and called on them in 2010 to contribute more.

Moore reported on the progress of the 15 cricket tournaments held in the county during the year and also disclosed plans for a bigger season in 2010.

Beharry reported a year of increased sponsorship from those who had renewed confidence in the administration of Berbice Cricket, whose financial position was reported as healthy with a yearend balance of over $1 500 000.

The treasurer said that in 2009, the BCB practised a policy of accountability and good financial management. The Special Events Committee reported on a total of 45 special projects undertaken during the year including activities for the Berbice Cricket Board’s 70th Anniversary celebrations.

Delegates at the Annual General Meeting discussed a wide range of topics including indiscipline in Berbice Cricket, attendance of selectors at matches, coaching in the Central/Upper Corentyne areas, stipend for selectors and the quality of umpiring in the county.

A motion was passed at the AGM, calling on the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) to share half of its Annual subvention from the West Indies Cricket Board to the three county boards for the development of cricket at the local level.

The BCB plans to seek the support of the Essequibo and Demerara Cricket Boards to pass this motion at the upcoming Guyana Cricket Board Annual General Meeting scheduled for late January.

Delegates at the AGM also expressed concern over the attitude of senior county players about wearing the Berbice Inter-county cap. A Motion was passed mandating the BCB to discipline players who fail to do so while fixing rates for the players to pay if the caps cannot be accounted for.

The next Annual General Meeting of the BCB is scheduled for the last Sunday in December 2010 where elections for the eight elected Executive Committees would be held.