“It is always a pleasure to be a part of any programme that involves the development of the game of cricket with young players. But one that teaches them to be prominent leaders not only on the field but in their community is more exciting, hence I am proud to be here today.”

Those were the words of the longest serving West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) director and president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Chetram Singh, who was addressing the audience at the opening ceremony of the Georgetown Cricket Association’s (GCA)/Commonwealth Youth Programme (CYP) seminar for Under-15 and U-19 players which was held over the weekend at the Georgetown Cricket Club pavilion.

“To my mind, what is more important here is that the GCA is taking an important step with this project which is a pilot project and building on the words of Regional Director of CYP Mr Henry Charles. I can safely say that the GCB will be emulating the GCA with a project of this nature for our national teams,” said Singh

He continued to state, “Leadership is not only about captaincy on a cricket field, or leading a team, but it involves other aspects of one’s life and the way you handle a situation depicts same. In this regard, the GCB will be conducting programmes of such nature with our national teams from the Under-15 level up to the seniors, probably using their encampment period as the perfect opportunity to do so and I must say thanks to the GCA for such a gesture.”

Singh took the time to remind his audience which included Charles, president of the GCA Alfred Mentore and former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper, that sports is no longer a hobby but a multi-billion dollar industry and even illustrated to those gathered, the huge sums of money one can make from the game of cricket, in relation to the West Indies team.

“Sports is no longer a hobby, it is a multi-billion dollar industry, in the same manner for purposes of productivity and enhanced performance.

“Corporations provide opportunities for workers to sharpen their technical and soft skills, so too must the sports fraternity not only provide young sports persons with the requisite technical skill, but also, most importantly, the soft skills that will boost their self-awareness, consciousness and confidence.

“In essence the task of Sports Association and their partners such as governments is not merely to produce technically sound sportspersons, but rather to cultivate competent leaders who are technically sound persons,” Singh stated.

“The youths in sports today are impacted in a most disproportionate manner by various development challenges such as unemployment, crime and violence, HIV/AIDS and other social and economic marginalisation.

We can no longer – and hopefully everything works out – send our young cricketers to training camps. We have a solemn responsibility to build strategic alliances with government and other partners to provide our young people with critical life copying and leadership skills and I think it is with that in mind, you are here thanks to the GCA, whom I applaud for this gesture.”

In closing, Singh urged those in attendance to take advantage of this project, take back what they would have learnt not only to their clubs, but also to their schools, communities and even homes as it can only make them and the society they live in, a better place.

During his brief remarks, Mentore, who once represented Guyana at the Under-19 level, thanked the GCB, CYP and most importantly the sponsors, showering praises on M. Beepat and Sons for their immediate response when asked to come on board with the programme.

“It is impossible to organise and run off effectively, a programme of this nature without finance and when approached the sponsors of this one, especially M. Beepat and Sons were not hesitant to come on board with the GCA to make it a success and for that I want to say heartfelt thanks to all of them.

“Equally encouraging was the support from Mr Singh who readily decided to come on board when the opportunity was pitched to him, while Mr Charles displayed lots of enthusiasm and his support was encouraging.

“It would be remiss of me, if I did not mention the efforts of Mr Roger Harper who volunteered his time to facilitate interactive sessions with our young players today. He has been in the past, an excellent resource person for us at the GCA and we value his opinion and contribution greatly,” said Mentore.