AS PART of its developmental programme for cricket in Berbice, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) over the last week met and held discussions with the executives of Berbice Chamber of Commerce and the Upper Corentyne Chamber of Commerce. The BCB delegation comprised treasurer Anil Beharry and Public Relations Officer Hilbert Foster who sought the assistance of the two Chambers to help cricket even further in the New Amsterdam/Canje and Central Corentyne areas while potential areas of mutual cooperation were also discussed.
The meeting with the Berbice Chambers was held at the organisation’s Chapel Street head office, where the BCB delegation presented a detailed report of its plans for 2012 and also for the New Amsterdam/Canje sub zone.
Plans for the area includes a 20/20 competition, 40 overs tournament, a two-day Inter-zone match and a one-day cricket academy.
The two organisations also discussed the hosting of a one-day 20/20 tournament at the Albion Sports Complex on May 26 to raise funds for the Chambers, Berbice Cricket and selected charities in Berbice.
President of the Berbice Chamber, Imran Saccoor, praised the BCB for the outstanding work to develop cricket in the County and pledged that members of the Chambers would assist by sponsoring some of the tournaments and programmes.
The meeting with the Upper Corentyne Chambers was held last Wednesday at that entity’s Corriverton office and was very successful.
Foster gave a 15-minute presentation on the work of the BCB over the last four years and the plans for the Upper/Central Corentyne with special emphasis on coaching schoolchildren and the playing of at least three tournaments.
The plans for the teams in the area include a 20/20 tournament, 40 overs competition, a three-day match between Central and Upper Corentyne zones, two one-day Cricket Academies and an Inter-Secondary School 40-overs knock-out tournament for the four schools.
The BCB and Upper Corentyne Chambers also discussed the hosting of a fundraising 20/20 tournament at the Skeldon Community Centre Ground for charities in the area, the Chamber and Berbice Cricket.
President of the Chamber Mr Vishnu Doerga and his executives took the opportunity to highlight some recommendations for cricket development in the County, ask questions on the formation of the Interim Management Committee for Guyana’s cricket and also to praise the BCB for its progressive administration of cricket.
Doerga thanked the BCB for sharing its vision and plans with the Chamber and pledged to seek support from the business section for the development of cricket in the Upper Corentyne area. He also invited the BCB to be a part of its Television Programme to inform residents of its 2012 plans.
Several tournaments and coaching programmes are expected to be launched soon as a result of the two meetings while the BCB would be organising another meeting shortly with the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce.