WHENEVER a cricketer hits a century in a match, it goes as a historic moment for the player and yesterday the Demerara Cricket Club (DCC) reached the milestone of 100 years in existence and celebrated with a simple thanksgiving ceremony at their Lance Gibbs Street pavilion. Present were Digicel’s Marketing Manager Jacqueline James and Events Sponsorship Manager Gavin Hope, former Guyana and West Indies all-rounder Roger Harper and his brother Mark, Nigel Harper, West Indies t20 all-rounder Christopher Barnwell and other special invitees.
In his brief history of the club which was presented on behalf of former Guyana and West Indies skipper Clive Lloyd, Carlyle Miller a member of the club’s United States of America chapter, said the club represents a symbol of discipline, determination and dedication.
DCC was established as an alternative to the then British-dominated Georgetown Cricket Club, in the early 19th century and throughout the years has produced a number of world-class cricketers who have represented Guyana and/or the West Indies.
Formed by Portuguese businessmen in then British Guiana, DCC’s club membership was open to anyone after the first World War and went on to produce the aforementioned famous players, such as the Christiani brothers, Clive Lloyd, Lance Gibbs, and others.
More recently younger stars such as Under-19 players Omesh Dhanram and Dino Choo-Wee-Nam, Barnwell, Totaram Bishun, Derwin Christian Travis Dowlin and Trevon Griffith, have all blossomed from the hallmark club in Georgetown.
Other players who have represented the club with pride and honour are Cyril Christiani, Ernest Christiani, Harry Christiani, Robert Christiani, Roy Fredericks, Lance Gibbs, Roger and Mark Harper and Colin Wiltshire.
On the administrative side of cricket, DCC produced excellent cricket administrators in the late Fred Wills, Berkeley McGarrell Gaskin, and Lennox Hunte who both served the now-defunct Guyana Cricket Board with pride, while Roger Harper is the current president of the Georgetown Cricket Association.
In his address, DCC’s president Alfred Mentore said it was a privilege and honour to be a part of such a historic moment for the club, none more so as the president, for which he is entirely grateful to the members who expressed their confidence in him.
“It is also with deep respect, love and honour that I welcome you to the beginning of the Centenary celebrations of the Demerara Cricket Club, a club that was founded by the Portuguese some 100 years ago under the able leadership of M. Gonsalves Esq., E.C Buck and Joseph Gonsalves O.B.E.
This club has been efficient over that period of time, but as many of you know, cricket has been played over 200 years, having its origin somewhere in India and during those years, many persons had promised to make DCC what is it today.”
Alfred, who himself represented the club in his heyday as a player, said he was proud of those individuals whose yeoman service made the club what it is today, while being proud to pay his tribute to them, as they worked unselfishly towards the improvement of the club.
“We, now as a club in the 21st century, are expected to produce and train players and also turn out students with leadership, scholarly, moral and legit qualities and full with honour, vigour and wisdom, capable of positively interacting with Guyana’s cricket and on a wider scale.”
According to Alfred, DCC is still in need of full assistance, as the members seek to build a strong reputation in the years ahead, highlighting the club’s incandescent spirit and never-say-die attitude.
Meanwhile, both Roger and Nigel Harper in their brief remarks, offered congratulations to the club on its historic achievement, while Nigel, who left Guyana in the mid-1980s, lamented the poor state in which the club is being administered and called on the present members to recognise the club for what it truly is.
Roger Harper congratulated Miller for his history of the club, but called it an abbreviated one, saying “No history of DCC can be spoken of, when you don’t mention the feats of Fred Wills, Deryck Atwell, Andrew Lyght Sr., his cousin William Whyte, Lennox Hunte, Philbert Blair and Vincent Adams, just to name a few, as their service to this club is immeasurable.”
Former Auditor General Anand Goolsarran also took the time to reflect on his days as a cricketer, while he entertained the audience with two memorable experiences he’s had at DCC, including his catch at backward sqaureleg to remove Mark Harper off Sean Devers’ bowling, when Gandhi Youth Organisation played DCC.
Prayers were offered up on behalf of the club by the Hindu and Christian faiths while the service was chaired by Rev. Dil Mohammed. Ullanda Wiltshire moved the vote of thanks on behalf of DCC.