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THE KEITH Foster-led administration of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) since its election to office in December 2008 has surpassed all its expectation and objectives and over the last four years has transformed cricket in the Ancient County in such a large way that Berbice Cricket today is enjoying its most productive time on and off the cricket field. Cricket in Guyana seems to attract controversy but Berbice continues to be a shining example of how unity, visionary leadership and forward planning can achieve unbelievable success.
The year 2012 is almost completed but the Public Relations Officer of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, has described it as the most successful in the Board’s 73 years history.
The BCB had set itself a target of 75 off-the-field programme/activities and to play cricket at all levels especially in areas which were neglected in the past.
The veteran cricket administrator stated that in 2009, the BCB successfully transformed itself into a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and has been playing a major role in making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.
The major highlight for 2012 was the Test debuts of Assad Fudadin and Veerasammy Permaul that brought the number of Berbice Test Players to seventeen, remarkably with six of those players making their debut in the last seven years.
Fudadin and Permaul also played for the West Indies ‘A’ Team with Permaul as the captain, while Permaul also toured Bangladesh with the HPC team while Narsingh Deonarine and Devendra Bishoo also played Test Cricket for the West Indies in 2012.
Bishoo also played ODI and T20 for the Region while on the female team Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt and Subrina Munroe represented the West Indies at the highest level including the T20 World Cup.
Several Berbicians, including Sewnarine Chattergoon, Richard Ramdeen, Royston Crandon, Brendon Bess, Keon Joseph and Gajanand Singh, represented Guyana at the senior level along with the Test players while former Berbice captain Esaun Crandon served as the national cricket coach.
At the junior level players like Arif Chan, Shailendra Shameer, Shimron Hetmyer, Sharaz Ramcharran, Shawn Pereira, Romario De Jonge Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai all did Berbice proud representing Guyana, with Motie-Kanhai leading the national Under-17 team while Pereira was captain at the Under-19 level.
The BCB performed itself on the cricket field and to date has successfully completed the 2011 NBS Second Division, the 2011 Leslie Amsterdam Under-17 Memorial, 2011 Tenelec 50-Overs First division, 2012 West Berbice Hand in Hand 40-Overs, West Berbice Two-Day Jumbo Jet Cup, New Amsterdam/Canje 20/20.
The Berbice River 20/20, Upper Corentyne 20/20, Elizabeth Style Under-21, Ramcharitar 50-Over First Division, Neal & Massy 50 Overs Intermediate, NCN Under-15 Inter-zone, Republic Bank Under-17 Inter-zone and Diamond Insurance and Diamond Fire & General Insurance Under-19 Inter-zone tournaments were also completed.
Tournaments started and expected to be completed shortly are the Lower Corentyne 20 Overs Cup, West Berbice Norman Singh 20/20 Cup, Universal DVD 20/20, Carib Beer 20/20, Elizabeth Style Under-19, Tenelec Inc Under-15, 2012 NBS Second Division and 2012 Tenelec Inc 50 Overs First Division.
Those expected to start early in 2013 due to a heavy schedule are Universal DVD Female 50-Overs, A. Ally and Sons Inter-school and the Upper Corentyne Inter Secondary School Tournament.
The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club continued to assist the BCB with the hosting of the annual Busta Champion of Champions 50 Overs Cup and a Day of Champions Tournament.
The BCB also joined with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce to host two successful cricket tournaments at the Albion Cricket Ground featuring Berbice Titans versus Hits and Jams Team from Georgetown.
Foster described the 2012 Berbice Cricket season as the busiest in the history of Berbice with the game been played at all level and highlighted the introduction of competition for clubs at the inter-zone level as part of the Berbice Cricket Board effort to return cricket at the grassroots level, a format that proved to be very successful with the crowd being very pleased.
Off the cricket field, the BCB has surpassed its target of 75 programmes/activities by over 100 percent and completed a record-breaking 175 events.
Special emphasis was placed on cricket development and coaching and among the programmes completed in 2012 were the annual cricket academy, publication of three educational posters, special coaching programmes for Under-15 players, clinics for fast bowlers, wicket-keeping, spinners and batsmen, cricket academies in West Berbice.
There were Guyoil countywide coaching programmes, coaching of coaches training programme and the hosting of social skills seminars for thirty senior cricketers. The Berbice Cricket Board under the Guyoil Training Programme was able to coach over 500 youth cricketers.
Special emphasis continued to be placed on education by the BCB, as it strongly believes that education is the foundation to a successful future.
Educational programmes completed in 2012 included the annual Berbice Cricket Board Educational Award Scheme, Scotiabank Essay Competition, Scotiabank Spelling Bee and Art Competitions, Honouring of Outstanding CSEC Students, distribution of school bags to cricketers and donation of trophies and educational materials to schools.
The Berbice Board during the year continued its tradition of honouring its own especially those whose contributions were beyond the call of duty by hosting its Annual Awards Ceremony, Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Groundsmen, Tribute to Coaches, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, honouring Assad Fudadin and honouring the four Berbicians who represented Guyana at the Under-19 level.
The Berbice Cricket Board was also heavily involved in charity work during 2012 with over 50 clubs benefiting from over $8M worth of items in a joint venture with Food for the Poor, distribution of $400 000 worth of cricket balls under the Cellink sponsorship.
The distribution of dustbins and cleaning equipment to 12 clubs, donation of score books to 20 clubs, donation of $3M worth of cricket gear to clubs and schools, financial contribution to New Amsterdam Secondary School Cricket Team to visit Barbados, donation to Sean Devers’ medical expenses, donation of TV set to Dharm Shala home and also donation to the Alpha Children Home and the Berbice Umpires Association.
The Public Relations Committee of the Board made sure that the Berbice cricketing public was kept up to date of the development by hosting monthly television programmes, hosting 29 press conferences during the year and issuing 202 press releases.
Among other programmes hosted by the Berbice Cricket Board during the year were Elite Junior and Senior Players Training Programme, Cellink Inter-county sponsorship, Mother-of-the-Year, Father-of-the-Year, World Environmental Day Project, 2nd Induction into Berbice Hall of Fame and the filming of an Anti-drugs and Pro-education TV advertisement with NCN.
Foster described the work of the BCB in 2012 as unbelievable and noted that over the last four years the Board had completed over 400 off-the-field programmes/activities that have completely transformed the game in the Ancient County.
The positive effect of the BCB work has been the turning out of the massive crowds at most venues for matches, the development of new talents, the rebirth of clubs which were closed and the renewed passion of club officials who were inactive in the past.
Foster noted that the work of the BCB was a team effort but special mention must be made of president Keith Foster, secretary Angela Haniff, treasurer Anil Beharry, Leslie Solomon, Carl Moore and members of the Special Events Committee.
The work of the BCB, Foster stated, would not have been possible without the support of its numerous sponsors especially Tenelec Inc, Ramcharitar Construction Services, Carib Beer, Universal DVD, NCN, Amerally Sawmill, Republic Bank (Guy) Ltd, Diamond Fire and General Insurance, Elizabeth Styles, NBS, Neal and Massy Ltd, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Norman Singh Memorial, Bobcat of Berbice, Food for the Poor, Guyana Beverage Company, Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association, Safraz Photo Studio, EZ Jet, Cops Security and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.
Special mention was also made of the media houses that played major roles in the Berbice Cricket Board public relations campaign especially the Guyana Chronicle, Kaieteur News, Guyana Times, Stabroek News, NCN Radio and Television, DTV-8 and LRTVS CH10.
The year 2012 is almost completed but the Public Relations Officer of the BCB, Hilbert Foster, has described it as the most successful in the Board’s 73 years history.
The BCB had set itself a target of 75 off-the-field programme/activities and to play cricket at all levels especially in areas which were neglected in the past.
The veteran cricket administrator stated that in 2009, the BCB successfully transformed itself into a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and has been playing a major role in making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.
The major highlight for 2012 was the Test debuts of Assad Fudadin and Veerasammy Permaul that brought the number of Berbice Test Players to seventeen, remarkably with six of those players making their debut in the last seven years.
Fudadin and Permaul also played for the West Indies ‘A’ Team with Permaul as the captain, while Permaul also toured Bangladesh with the HPC team while Narsingh Deonarine and Devendra Bishoo also played Test Cricket for the West Indies in 2012.
Bishoo also played ODI and T20 for the Region while on the female team Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt and Subrina Munroe represented the West Indies at the highest level including the T20 World Cup.
Several Berbicians, including Sewnarine Chattergoon, Richard Ramdeen, Royston Crandon, Brendon Bess, Keon Joseph and Gajanand Singh, represented Guyana at the senior level along with the Test players while former Berbice captain Esaun Crandon served as the national cricket coach.
At the junior level players like Arif Chan, Shailendra Shameer, Shimron Hetmyer, Sharaz Ramcharran, Shawn Pereira, Romario De Jonge Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai all did Berbice proud representing Guyana, with Motie-Kanhai leading the national Under-17 team while Pereira was captain at the Under-19 level.
The BCB performed itself on the cricket field and to date has successfully completed the 2011 NBS Second Division, the 2011 Leslie Amsterdam Under-17 Memorial, 2011 Tenelec 50-Overs First division, 2012 West Berbice Hand in Hand 40-Overs, West Berbice Two-Day Jumbo Jet Cup, New Amsterdam/Canje 20/20.
The Berbice River 20/20, Upper Corentyne 20/20, Elizabeth Style Under-21, Ramcharitar 50-Over First Division, Neal & Massy 50 Overs Intermediate, NCN Under-15 Inter-zone, Republic Bank Under-17 Inter-zone and Diamond Insurance and Diamond Fire & General Insurance Under-19 Inter-zone tournaments were also completed.
Tournaments started and expected to be completed shortly are the Lower Corentyne 20 Overs Cup, West Berbice Norman Singh 20/20 Cup, Universal DVD 20/20, Carib Beer 20/20, Elizabeth Style Under-19, Tenelec Inc Under-15, 2012 NBS Second Division and 2012 Tenelec Inc 50 Overs First Division.
Those expected to start early in 2013 due to a heavy schedule are Universal DVD Female 50-Overs, A. Ally and Sons Inter-school and the Upper Corentyne Inter Secondary School Tournament.
The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club continued to assist the BCB with the hosting of the annual Busta Champion of Champions 50 Overs Cup and a Day of Champions Tournament.
The BCB also joined with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce to host two successful cricket tournaments at the Albion Cricket Ground featuring Berbice Titans versus Hits and Jams Team from Georgetown.
Foster described the 2012 Berbice Cricket season as the busiest in the history of Berbice with the game been played at all level and highlighted the introduction of competition for clubs at the inter-zone level as part of the Berbice Cricket Board effort to return cricket at the grassroots level, a format that proved to be very successful with the crowd being very pleased.
Off the cricket field, the BCB has surpassed its target of 75 programmes/activities by over 100 percent and completed a record-breaking 175 events.
Special emphasis was placed on cricket development and coaching and among the programmes completed in 2012 were the annual cricket academy, publication of three educational posters, special coaching programmes for Under-15 players, clinics for fast bowlers, wicket-keeping, spinners and batsmen, cricket academies in West Berbice.
There were Guyoil countywide coaching programmes, coaching of coaches training programme and the hosting of social skills seminars for thirty senior cricketers. The Berbice Cricket Board under the Guyoil Training Programme was able to coach over 500 youth cricketers.
Special emphasis continued to be placed on education by the BCB, as it strongly believes that education is the foundation to a successful future.
Educational programmes completed in 2012 included the annual Berbice Cricket Board Educational Award Scheme, Scotiabank Essay Competition, Scotiabank Spelling Bee and Art Competitions, Honouring of Outstanding CSEC Students, distribution of school bags to cricketers and donation of trophies and educational materials to schools.
The Berbice Board during the year continued its tradition of honouring its own especially those whose contributions were beyond the call of duty by hosting its Annual Awards Ceremony, Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Groundsmen, Tribute to Coaches, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, honouring Assad Fudadin and honouring the four Berbicians who represented Guyana at the Under-19 level.
The Berbice Cricket Board was also heavily involved in charity work during 2012 with over 50 clubs benefiting from over $8M worth of items in a joint venture with Food for the Poor, distribution of $400 000 worth of cricket balls under the Cellink sponsorship.
The distribution of dustbins and cleaning equipment to 12 clubs, donation of score books to 20 clubs, donation of $3M worth of cricket gear to clubs and schools, financial contribution to New Amsterdam Secondary School Cricket Team to visit Barbados, donation to Sean Devers’ medical expenses, donation of TV set to Dharm Shala home and also donation to the Alpha Children Home and the Berbice Umpires Association.
The Public Relations Committee of the Board made sure that the Berbice cricketing public was kept up to date of the development by hosting monthly television programmes, hosting 29 press conferences during the year and issuing 202 press releases.
Among other programmes hosted by the Berbice Cricket Board during the year were Elite Junior and Senior Players Training Programme, Cellink Inter-county sponsorship, Mother-of-the-Year, Father-of-the-Year, World Environmental Day Project, 2nd Induction into Berbice Hall of Fame and the filming of an Anti-drugs and Pro-education TV advertisement with NCN.
Foster described the work of the BCB in 2012 as unbelievable and noted that over the last four years the Board had completed over 400 off-the-field programmes/activities that have completely transformed the game in the Ancient County.
The positive effect of the BCB work has been the turning out of the massive crowds at most venues for matches, the development of new talents, the rebirth of clubs which were closed and the renewed passion of club officials who were inactive in the past.
Foster noted that the work of the BCB was a team effort but special mention must be made of president Keith Foster, secretary Angela Haniff, treasurer Anil Beharry, Leslie Solomon, Carl Moore and members of the Special Events Committee.
The work of the BCB, Foster stated, would not have been possible without the support of its numerous sponsors especially Tenelec Inc, Ramcharitar Construction Services, Carib Beer, Universal DVD, NCN, Amerally Sawmill, Republic Bank (Guy) Ltd, Diamond Fire and General Insurance, Elizabeth Styles, NBS, Neal and Massy Ltd, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Norman Singh Memorial, Bobcat of Berbice, Food for the Poor, Guyana Beverage Company, Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association, Safraz Photo Studio, EZ Jet, Cops Security and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company.
Special mention was also made of the media houses that played major roles in the Berbice Cricket Board public relations campaign especially the Guyana Chronicle, Kaieteur News, Guyana Times, Stabroek News, NCN Radio and Television, DTV-8 and LRTVS CH10.
