“IT IS ALWAYS important that we recognise and celebrate outstanding performances and those amongst us who would have excelled, because if we ourselves cannot share and promote that talent amongst us, then who else will.” Those were the opening remarks given by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Robert Persaud, who was asked to deliver brief remarks at the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC) last Monday night, when that entity honoured its fifth Test cricketer in Veerasammy Permaul.
Permaul joined Sew Shivnarine, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon and Devendra Bishoo in that order, as players from ACCCC who made their Test debut, doing so on November 13, 2012, when the West Indies faced Bangladesh.
Also in attendance and giving congratulatory remarks were president of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) Dru Bahadur, Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) president Keith Foster, Regional Chairman of Region Six David Armogan and Albion/Port Mourant Estate Manager Devendra Kumar, while ACCCC’s Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Orvin Mangru give a background report on Permaul.
Even though Minister Persaud readily admitted that he had no cricketing advice to pass on to Permaul the Guyana and West Indies ‘A’ team skipper, he applauded his parents for the discipline they instilled in him and ACCCC for recognising his efforts that made him their fifth Test cricketer.
“Sports as we know is very critical to the development of any society and while I would not profess any talent for Veerasammy, what I would say is that the Government of Guyana recognises that sports and sporting development are critical for the nation’s growth and development.
“It is much more important in a society such as ours, where we have a considerable amount of young people and sports provide that avenue for them to develop their talent and for that talent to be harnessed, whether it is cricket, football, table tennis or lawn tennis, into where we identified talent and for that talent to be nurtured and supported,” stated Persaud.
He told his audience which also included Devendra Bishoo and Sewnarine Chattergoon, cricket has been since time immoral a national past time for all Guyanese.
“For us here in Guyana, we are known for our cricketing talents as a country more than any other field. If you talk about Rohan Kanhai, Alvin Kallicharran or Roy Fredericks just to mention a few, Guyana is easily recognisable and there is no other field in which we can readily use to identify Guyana as a country.”
According to Persaud, Government’s commitment to developing sports in Guyana, particularly cricket will continue, as they intend to stay very close and committed towards this field especially cricket, in which he says the country is facing a national embarrassment.
“We have a national embarrassment and that is the national cricketing administration seems not to be getting their act together and if those who are in charge of cricket administration, if they really care about the well being and future and want to talk about celebrating other achievements such as Permaul’s, they need to get their act together and do so very, very, very, soon,” said Persaud.
He charged his audience to recognise the need to have an institution with the type of management at the top, lest a lot of talent goes to waste and becomes unrecognised, adding that the Government of Guyana will continue to identify what can be done to enhance the cricketing atmosphere in Guyana.
Reflecting on Armogan’s brief remarks before him, where the Regional Chairman outlined the plans to light up the venue with lights such as the ones that are installed at the Guyana National Stadium, Minister Persaud said it is a positive sign of community development through sports.
Prior to Minister Persaud delivering his remarks, Armogan, Bahadur and Foster extended congratulations to Permaul, with Foster saying the left-arm orthodox spinner was destined to be a Test cricketer, long before he made his Test debut.
“We all know Veerasammy to be hardworking, dedicated and disciplined in whatever he does. Three important attributes sportsmen and women need to have and having possessed such, we at the Berbice Cricket Board knew he would have played Test cricket long before he made his Test debut” said Foster.
Bahadur offered sincere congratulations to Permaul, in whom he said the GCB has faith, since they have entrusted him with the captaincy role for the Regional four-day and Super50 tournaments. He extended an olive branch to the BCB and called on them to rejoin forces with the governing body.
“The BCB is an integral arm within the GCB and I wish to say tonight, let’s put aside our differences and work together with the aim of rebuilding Guyana’s cricket and placing it back on the pinnacle of West Indies cricket. I want to say to the BCB, come to our meetings and let us work to develop Guyana’s cricket.”
Armogan said he was happy for Permaul, another great son from the Berbice soil, which has produced not only Test cricketers, but also a president in reference to the late President Cheddi Jagan and charged Permaul not to put aside the discipline that has brought him thus far, but continue to grow from strength to strength, even as he maintains a place in the West Indies team.
After receiving his commemorative plaque from Minister Persaud, Permaul thanked his parents for grooming him into the young man he is today and charged the other young cricketers in the audience to be dedicated, committed and disciplined, even as they work hard to realise their goals and dreams.