THE Guyana Blind Cricket Association (GBCA) is calling on various sections of society to support its aspiration to attend the eighth annual West Indies Cricket Council for the Blind’s Regional tournament. Vice-president of the GBCA, Cecil Morris, speaking to the Guyana Chronicle, has indicated that the sport has seen areas of success and as such is asking both the Government and Corporate Guyana to support the team.
He said, “I think that people really just hear about blind cricket and just see it in a way that it’s just some blind people that are running around behind a ball that has some beads inside; but you have to look and see the development that has come through blind cricket for blind people.”
The vice-president also told us, “If any donor could come and speak to any member of the team that has been around, even some of the new members, then they would understand what is blind cricket, and that’s why I’m appealing to persons.”
Morris noted too that there are several youngsters on the team that are new to the regional competition and as such we have asked corporate Guyana to come on board. The West Indies Regional Blind competition, into its 8th year, will be held in St Luca from July 24 to August 1.
Morris noted that training is continuing although the association has not managed to secure the entire funding required, which is in the Region of $4M.
He says they have approached both public and private sectors for aid, with the government already granting them tax waivers. While he has praised this, the V-P noted they are still more than 80% short of the desired total and as such are pleading for support.
The team is encamped at the National Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue in Georgetown.

By Stephan Sookram