THE Rose Hall Town Community Centre known as the Area ‘H’ Ground is currently undergoing some major restoration work due to the efforts of Guyana’s number one youth and sports organisation and the Regional Democratic Council of Region 6.

The Area ‘H’ Ground is the home base of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS and since 1990, the club has been spearheading the efforts to transform the venue from a swampland into a modern sport facility.

With funding from the Region 6 Regional Democratic Council, the entire outfield of the ground has been boosted with a large amount of suitable clay and has been leveled.
Two new cricket pitches have also been constructed measuring 80 feet by 23 feet and have crusher-run as their foundation. The pitches have also been constructed six inches above the ground while special work has also been done on the two bowlers’ run-up.

The Club and its ten cricket teams would shortly be installing 410 running feet of boundary boards while four electric lamps would be installed around the all-weather court to allow its usage in the evenings.

Secretary/CEO of the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, MS, Hilbert Foster also disclosed that earlier in the year, the Ministry of Sport had contributed $1M towards restoration of the outfield and stated that in the future the Area ‘H’ Ground would be one of the best facilities in Berbice.

Additionally, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club also received assistance from the Regional Democratic Council to cover the front part of the Rose Hall Town Primary School compound with asphalt at the cost of millions of dollars as part of the Club’s Community Developmental Programme.

The Club on an annual basis uses the school compound to host its popular Christmas Village Project.
Foster expressed gratitude to Regional Chairman David Armogan, Vice-Chairman Dennis Deroop, Regional Executive Officer Kim Williams-Stephens, engineer Mr Ali, Mayor of Rose Hall Town Vijay Ramoo, contractors Annirud Ramcharitar and Peter Lewis for their cooperation.

The club would also be receiving assistance from another government agency to plant grass on the relaid outfield while funding would be sought to construct an indoor training complex so that Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club cricketers can practise all year round, despite the rainy season.

Foster recalled that when the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club was founded in 1990, the Area ‘H’ Ground was virtually a swampland.
The Club single-handedly financed over $25M to transform it into its current state and works done included fencing of the entire ground, internal fence, two sightscreens, concrete pitch, scoreboard, sanitary facilities, charity kitchen, storage room, three pavilions, all-weather court while a children’s playfield was constructed at the entrance of the ground.

The Area ‘H’ Ground, despite its shortcomings, has produced a total of sixteen national cricketers, one hundred Berbice players and five for the West Indies at all levels.

Additionally, the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club won three National Championships, five Guyana Cricket Club-of-the-Year Awards, over fifty major cricket tournaments and is the only cricket club in the history of Guyana to have ever received a National Award.

Vice-President Mark Papannah praised the cooperation of the Region 6 Regional Democratic Council and expressed confidence that the relationship between the David Armogan-led Regional Democratic Council and the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club would be strengthened in the future to benefit more youths in Guyana’s smallest township.