Guyana continues to be the success story for a renewed West Indies trust

PRESIDENT of Cricket West Indies (CWI) Dave Cameron believes that cricketers around the region have been looked upon as role models, and as such CWI looks forward for their support in changing the image of the Caribbean region.

Cameron made the comment on Wednesday evening during his feature address at the Guyana Cricket Board annual awards ceremony held at the Umana Yana.
“You, the cricketers, do not represent Guyana alone, but just remember you represent the people of the West Indies, and as a Guyanese you are a West Indian … if you are a Jamaican you are a West Indian,” Cameron said.

He added, “I want you to understand that as players, you are ambassadors for the region, so when you go out to play I want you to understand that you represent us as ambassadors for this wonderful region we are all a part of.”

Cameron has been able to move West Indies cricket from a position of indebtedness to one of profitability but he has come under attack from some quarters after his hardline measures in order to achieve his goal. He has cracked the whip in terms of accountability and this has been one of the factors, added to prudent financial management, which have landed the board in a position of profitability.

Cameron intends to work with the players to take West Indies cricket right back up the ladder. During his last term he had to deal with the issue of the players coming back from an aborted tour of India and player relations with the board was not at its best.
However, the successful Jamaican businessman said with the new strategic plan, it is the intention of CWI to have the players at the forefront.
“Our trust in our new strategic plan going forward is having our cricketers lead us, and if you lead us then we will follow and support,” Cameron stated.
Further Cameron pointed out that Guyana continues to be the success story for a renewed West Indies trust.

He made special mention of directors Anand Sanasie and Anand Kalladeen, for their leadership not only in Guyana’s cricket but their invaluable contribution to Cricket West Indies (CWI).

Finally, the CWI boss reminded the gathering that while West Indies have a far distance to be world champions in Test cricket, he is confident of the possibility once more.
Meanwhile, Minister of Social Cohesion, with responsibility for Culture, Youth and Sport, Dr George Norton in his remarks pointed out that the achievements by each awardee play a significant role in the Ministry’s vision and mission of social cohesion.

Dr Norton related that while the ministry is playing its part in providing the balls for secondary school cricket, suitable playing conditions of grounds countrywide should be a front-burner issue.

He congratulated both the awardees and the GCB for ensuring that the rich tradition of the sport is upheld.
Further, prior to those two speeches ,acting GCB president Fizul Bacchus highlighted some of the major achievements.

Meanwhile, Cricket Journalist-of-the-Year Rajiv Bisnauth, who spoke on behalf of the awardees, thanked the GCB and its administrative team who considered it necessary to acknowledge the continued efforts, as the awardees all strive to ensure Guyana’s cricket remains at the highpoint not only locally, but also regionally.
He called on the awardees to use their self-motivation, not only to reach out for personal goals, but also to let them assist in building on our rich tradition of the game, and since the Guyana Cricket Board is on a journey to “greatness”, it can only succeed through the combined support of our individual contribution.

Shimron Hetmyer was named male Cricketer-of-the-Year while Shemaine Campbelle won the female version of the award.

Other awardees are as follow: Shabeka Gajnabi (Most Promising Female Cricketer-of-the-Year), Keemo Paul (Most Promising Male Cricketer-of-the-Year), Bhaskar Yadram (Junior Cricketer-of-the-Year), Shivnarine Chanderpaul (Senior Regional Cricketer-of-the-Year), Sheldon Charles (Most Runs, Wickets and Most Valuable Player in the Regional Under-15 Tournament), Sachin Singh (Most Runs in the Regional Under-17 Tournament), Kevlon Anderson (Most wickets and Most Valuable Player in the Regional Under-17 Tournament), Raymond Perez (Most Runs and Most Valuable Player in the Regional Under-19

Tournament), Ashmead Nedd Most Wickets in the Regional Under-19 Tournament).
Special Service Awards went to: Bharrat Sookdeo – Tuschen Sports Club, Rayon Griffith, Esaun Crandon, Rajiv Bisnauth, Grantley Culbard and Daniel Richmond (posthumously).
Special Recognition Awards went to: Shimron Hetmyer, Raymon Reifer, Joshua Persaud, Bhaskar Yadram, Ronaldo Alimohamed, Ashmead Nedd and Raymond Perez.

Corporate awards were given to Hand-in-Hand Group of Companies, Scotiabank, Dave West Indian Exports, Sterling Products Limited and Demerara Mutual Group of Companies. The Club-of-the-Year award was won by the Albion Sports Club.
The recipients of team awards were: Guyana Jaguars, Guyana Male Under-19 team and the National Female Under-19 team.