– 80th Anniversary among highlights of year

AFTER a two-year period of dormancy, the Berbice Cricket Board, under the current administration of Hilbert Foster, has spearheaded a revival of the game across Berbice.
Public Relations Officer, Simon Naidu, in a review of the year, described it as one which surpassed expectations on and off the cricket field.

Thirty-two tournaments were launched at all levels, numerous programmes, including developmental ones, were hosted while young cricketers and cricket clubs continues to receive assistance on an unmatched level.

Naidu and BCB president, Foster, hailed the 80th Anniversary, restoration of the BCB New Amsterdam office, the long overdue return of inter county cricket to Berbice and the hosting of a two-day first division tournament as the highlights of the year.

The BCB hosted 32 tournaments at U-13, U-15, U-17, U-19, U-21, Intermediate, Internal Zone, Inter Village, Second Division, Secondary Schools, Primary Schools and First Division levels.

The BCB has been able to successfully complete the majority of them despite a four-month-long rainy season that lasted up to the beginning of September.
After an absence of fifteen years, the BCB was also able to obtain a $2M sponsorship for a two-day tournament which is currently being played by eight teams.

At the inter-county level, Berbice won both female titles and the two-day Under-19 tournaments.

Over forty-five Berbicians represented Guyana or other Caribbean teams in Cricket West Indies tournaments.

They include players like Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Kevin Umroa, Seon Glasgow, Marvon Prashad, Sarwan Chaitnarine, Tameshwar Mohabir, Isiah Thorne, Zeynul Ramsammy, Veersammy Permaul, Devendra Bishoo and Clinton Pestano.

At the female level, Sheneta Grimmond and Shabika Gajnabi joined Shemaine Campbelle on the West Indies female Senior team as the massive investment into female cricket by the RHTYSC continues to bear fruit for the Ancient County.

Five Berbicians played in the 2019 CPL while Shimron Hetmyer played in the IPL.
Off the cricket field, the BCB hosted numerous developmental programmes and activities.
The BCB also raised $100,000.00 to assist Ms. Ruthel Henry to construct her own home while Hilbert Foster spearheaded a highly successful 80th-anniversary celebration during the month of September.

The highlight of the BCB’s office upgrade includes repainting, ceiling of the roof, tiling of the floor, obtaining over $400,000.00 worth of furniture and acquiring a Television set, DVD Player, electric fans, desk top computer, water dispenser, kitchen utensils, fax machine, cordless telephone among others.

The publication of the first ever youth information booklet for youth cricketers in the Caribbean was also another major achievement for the anniversary.

The BCB, via an aggressive marketing drive led by its hardworking president, was able to raise close to $12M in 2019 and has already acquired some major sponsorship for 2020.
The board also presented its highest Award– Tribute to Hero– to Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Brian Ramphal and Dr. Puran Singh during the year while it was named Berbice Sports Organisation of the Year by the Gregory Gaskin Memorial Berbice Committee.

The hard work of the BCB president also saw the return of inter-county cricket to Berbice after an absence of over a decade. Isiah Thorne and Rampertab Ramnauth were also presented with cricket bats as the BCB honoured them on their West Indies Under-15 selection.

To round off a successful year for Berbice cricket, Lower Corentyne won the Guyana Cricket Board Franchise league at the 50-over level.
Mr foster, who was returned for another two-year term in a 31-0 vote at the BCB’s AGM on the 22nd of December, has unveiled some major plans for the 2020-2021 period.

They include construction of an all-weather practice centre; setting up of a professional league by December 2021; having at least 20 tournaments per year, expanding the coaching programme, acquiring pitch covers for the BCB; assisting deserving clubs with gear, balls, scorebooks; and lobbying Cricket West Indies for the return of first-class cricket to Berbice.