Minister Ramson launches BCB Brian  Ramphal School Bags programme
BCB Secretary, Angela Haniff, presents Minister Ramson with a publication of the book.
BCB Secretary, Angela Haniff, presents Minister Ramson with a publication of the book.

– fruitful meeting held with BCB Executives

MINISTER of Youth, Culture and Sports, Charles Ramson, on Friday last, joined president of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Hilbert Foster, to officially launch the board’s Brian Ramphal School Bags project for young cricketers in the Ancient County.

The Minister was, at the time, meeting with Executives of BCB as part of his outreach programme. The school bag drive is an annual event which comes under the Foster-led BCB umbrella as part of their educational assistance project.

Dozens of young cricketers who attend primary and secondary schools are set to receive the bags among other educational materials from the programme which, in 2020, received support from overseas-based Guyanese businessman, Brian Ramphal and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTYSC).

Minister Ramson recently handed over bags to six Under-15 players from the RHTYSC, Albion and Rose Hall Canje Cricket Clubs. He urged the players to take care of the bags and also to place special emphasis on the importance of education.

Foster, who is also the Secretary/CEO of the RHTYSC, stated that one hundred cricketers will receive school bags as the BCB strongly believes in the value of education. Only last week, the board handed out financial stipends to six cricketers who excelled at the 2020 CSEC under the Adana Homes Educational Scheme.

He expressed gratitude to Brian Ramphal and the RHTYSC for their continued investment in the development of Berbice cricket.

Meanwhile, the Minister and Mr. Kashif Mohamed met with the BCB executives, led by Foster, in a very fruitful meeting in the boardroom of the Albion Sports Complex.

Other BCB executives in attendance were vice-president, Albert Smith; Robby Saywack; Secretary, Angela Haniff; Assistant Secretary, Ameer Rahaman; Treasurer, Dr. Cecil Beharr;, Assistant Treasurer, Rovin Bahadur; Public Relations Officer, Simon Naidu, and executive, Mr. Edwards.

The Minister used the opportunity to bring the BCB’s top brass up to date with the current status of the Cricket Bill Act and praised the outstanding work of the BCB.

Foster provided the Minister with the ongoing efforts of his administration and also the work over the last two years. The current executive inherited a board with no funds, no proper cricket tournaments held for years, no developmental programme in place, while the game was slowly falling apart at the grassroot level.

Two years later, the BCB has raised over $30M in cash and kind, organised over sixty tournaments at all levels, implemented dozens of developmental programmes and assisted clubs as never before.

The Minister committed to assisting the BCB with funds for some tournaments, cricket coaches and to look into possible ways of assisting with grass cutters.

It was also disclosed that an indoor cricket practice center would be constructed as part of the Albion Stadium .The BCB submitted a list  of grounds to Minister Ramson for possible upgrading by the government.

The grounds include Paradise, Bush Lot, Bath, Lovely Lass, Blairmont,  Guymine, Sisters, Hampshire, Fyrish, No 19, Kilcoy and Skeldon.

The Minister was also informed of four motions passed at the BCB Annual General Meeting and for the inclusion into the cricket bill.

Foster, at the end of the meeting, expressed gratitude to the minister for his cooperation and pledged to uphold the high standards the BCB has set itself.

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