THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continues to strengthen its relationship with the new government, as president Hilbert Foster recently engaged in fruitful talks with Minister of Labour Joseph Hamilton. 

Among the government ministers who have so far lent their support to the club are Minister of Sport Charles Ramson, Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat with Minister Hamilton being the latest addition.

Last week, Minister Bharrat was inducted as BCB Patron while donating $1M and a large quantity of cricket gear.

The Minister of Agriculture sponsored a cricket tournament and also provided sponsorship for a University of Guyana one-year scholarship. Commitment of cooperation was also received from the other senior officials.

Last Saturday, Foster led a seven-member delegation in a one-hour meeting with Minister Hamilton at the St Francis Community Developers Training Centre.

The two delegations discussed a wide array of topics, including Vocational training for youths, leadership seminar for club management, cooperation to tackle child abuse and child labour, along with hosting of a cricket tournament.

Minister Hamilton indicated that he was really interested in working along with the BCB as he was impressed with its work and linkage with youths.

Head of the Board of Industrial Training (BIT), Mr Richard Maughn, spoke broadly on the training programmes associated with the Ministry after the BCB head indicated an interest in getting young cricketers trained in areas that would allow them to gain meaningful employment, noting that not all youths would be able to pass with flying colours at CSEC level.

Foster noted that gaining skills to become a carpenter, mechanic or a tailor can assist them to gain an income and steer them away from a life of crime.

Minister Hamilton mandated the BIT Head to follow up discussions with BCB to organise some sessions. Foster also expressed disappointment at the level of club management in Berbice and the need for the hosting of leadership skills seminars for the younger level. This would also be discussed further with the hope of organising seminars in the near future.

BCB also sought to obtain the cooperation of the ministry to work along to stop child abuse and child labour in the county.

Minister Hamilton mandated the Chief Labour Officer, Charles Ogle, to work along with Foster to have a campaign involving posters and billboards while he also committed to have discussions with the Minister of Sport concerning the hosting of a cricket tournament by his ministry to tackle the problem of child abuse.

Foster expressed gratitude to the minister for taking time out to meet with the board and stated that BCB looks forward to a successful relationship.