THE Berbice Cricket Board’s (BCB) mission to develop its youths continued recently, courtesy of the Patron Fund Project, funded in partnership with Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat. 

The pro-active cricket board over the last week handed over a piece of cricket gear to 13 youth cricketers across the county under the newly established Fund.

BCB president Hilbert Foster stated that the Patron Fund Project was established immediately after the Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat, was inducted as the first Honorary Patron of the board on November 7.

The main objectives of the Patron Fund are to make sure that every talent in the county is allowed to develop by providing assistance wherever possible, to assist clubs to fulfil their mandates to membership and also to make sure that every cricketer in Berbice has opportunities to complete his/her educational careers.

Foster noted that in the past, too many young cricketers with talent were forced to leave the sport due to the simple reason that their parents were unable to stand the cost of gear needed.

Poverty, the BCB president stated, should not be the reason why youths drop out of the game as others can assist.

He stated that once he remains the head of the board, every effort would be made to assist youth cricketers to fulfil their potentials on and off the cricket field.

Since February 2018, over 200 youth cricketers in the Ancient County were recipients of cricket gear and bicycles from BCB and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, MS.

Hundreds more have benefitted from donations of educational items including school bags, footwear, exercise books and stationery.

The cricket gear shared out included bats, batting pads and batting gloves. The players were drawn from clubs like RHTYSC, Albion, Port Mourant, Upper Corentyne, Edinburgh, Rose Hall Canje, Achievers and Bush Lot United.

The gear was donated to the BCB by Minister Bharrat, who also contributed $1M towards the hosting of the historic Berbice Semi-Professional League in 2021.

Foster, in brief remarks to some of the players,, urged them to remain focussed and not be distracted by the evil ways of Satan.

He cautioned them that to be successful on the cricket field, they need to develop a culture of discipline, hard work and dedication.

He also spoke on the importance of education and the need to stay in school.

Foster reassured the attentive youths to take care of the gear and also pledged that BCB would continue to invest in their career.

He advised that they could approach the board, whenever they need any form of assistance. He expressed gratitude to Minister Bharrat for the gear and for the role he was playing as Patron.

In December the BCB would assist dozens more cricketers under a special project with former Guyana and West Indies opening batsman Clayton Lambert.