THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has fulfilled its commitment to three sub-associations and the umpires association in the county of Berbice.
BCB president Hilbert Foster during recent outreach visits and meetings with the clubs in the Upper Corentyne and West Berbice areas, had committed the board to making a historic financial grant to the sub-associations.

Foster had also made a similar commitment to the Imran Moakan- led Berbice Cricket Umpires Association.

The Upper Corentyne Cricket Association led by Dennis Dandrade and the West Berbice Cricket Association, whose President is David Black, each received $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars), while the Berbice River Cricket Association would shortly visit the board office to uplift a contribution of $50,000 (fifty thousand dollars).

The BCUA also collected $100,000 (one hundred thousand dollars) which would be used for training of umpires as the BCB strives to uplift the standard of the game across the county.

Foster encouraged the association to double its membership as the current number of umpires available is not enough for the large number of tournaments organised by the board.

The BCB president stated that his administration values the contributions of umpires and as such, would work along with the association to fulfil its mandate.

The BCB is also expected to hand over caps and t-shirts to the umpires shortly with sponsorship provided by Minister of Agriculture Zulifar Mustapha.

The WBCA would use the financial grant to purchase cricket balls for the nine clubs in the area. The clubs include Blairmont, Bath, Cotton Tree, Bush Lot United, Bush Lot Rising Stars, Cotton Tree, DEdward and Paradise.

The UCCA will use its financial grant to assist in the administration of the game in the largest sub association in the county, between Black Bush Polder to Moleson Creek.

A total of 28 teams make up the sub-association. They include Skeldon Titans, No 72 Cut and Load, 73 Young Warriors, Scottsburg, Dukestown, Rama Krishna, No 43 and Crabwood Creek.

Teams in the area have received over $3,000,000 (three millions dollars) worth of items from the BCB over the last three years including balls, scorebooks, cricket gear, six grass cutters and catching cribs.

The Berbice River Cricket Association (BRCA) is the smallest of the sub-associations in the county with four teams. The teams are Ebini, Sand Reef, Wiruni and Kimbia. Funds handed over would be used to provide balls for the clubs. WBCA President David Black expressed thanks to the BCB for the financial grant and for interest in development of the game in the area.

UCCA president Dennis Dandrade hailed the cooperation of the Foster-led BCB as unmatched as never before has his sub-association benefitted as it did over the last four years. Both Presidents committed their associations to working along with the BCB to develop the game even more in the future.