… AGM set for December 19

THE Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday hosted a very successful Ordinary General Meeting (OGM). Attention is now shifted towards the December 19 proposed date for the board’s Annual General Meeting (AGM).
The OGM was held at the Port Mourant Cricket ground and featured some 14 delegates, along with the full panel of elected and appointed executives of the board.

Each club was represented by one delegate while sub-associations had two. Absent from the AGM were Whim, Young Warriors, Police and the Berbice River Association.
The OGM was chaired by BCB president Hilbert Foster and delegates approved the Minutes of the last Annual General Meeting and also received comprehensive reports from the President, Secretary and Chairman of the Competitions Committee. The financial report for the year 2020 was also presented.

Delegates were informed that the 2021 financial report would be submitted at the next meeting in December. BCB president Hilbert Foster told delegates that the board was the only county board in Guyana to have submitted audited financial statements to the new Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and that the board was able to stand on its feet despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The BCB, Foster stated, was able to successfully complete 19 finals in a two-month period earlier this year while the Tenelec Under-15 tournament was started two weeks ago. The board has also obtained sponsorship for numerous other tournaments including U-13, U-17, U-19, and U-23, First Division, Second Division, Females and internal zones.

The BCB president also informed the delegates of numerous upcoming developmental programmes that would transform the level of Berbice cricket.

These include an expansion of the board’s coaching programme, donation of gear to hundreds of youths, social skills training for youths, coaching aids for clubs including bowling machines, publications of several educational materials for youth players, training of several pre-Level One coaches, obtaining at least three more pitch covers and assisting youths in their pursuit of an educational career.

Also, a Special Committee was set up to look into rules for the upcoming Romario Shepherd U-13 Tournament. It is headed by vice-president Albert Smith and among the topics to be discussed will be the length of the pitch and size of balls to be used.

Delegates would also recommend to GCB the Albion, Cotton Tree, Skeldon, Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant and No. 69 grounds as possible inter-county venues.
Discussions were held on whether the BCB would continue tournaments that were started two or three years ago. No final decision was made and the matter would be followed up at the Annual General Meeting on December 19 at the same venue.

Meanwhile, Foster announced that he would be seeking reelection for his third term of two years and indicated that there might be changes to his slate.
Former Headmaster Colin Bynoe was identified to serve as the Returning Officer for the AGM, where 13 clubs and three sub-associations would vote for the new executives.