WEST Indies Cricket Umpires Association (WICUA) Secretary, Vivian Johnson; Scarborough Cricket Association (SCA) President, Shiv Persaud; Ontario Twilight Softball Cricket League (OTSCL) President, Azeem Khan; and officials of the Ontario Masters Softball Cricket Clubs, Hardatt Ramcharran and Kim Sue were among the special invitees when the Canada Cricket Umpires Association (CCUA) held its Appreciation Lunch last Sunday at District Lounge, Pickering, Ontario, Canada.

The CCUA also used the occasion to present certificates to several of its members who were successful at different levels of its examinations while a few received WICUA certificates.

In brief remarks, WICUA Secretary, Johnson, lauded the CCUA for its role in producing top quality umpires over the years, pointing out that the governing body, which the CCUA is affiliated to, is proud of the achievements.

Johnson urged the CCUA executives to continue their excellent job while congratulating all the recipients of certificates.

SCA president, Persaud, also spoke glowingly of the relationship between his entity and the CCUA, describing it as a “family” since three executives of the SCA also serve in the same capacities on the SCA. An elated Persaud also referred to two of his executives on the Ontario Softball Cricket League (OSCL), Vice-president Dharmendra Kumar and his wife Dina Jaipersaud attaining their CCUA Level One umpiring status.

OTSCL President Khan, who presented a plaque to the CCUA, pointed out that the umpires, under the aegis of the CCUA, are doing a tireless and unthankful job but have been excelling in their endeavours over the years. The plaque read: “In recognition of the Canada Cricket Umpires Association for their dedication to umpire and scorers training and the promotion of cricket in Canada.”

Speaking on behalf of the OMSCC, Kim Sue also paid tribute to the CCUA, complimenting the standard of umpiring by its members and wished the association well in its future endeavours.

CCUA president, Albert Ramcharran, promised that the Appreciation Lunch will return to being an annual affair after it wasn’t held for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other reasons. He reminded those present that the CCUA Annual General meeting was set for Sunday, March 5 while the annual training seminars start the following weekend, March 12. Both will be held at Number 43 Police Division, Scarborough, Ontario.

Among those collecting certificates on Sunday were Ramnarine Prashad, who is a fully qualified West Indies umpire and Dina Jaipersaud, one of two women who wrote the CCUA Level One exam last year. The other, Indira Singh, who also passed the exam, wasn’t present at the function. (Frederick Halley)