…GCC recognises iconic commentator

By Sean Devers
THOSE present on Wednesday for the Night of Recognition at the Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC), the oldest cricket club in the West Indies, read like a who is who of old sports stalwarts and was a fitting tribute to Guyana’s iconic cricket commentator, Joseph ‘Reds’ Perriera.

President of the GCC and the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Timothy Tucker, explained that the event was organised because of the club’s philosophy of giving recognition to those who have done great work for Guyana.

With a cool breeze blowing from the historic Bourda ground where, in 1930, West Indies won their first ever Test match by defeating England and where ‘Reds’ made his ‘Test’ debut behind the microphone in 1971, when India toured the West Indies, it was a feeling of nostalgia as tributes poured in from far and wide.

‘Reds’, who turns 84 on May 20, was the guest of honour at the near four-hour long event organised by Mr Tucker and past GCC President, Ramsay Ali.

‘Reds’, who broke the story of the rebel tour to South Africa in 1983, went down memory lane on some of the things he remembered most during his illustrious broadcasting cricket career, which he said could be a great tool to develop unity among the different ethnic groups in Guyana.

“I believe that sports, especially cricket, can be a unifying tool in Guyana. When Rohan Kanhai and Clive Lloyd are batting, or Hooper and Sarwan, or Kallicharran and Fredericks, people of all races want them to do well as Guyanese and don’t care about race. We have lived like that every day of our lives as Guyanese,” ‘Reds’ pointed out.

Dave Martins, ‘Reds’ uncle, was among the audience at the GCC. Martin sang ‘Hooper and Chanderpaul’ sending a similar message.

‘Reds’ disclosed that he did commentary on one of best innings he ever saw. “It was at Perth in Australia on one of the fastest pitches in the world when Roy Fredericks destroyed Lillee and Thomson in his 71-ball hundred in 1975. Such was his dominance that Lloyd’s hundred was overshadowed by Fredericks’ brilliance, ‘Reds’ remembered.

Reds was presented with his GCC Life Membership Card by Nazar Mohamed, one of the sponsors of the night’s activities while he donated a history book and two of his World Cup shirts to GCC for a proposed cricket museum.

“You can get sponsors to build a cricket museum and this will attract persons to come here. Ask the Guyanese Test players who are still alive to donate shirts, caps, blazers, cricket shoes and bats. There is enough space now that the stands are no longer there” suggested ‘Reds’, who was awarded the St Lucia Medal of Merit Silver and the Arrow of Achievement in Guyana.

‘Reds’ also autographed his book ‘Living my dreams’ which Ali advised attendees they could take a copy of and, if they wish, leave a donation to assist in GCC’s fund-raising drive.

Along with his wife Zandra, who was among the approximately 75 persons in the upper level of the club, which was once located at the Parade Ground in Middle Street, ‘Reds’ heard from many persons from various sports, including former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd via telephone.

Derick Murray, Sir Ronald Sanders, Ian McDonald, Kit Nascimento, Clem Seecharan, head of Tourism in St Lucia, Peter Hilary Modest, the President of the St Lucia Netball Association, the CEO of Sandals Resort, Beverly Harper, Ronald Austin, Grantley Culbard, Alexis Jordon, and Jeffery Fraser were among the many who sent their tributes to ‘Reds’ who now resides in St Lucia.

What came out loud and clear was Reds, who along with Tony Cozier, were household names not only in the Region but in all the ‘big’ cricketing nations around the world. Reds was given credit for his versatility in all sports and as sports administrator.

‘Reds’ was the manager for the 1969 successful National Rugby team; President of the Guyana Basketball Federation; adviser to the late Sports Minister, Shirley Field-Ridley; head of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS); President of the St Lucia Boxing Board. He also commentated on a World title fight, in Jamaica, between Joe Frazer and George Foreman.

Among those paying tributes were cricket commentators Sean Devers, Inderjeet Persaud and John Ramsingh, along with sports journalist Joe Chapman, who called for Reds’ name to be put on the Media Centre at the Providence Stadium. Chapman even went further, suggesting that the annual NSC National Awards be called the Reds Perriera National Awards.

‘Reds’, a walking encyclopedia of Guyanese sports history, was born in the Riverine community of Pomeroon in Essequibo.

The fifth of nine children, ‘Reds’ spent his time as a little boy sailing and fishing, and never got involved in organised sports until 1945 when he moved to the city.