THE executives of the Blairmont Community Centre ground have named the pavilion of the ground after the late Guyana and West Indies master batsman Roy Fredericks.The players’ pavilion has been named ‘Roy Clifton Fredericks’ in recognition of the batsman’s outstanding contribution to the game.
The plaque was unveiled on Sunday at the conclusion of the inaugural Roy Fredericks Cup, which was played between the Georgetown Cricket Club and Blairmont Cricket Club.
Fredericks, who died of throat cancer in New York on September 8, 2000, was truly one of the great West Indies batsmen, who was fearless of fast bowling and creative in his approach.
His Test career spanned 10 years, including 59 Tests in which he scored 4,334 runs at an average of 42.49 runs per innings.
After retiring from Test cricket, Fredericks served as Minister of Sport and later as coach attached to the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. At the time of his death, Fredericks was cricket adviser to the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB).
During brief remarks on Sunday, Club president Shameer Baksht, said: “Fredericks was such a hero to the club and branding the pavilion after the batsman is a fitting way of paying tribute to his contribution to the game.”
Baksh said Fredericks’ exciting style earned him countless fans and he was a fearless and a dashing left-handed opening batsman whose answer to all opposing fast bowlers was to counterattack.
Also making brief remarks at the simple ceremony was Fredericks’ cousin Frank Dow, who remembered Fredericks as a great individual, who has made the family proud, and at the same time he represented Guyana and the West Indies with distinction.
Former Guysuco Personnel Director Nourang Persaud and Personnel Manager at Blairmont Estate, Lalta Persaud, also made brief remarks.

By Rajiv Bisnauth