NATIONAL Under-19 captain Shawn Pereira, West Indies Under-19 left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie-Kanhai, Linden Austin and Lloydel Lewis were all part of the first batch of junior cricketers from the Ancient County, who benefited from Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club/Western Union’s Junior Cricketer Ambassador Programme.

On Tuesday last at a simple presentation ceremony held in the Grace Kennedy Remittance Services (GKRS) Water Street boardroom, six more cricketers, namely, Daniel Lewis, Akshay Homraj Shimar Flats, Kevelon Anderson, Plafianna Millington and Shebika Gabjani were presented with a quantity of equipment to aid their development through the same programme.
According to Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, Hilbert Foster, the company has been supporting the initiative since 2009 and this year they have injected in excess of $500 000 worth of cricket gear into the programme, with each player receiving a bat, batting pads and gloves, helmet, gear bag and a set of uniform.
“We at the management level of the club strongly believe in the development of youths and as such, great effort is made to develop our cricketers at all levels, be it educational, personal or on the cricket field.
“We want our cricketers to be positive role models to every youth they meet and also to be perfect ambassadors for every team they are given the opportunity to represent,” said Foster who added that all the beneficiaries of this year’s programme have excelled in their sporting endeavours over the past years.
“Your contribution has enabled Motie to represent the West Indies Under-19 (team) while it has also played a major role in ensuring that Pereira, Lloydel Lewis, Daniel Lewis, Millington and Austin played for Guyana. Motie and Pereira have also played for the senior Berbice team.”
“This year’s investment is extra special because of the involvement of two young, promising female cricketers who are following in the footsteps of our national Sportswoman-of-the-Year 2013, Shemaine Campbelle,” Foster related.
He said the young cricketers of the county have benefited tremendously under the programme, noting that the RHTY&SC is grateful for Western Union’s continued involvement.
Speaking on behalf of GKRS/Western Union (Guyana) Inc. Marketing Manager Natheeah Mendonca, said Western Union is proud to have aided the young cricketers’ development over the past years.
“We are proud of the RHTY&SC for the work they have been doing and you, the young cricketers, we know that our investment is not in vain.
“We have seen the benefits of investing in you over the years and we are very happy that we can assist in your development. We are here to help you guys and we are proud that we can help you to grow and do well in your cricketing endeavours,” Mendonca told the young recipients.
Each year, Western Union injects hundreds of thousands of dollars into the programme, which is being used by the RHTY&SC to mould the next generation of cricketers with the aim of having them represent Berbice, Guyana and ultimately, the West Indies.

(By Calvin Roberts)