BCB President Hilbert Foster has stated that
2021 can be described as the most
successful of his four years tenure, in spite
the first three been very much so as well. The
vibrant board was able to run off nineteen finals
during a two months period between February
to March 2021 before the covid situation forced
a suspension of the season once again.
The board played off ten grass-root tournaments
across the county at Bush Lot Kennard, Whim,
Port Mourant, Chesney, Fyrish, Cumberland,
Canje, Edinburgh, No 19 Kendall Union and
Bush Lot United. Other tournaments completed
included the Let Bet Sport Countywide 20/20,
Elizabeth Styles under 21, Lewison under 15,
and Nand Persaud females and three under 19
internal zones tournaments in West Berbice,
New Amsterdam/Canje, Upper Corentyne
respectively.
Eight tournaments remain to be completed due
to the suspension of the season. These include
the Bank Beer two days, NBS 40 Overs, the
Minister Mustapha under 15 and the Price is
Right 20//20 in Upper Corentyne respectively.
Among the main achievements for 2021 were
the donations of twenty-six grass cutters across
the county under a ground enhancement
programme, obtaining a three hundred and
twenty four thousand feet covers for West
Berbice, twenty catching cribs to youth teams,
cricket law books, cricket gears and uniforms
among others.
Millions of gears were donated
under the Clayton Lambert Trust Fund, Basil
Butcher Trust Fund, Shimron and Nirvani Trust
Fund and Vitality Inc programmes.
Clubs in Berbice benefitted from over two million dollars worth
of cricket balls, scorebooks and trophies among others as
the board strived to assist as much as possible.
The BCB impressive coaching programme was expanded
with coaches visiting several clubs under the Dr Tulsi
Dyal Singh programme, while several mini academies and
special coaching clinics were also organized to benefit
hundreds of youths.
The BCB also created history during the year when it
published its own coaching manual and also hosted four
social skills sessions with funding from Patron Vickram
Bharrat to train over one hundred and forty youths in
basic social skills. A total of over three hundred youths
received educational grants to assist them to further their
education, while one hundred and forty youths received
bicycles to attend school/practice sessions.
Hundreds other youths benefitted from donations of school bags,
educational materials and uniforms under an aggressive
Say Yes to Education programme. Seven outstanding
CSEC students were honoured with a financial stipend
after been successful, while the BCB also hosted its annual
Mother and Father of the Year Awards programme.
Asheik and Sons donated seventy inter county caps while the board handed out for the first time financial subventions to the West Berbice, Upper Corentyne, Berbice River and Umpires Associations. A thirty-two pages pictorial review booklet was also published along with thousands of covid 19 and cricket development posters, one thousand Say Yes to Covid Vaccination stickers were also distributed across the county. Another one thousand more copies of the BCB Youth information booklet were also published.
Among the other programmes hosted during the year were Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, Tribute to Umpires and the Berbice Hall of Fame for Administrators. Ministers Colin Croal and Susan Rodrigues were among the persons honoured under the Tribute to Heroes programme.
The compassionate board handed out over one thousand flood relief hampers with support from Shimron and Nirvani Hetmyer. The board along with the RHTYSC,MS is also spearheading the construction of a multi million dollars home for its office assistant Ruthel Henry. The home is about seventy five percentage completed and is been funded by the Vitality Inc Group of Companies. Together with the RHTYSC, the board has also donated million dollars worth of hampers to families for xmas and covid 19.
The BCB in 2021 also obtained a sponsorship to assist umpires to be better uniformed with polo shirts and caps from the New Marketing Corporation. Dhanesh Chaltar was honoured as the BCB Father of the Year, while Bibi Shaw copped the Mother of the Year award. The board also hosted an under 15 team from the New York area, while Foster stated that numerous former players from overseas came on board to support the development of the game. They include Clayton Lambert, Ray Joseph, Leslie Lambert, Narsingh Deonarine among others.
Foster stated that the success of the BCB lies in the unity among his executives and the leadership it provides. Foster hailed the contribution of the board numerous donors especially Brian Ramphal, Dr Puran Singh, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, Dave Narine, Shimron Hetmyer and his wife Nirvanie, Tenelec Inc, Vitality Inc, Ministry of Agriculture among others. Special mention was also made of the national media for their cooperation, the umpires association and the Guyana Cricket Board which provided the BCB with a financial subvention for the first time in thirteen years.