…Dennis D’Andrade re-elected UCCA President unopposed
Long serving cricket administrator Dennis D’Andrade was on Wednesday re-elected President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) when the UCCA held its biennial elections at the Skeldon Community Centre Ground in Corriverton.
The ten cricketers pose with executives of the UCCA after receiving their educational grants
D’Andrade and his entire slate were re-elected on a vote of 19 to nil as clubs in the area rewarded them for their outstanding work in the largest sub-association in the county of Berbice.
Newly elected executives of the UCCA pose with delegates attending the AGM at the Skeldon Centre
Others elected were: former national player Sydney Jackman as Vice President, Reeaz Hakim as Secretary, Victor Thakurdeen as Treasurer. Lawrence Mentis would serve as the Asst Secretary/Treasurer.
The newly re-elected President committed his executives to continuing the outstanding work they are doing, and promised they would hit the ground running with three new cricket tournaments in the next few weeks and the hosting of several developmental programmes, including a social skills seminar and mini academy.
He hailed the outstanding cooperation of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster, who has visited the area a total of 107 times on cricket-related matters since his election to the position almost four years ago.
Vice-President Jackman had earlier provided the clubs with a comprehensive report on the outstanding work of the association, with special emphasis on several tournaments played, assistance received from the BCB, and developmental programmes and sponsorships obtained in an aggressive marketing drive.
Like the UCCA President, Jackman hailed the hard work of Foster in making sure that cricket in the Upper Corentyne area is always on the move, and he said that in his entire involvement in the game for over 60 years, he had never seen a more progressive leader who was passionate about the development of the game and players.
The elections were done in the presence of Cricket Ombudsman Malcolm Peters, who verified the clubs present before the AGM and elections were held.
Meanwhile, ten youth cricketers from the area have each received an educational grant totally one hundred thousand dollars from the BCB under its Patron’s Trust Fund. Those receiving the grants were Trevon Sukhu, Gibeon Yacoob, Alameen Khan, Keshan Khan, Venus James, Gobin Doodnauth, Charran Singh, Jeremiah Joseph, Abbas Khan and Orlando Joseph.
Foster congratulated the youths on being selected to receive the grant, and spoke on the importance of
education as a key factor in a successful cricketing career. Hundreds of youths have, over the last four years, benefited from a massive investment in education made by the BCB, Foster has said, and more emphasis would be placed on making sure that all Berbice cricketers complete their educational careers.
He praised the cooperation of BCB Patron Minister Vickram Bharrat, who is sponsoring the educational grants along with the hosting of social skills seminars across the county for youth cricketers.
UCCA President Dennis D’Andrade expressed gratitude to the BCB for investing heavily in the education of players in the area, and noted that the UCCA would continue to follow the progress made by the players in their respective schools.
