Over 70 honoured as RHTY&SC hosts historic overseas tribute programme

The Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) on Saturday last created history when it hosted its first-ever tribute to heroes for overseas-based former members and supporters of the Club.
It was perhaps the first time that a local Guyanese cricket club has hosted an award ceremony in the United States of America. This spectacular ceremony was hosted at the Gateway Christian Hall located in Long Island, New York and was coordinated by the local club executives and overseas-based Berbician Tracy Khan and Rick Ragubir. Over 60 awardees received awards from the top cricket club for being founders of the club and for supporting club activities from its founding in 1990 to present.
Club Secretary Hilbert Foster, Organising Secretary/Cricket Manager Rabindranath “Robby” Kissoonlall, First Division captain Clinton Pestano and Assistant Secretary Jonathan Rampersaud were present at the two-hour ceremony.
Foster provided a comprehensive report on the RHTY&SC, which was founded in 1990 by three-times Commonwealth youth service awardee St Francis Xavier Roman Catholic youth club. The main objective was to offer alternative activities for youths away from drugs, crime and alcohol. The Club’s first-elected President was Keith Foster and its first fundraising activity was an oldies dance, while on the cricket field the Club defeated Fyrish for its first victory. The RHTY&SC’s first cricket match at the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) level was at the Under-19 level versus Auchlyne and its first BCB title was the Sydney Sabsook Second Division crown in September 1992. The cricket teams of the Club since then have played over 3100 matches winning 2834. The club has produced 122 players for Berbice, Guyana and the West Indies at all levels and won an unbelievable 123 tournaments across all age groups and formats.

The RHTY&SC has also hosted over 10,000 activities under a wide array of subheadings and has made a positive difference in the lives of thousands of persons. Foster stated that the success of the club has been based on sheer hard work, dedication and teamwork. Among the players produced by the RHTY&SC are Assad Fudadin, Kevin Sinclair, Royston Crandon, Kevlon Anderson, Junior Sinclair, Sylus Tindall, Eon Hooper, Clinton Pestano, Sharmaine Campbell, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabiki Gajnabi, Dominique Ricky and Akshay Homraj. Assistant Secretary Rampersaud stated that all of the awardees played a major role in the development of the RHTY&SC from its humble beginnings to becoming Guyana’s most dynamic youth and sports organisation. It received a national award in 2016 and won the Guyana Cricket Club of the Year title in 2004, 2005, 2009, 2010, and 2016.
Rampersaud, a national junior all-rounder, stated that the Club was very grateful for the awardees’ input in its development. Among the 70 awardees were USA international player Dominique Ricky and Akshay Homraj along with founding executive Moses Ramchardeen , Alton Hendrax and Errol Hendrax. Other awardees included former national cricketer Derek Kalicharan, Leslaine Lambert, Dr Alscrick Dendow, Dr Terrence Blackman, Sharma Sukhdeo, Emmanuel Seecharran, Sameer Sadloo, Rick Ragabir, Zahir Ali, Rajendra Sadeo Kieran Nero, Collist Cort, Radish S Singh, Lucille Boman George, KS Singh, Sarah Chinsammy, Joel Pike and Feroz Islam. Each of the awardees received a special tribute to heroes trophy; medal of excellence; and a gift package, including club souvenir-like T-shirts, anniversary pins, key rings and a collection booklet. The Guyanese Girls Rock group hailed the outstanding work of the RHTY&SC and urged members to uphold its high standards. The group’s representative spoke of the importance of working together to achieve set objectives and making a positive difference.
The programme also included stirring renditions of the national anthems of Guyana and the United States and a dance by the New York Saraswati Dance Academy.
The RHTY&SC expressed gratitude to the following sponsors for their support to making the historic programme a success – T&R Construction, Sterling Products limited, ANSA McAL, J’s Supermarket, J’s Printery, Armco Construction, Bakewell, Old Broom Lounge, Lalsa Construction, Cricket Zone USA, Sabrina Busgith, Farook Juman, Metro Office Supply, KSM Investment, Mahadeo Pancho, Anil Beharry, Rick Ragubir, Tracy Khan, Christian Hall, Kevlon Anderson, Kevin Sinclair, T and R Audits General Store, Tropical Isles Roti Shop, Tota Bakery of Brooklyn, and Lucille George.