BCB, Albion CC hold cordial discussion on the future of Berbice cricket

— Butcher Fund donates clocks to Police B Division

Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster earlier last week led a seven-member delegation to visit the Albion Sports Complex by invitation of the President and Executives of the Albion Community Centre Cricket Club (ACCCC).
The Albion Club had requested the meeting despite the pandemic crisis to discuss Berbice cricket development and seek answers to several of its concerns. The BCB President, as part of “his meet the clubs programme”, readily agreed to the meeting within 72 hours. Since his election to the BCB presidency, Foster has visited the majority of clubs within the county to listen to their concerns and recommendations.

The BCB President was accompanied by Secretary Angela Haniff, Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry, Assistant Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Assistant Treasurer Rovin Bahadur, Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu and Executive Member Edwards. Albion President Vemen Walters thanked the BCB for agreeing to the meeting and congratulated the executives on the great job they are doing on and off the cricket field.
Among the topics that were discussed were immediate plans for Berbice cricket, developmental programmes, the relationship with the Guyana Cricket Board, the ongoing BCB/Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTY&SC) programmes, functioning of BCB sub-0committees and representation of players at the national level.

Walters expressed some concern at the BCB involvement in several legal matters and stated that Berbice needed proper representation on the GCB as decisions were taken about Guyana’s cricket without any input from the county. Foster explained that the legal actions were about restoring democracy to Guyana’s cricket and making sure that cricket development was for all Guyanese and not a select few.
He committed to having an Albion executive in the BCB official delegation whenever it met with Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr. President Foster committed himself to work along with the Government of Guyana to develop the game and to work hard to return regional and international cricket to the Albion Ground, where the first One-Day-International (ODI) in the Caribbean was played in 1977 against Pakistan.
He admitted that it was unlikely that any cricket would be played for the rest of the year, but stated that efforts would be made to conduct developmental programmes off the cricket field. The BCB delegation also provided answers to the ACCCC on the Basil Butcher Trust Fund, the COVID-19 response project, sponsorship after the COVID-19 pandemic and the work of the Board’s four sub-committees.
Foster disclosed that the BCB was trying to establish a working relationship with some regional cricket boards in its ongoing development efforts and arrangements are being put in place for coaching of youths using the Internet. He also disclosed that numerous changes would have to be made in Berbice cricket, including the reduction of cash prizes for finals and the attendance of spectators at matches. Both delegations agreed to meet in the future and Walters pledged Albion’s support towards the development of the game. The BCB delegation also handed over a donation of stationery, clocks, cleaning detergent and a warm-up football to the ACCCC.
Meanwhile, the joint BCB/RHTY&SC Basil Butcher Trust Fund on Wednesday handed over 20 clocks to the management of the Guyana Police Force B Division. BCB Public Relations Officer and RHTY&SC Vice President Mark Papannah handed over the donation to B Division Traffic Chief Williams. Under the Fund, a total of $250,000 worth of clocks would be distributed to public institutions across Berbice, including schools, churches, fire stations, and post offices.