BCB and Minister Mustapha hold successful meetings

…student scholarship and cricket sponsorship approved

A large delegation of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB)executives met last Saturday with Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha at the Fyrish Primary School during the Berbice-born Minister’s outreach programme.

Led by President Hilbert Foster, this delegation comprised senior executives Robby Saywack, Angela Haniff, Dr. Cecil Beharry and Ameer Rahaman, among others.
This meeting was described as very cordial and successful, and according to BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, it formed part of the BCB’s plans to meet Government officials to seek their cooperation in transforming the state of cricket in Berbice even further.
The Minister congratulated the BCB on its hard work over the last few years, and indicated that he is willing to collaborate as he knows the passion Berbicians have for the game.
BCB President Hilbert Foster provided the Minister with an update on the progress of Berbice Cricket, and explained that despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the BCB has kept itself busy by making a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
He detailed that the BCB is also working on a member of plans to hit the ground running whenever the cricket season restarts. Among those plans are obtaining sponsorship for tournaments, formation of a semi-professional league, county wide coaching, educational programmes, and assistance for young cricketers.
The BCB aims to create history by becoming the first board in Guyana to provide a one-year University of Guyana scholarship to a young cricketer in the Ancient County. The scholarship would be sponsored by the Agriculture Minister and would bear his name.
The BCB would establish a Special Committee headed by veteran educator/Television Editor Gregory Rambarran to select the awardee of the scholarship. Cricketers across Berbice would be invited to send in applications for the scholarship, which would be in the agricultural field at the University.
Foster explained that while the scholarship is for one year, the BCB would consider extending it based on the performance of the student. In the next few years, the BCB would be placing a lot of emphasis on the promotion of education among cricketers, as it wants to produce rounded individuals.
Minister Mustapha agreed to advance $300,000 towards sponsoring a junior cricket tournament in Berbice. In 2021, the BCB would be organising tournaments at the Under 13, Under 15, Under 17, Under 19 and Under 21 levels, while several inter-school tournaments would also be held.
Foster expressed gratitude to Minister Mustapha, who was once actively involved in playing the game for his home village Bloomfield. The vibrant Minister also committed to assisting the BCB in obtaining other sponsorship, and to use his status as the Region Six Member of Parliament to push for the upgrading of grounds in the county.
The BCB last week held successful meetings with Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Minister Vickram Bharrat. Bharrat would officially be inducted as the Honorary Patron of the BCB on Saturday, November 14th.