The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Sunday hosted a very successful Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) at the Port Mourant Cricket Ground on the Corentyne Coast.
BCB President Hilbert Foster
A total of 14 delegates attended the meeting, along with the full panel of elected and appointed BCB executives. Each club was represented by one delegate, while sub-associations were represented by two delegates. Absent from the AGM were delegates from Whim, Young Warriors, Police, and the Berbice River Association.
The OGM was chaired by BCB President Hilbert Foster.
Delegates approved the minutes of the last Annual General Meeting, and received comprehensive reports from the President, Secretary, Chairman of the Competition Committee, and the Financial Report for the year 2020.
Delegates were informed that the 2021 Financial Report would be submitted at the next meeting in December.
BCB President Hilbert Foster told delegates that the board was the only county board in Guyana to have submitted an audited financial statement to the new Guyana Cricket Board (GCB), and that the BCB was able to stand on its feet despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The BCB, he stated, was able to successfully complete 19 finals in a two-month period earlier this year.
While the Tenelec Under-15 tournament was started two weeks ago, the BCB has also obtained sponsorship for numerous other tournaments, including the under-13, under-17, under-19, under-23, First Division, Second Division, Females and internal zonal tourneys.
The BCB President also informed the delegates of numerous upcoming developmental programmes that would transform the level of Berbice Cricket. These include an expansion of the board’s coaching programme; donation of gears to hundreds of youths; social skills training for youths; coaching aids for clubs, including bowling machines; publication of several educational materials for youth players; training of several pre–Level One coaches; obtaining at least three more pitch covers; and assisting youths in their pursuit of educational careers.
A Special Committee has been set up to look into rules for the upcoming Romario Shepherd Under-13 Tournament. It is headed by Vice President Albert Smith, and among the topics to be discussed would be the length of the pitch and size of balls to be used.
Delegates have also selected the Albion, Cotton Tree, Skeldon, Rose Hall Canje, Port Mourant and No 69 Grounds to be recommended to the Guyana Cricket Board as possible inter-county venues.
Discussion was held on whether the BCB would continue tournaments that were started two or three years ago. No final decision was made in this regard, and the matter would be pursued at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 19th December at the same venue.
Foster has announced that he would be seeking re-election for his third 2-year term, and indicated that there might be changes to his slate. Former Head Master Colin Bynoe has been identified to serve as the Returning Officer for the AGM, and a total of 13 clubs and 3 sub-associations would vote for the new executives.
