– seeking assistance from friends of Berbice Cricket
Guyana’s most vibrant and progressive Cricket Board, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), last week launched its second Annual Cricket Balls Project — an initiative designed to raise funds to purchase cricket balls for distribution among BCB-affiliated clubs.
BCB President, Hilbert Foster
With support of some of its former executives, the BCB last year raised more than $800,000, which was used both to purchase cricket balls for BCB-affiliated clubs and cricket gear for some of that county’s most promising youth players.
BCB President Hilbert Foster, who over the last 18 months had spearheaded a major restoration of Berbice Cricket, has said that unlike most cricket boards in the West Indies, the BCB is fully committed to assisting all clubs that fall under its purview to fulfill their mandates to develop cricketing talent.
Last year, proceeds from the Balls Project and contributions from the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club, (RHTY&SC) MS, had assisted more than 80 clubs with cricket balls worth in excess of $1.1 million. The objective this year is to assist close to 90 clubs with cricket balls worth in excess of $1.3 million. The RHTY&SC, MS, has started the process by donating over $600,000 worth of balls to 46 clubs across Berbice. Those clubs that have a youth development programme have benefited more than once.
Foster, who has worked tirelessly to transform Berbice Cricket from the deteriorated level inherited in February 2018, has said that funds raised from this current Balls Project would ensure remaining clubs receive balls, while more of those promising cricketers at the Under-15 level would receive cricket gear.
The BCB is also endeavouring to purchase pitch covers, which would be stored at the historic Albion Community Centre Cricket Ground, and be used at all major BCB matches in an effort to cut the loss of time due to rain.
Management of the BCB would, in 2019, be assisting clubs with close to $5 million worth of balls, raincoats, scorebooks, bicycles, water pitchers, school bags, Youth Information Booklets, educational materials, stumps, trophies, medals and special prizes for events. The present BCB Executives took control of an account with $42,935 in February, 2018, and have since raised close to $18 million in cash and kind for Berbice Cricket.
The BCB is urging all Berbicians, and even non-Berbicians, to contribute to its fund-raising initiative. A special appeal is being made to former Berbice and Guyana players who are currently residing overseas, and to former Executives of the Berbice Cricket Board.
Persons desirous of assisting in this regard can contact the BCB Office on 333-2375, or email foster hilbert@ yahoo.com
A former President and longtime Treasurer of the Berbice Cricket Board has also been authorized to raise funds for the project via his vast array of friends and contacts. The BCB Management wishes to reassure all potential donors that all funds would be used for the purposes intended, and would be accounted for.
