BCB launches Roy Baijnauth Memorial primary school tournament

– Sita Lumber Yard is latest donor to Kiddies project

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last Wednesday launched another cricket tournament as it continues preparing to play cricket for the first time at the primary school level.
The BCB, with sponsorship from Baijnauth Sawmill, would be hosting the Roy Baijnauth Memorial primary school tournament for schools in the Upper Corentyne area.
BCB President Hilbert Foster, along with BCB Secretary Angela Haniff and Competitions Chairman Leslie Soloman, visited the Baijnauth Sawmill at its Crabwood Creek location to launch the tournament with George Baijnauth, younger brother of Roy, who passed away three years ago.

This tournament would be played among 16 schools in the Upper Corentyne and Black Bush Polder areas. The tape ball format would be employed, and this tournament would be part of a countywide tournament in which a winner would emerge from four inter- zone championships. The four winners: from West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje, Lower Corentyne and Upper Corentyne, would then play for the overall Berbice title. Among the teams that would play in the Upper Corentyne tournament are Leeds, Crabwood Creek, New Market, No 56 and Yakusari Primary schools.
Foster has said the BCB remains confident that at the end of this historic tournament, several exciting talents would emerge to join the different youth teams in the area. He has expressed confidence that the tournament would be a success, and would play a major role in the continued development of Berbice county cricket.
Roy Baijnauth had served as President of the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association for many years, and had also been a long-serving member of the executive of the BCB. He served for many years as Vice President to the late Leslie Amsterdam, before taking over after Amsterdam’s sudden death. He had served several one-year terms before being defeated by Malcolm Peters for the Presidency, and had been an outstanding administrator under whose leadership the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association had won several major titles.
Roy Baijnauth had also served for many years as Mayor of the township of Corriverton.
Mr George Baijnauth has said he is delighted to sponsor this tournament in memory of his late brother, as it was the best way to uphold his brother’s legacy. He has also congratulated the BCB on the excellent work it has been doing to promote cricket across the county.
The BCB plans to assist all primary schools in Berbice with kiddies’ cricket equipment. A major boost has been received with a donation of flannel balls from Sita Lumber Yard of Crabwood Creek. The donation was obtained by community activist MS Indira Jafferally from Managing Director Sita Gumani, who has said she is very pleased with the effort of the BCB to make sure that every school in the county benefits from the project.
Almost 70 schools in Berbice would benefit from donations of taped flannel balls and bats for the upcoming cricket tournaments and coaching programmes of the BCB. Mrs Gumani has said her company would continue its support in the future, as Berbice cricket is, no doubt, on the move.