– urges Sports Ministry to look into attitude of Region 6 official
“On every one of my visits to the seven clubs and one sub-association, I have met and held discussions with the dedicated bunch of administrators and a passionate group of members who are committed to the overall development of cricket in their clubs. From what we took over in February, 2018, I can safely say that there have been (drastic) changes in Berbice, and we are now on the right track to a height never achieved before”.
Members of the Young Warriors Cricket Club pose with BCB President Hilbert Foster
Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President, Hilbert Foster, after he had completed visits to the Blairmont Community Centre Cricket Club (BCCCC) and the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) as part of his countywide visits to clubs and sub-associations affiliated with the Berbice Cricket Board.
Last Thursday, Foster, accompanied by BCB Treasurer Dr. Cecil Beharry, visited the BCCCC and firstly spoke to the 40 members of the Club’s Annual Cricket Academy. He advised the youths to take advantage of the Club’s investment in their careers, and to develop a culture of discipline, hard work and dedication. He committed the BCB to assisting the Club in every way possible, and to provide coaches on a monthly basis as part of an aggressive coaching drive across Berbice.
Meeting with the newly elected BCCCC Executives, led by Club President Mohamed Hussain, Foster urged them to uphold the high standards of this Club, which in the past had produced players like Roy Fredericks and Brandon Bess for the West Indies. Other outstanding players produced by the BCCCC include Adrian and Leslie Amsterdam, Naresh Roopnarine, Khaldeen Bux, Seon Glasgow, Nigel Deodat and Javed Karim.
Foster announced that his administration has been able to raise sponsorship for a two-day first division tournament, which would start shortly; and that the BCB would be hosting some 30 tournaments at all levels in 2019.
Foster has, on behalf of the BCB, donated to the BCCCC a large quantity of items, including two water pitchers, scorebooks, cricket balls, school bags, educational materials, Youth Information Booklets, educational posters, and trophies.
Foster answered every question posed to him by BCCCC Executives, including youth selection policy, umpiring, youth coaching, and assistance to clubs.
On Saturday, the hard working BCB President visited the Young Warriors Cricket Club (YWCC) at the Cumberland Ground in East Canje, after visiting the No. 63 Beach for the graduation ceremony of the BCB Cricket Academy. He was informed that the YWCC had held its election for office bearers and popular banking executive Imran Sacoor was elected President.
Foster urged the new executives to put the YWCC’s business in order as quickly as possible, as a very packed schedule would attend the rest of 2019. He also urged the YWCC to invest heavily in a junior section, as this would ensure the club’s future.
BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, who accompanied Foster on this visit, handed over a donation of a five-gallon water pitcher and a scorebook to the Club.
The BCB has said it wants to make it quite clear that President Hilbert Foster has never sought to force any club to hold elections, as has been falsely stated by the Government Sports Officer in Region 6. The decision of the Whim National Cricket Club and the Young Warriors Cricket Club to hold their annual elections was made by their respective membership.
The BCB has also said it would like to condemn, in the strongest possible way, the attitude and behaviour of this Sports Officer, and as well would like to urge this official to properly discharge his duty to develop sports, and not to use his position to engage in personal battles. The BCB would also like to urge the Director of Sports and the Minister of Sports to look into the attitude of this official, who should be working along with all organisations to develop sports in Berbice.
