BCB President meets with West Berbice cricket clubs, unveils developmental programmes

− Blairmont CC receives grass cutter

“The West Berbice Cricket Association has never supported me and my slate at BCB elections, but that has not stopped me from reaching out to them on a daily basis to seek ways of how to develop cricket in the area.
“My duty is to spearhead the development of the game in every area, whether they vote for me or not, and your sub-association has benefited from that policy, just like the rest of the county.

“I want you to work as a collective body, as there is no place for setting of scores, petty attitudes, or indifference in the administration of sports.
“I want to reassure you that West Berbice is not only a vital piece of the BCB plans, but that you would continue to benefit from our hard work in the future.”
Those were the words of President of the Berbice Cricket Board, Hilbert Foster, as he addressed representatives of cricket clubs in the West Berbice Sub Association.
The President and several of his executives, including Secretary Angela Haniff and Competitions Chairman Leslie Soloman, met with the clubs at the Hopetown Community Centre in the first of more than 20 face-the-club meetings they would be hosting across the county.
Since his election as BCB President, Foster has held numerous meetings with representatives of clubs each year, to listen to their concerns and to discuss areas of cooperation as part of the BCB policy of transparency and accountability.
The clubs were informed that the proactive BCB would be seeking to restart its 2021 cricket season in early October, and, as such, they should seek to have their venues in order.
Foster has urged the clubs to focus on their membership, as several players might have quit the game during the prolonged break, and special emphasis should be placed on their junior teams to attract new members. He informed them that tournaments would be played at the Under 13, 15, 17, 19, 21 and 23 levels while tournaments would also be played at the internal zone, female, second division and first division levels, as well as all junior tournaments would be played using the 2021 cutoff dated.
The BCB President also announced that, for the first time, the board would provide the West Berbice Area with a developmental grant of one hundred thousand dollars, which clubs agreed would be used to purchase balls for the eight active clubs in the area.
Among the other major announcements made were the hosting of a two-day mini cricket academy for 40 youths, the donation of pitch covers worth $324,000 to the area, and the hosting of a special cricket tournament in memory of the late cricket coach Michael Hyles. Foster also informed clubs that more than 30 youths in the sub association would shortly benefit from personal gear as part of a massive investment in promising youths across the county, while great effort would be made to obtain cricket nets as well.
The BCB has handed over a grass-cutter to the Blairmont ground under its ground improvement project which has distributed a total of 25 grass-cutters across the county. Five clubs in the sub association have now received grass-cutters in the area, and Foster has urged them to take care of the equipment.
The West Berbice Cricket Association has also been mandated to select a youth cricketer to receive a cycle under the BCB Michael Ramdeen Memorial Trust Fund, while the BCB head informed the gathering that the board has been working hard to obtain funding to assist first division clubs.
Clubs were also urged to select one person from within their membership to be trained to become an umpire, while they were also informed that their players above the age of 18 years would have to have at least one dose of a COVID vaccine in 2021 and two doses in 2022 to play in tournaments.
Youth players in 2022 would have to get at least one dose to play at the junior level, as the board strives to protect its officials and players from the deadly COVID disease.
At the conclusion of the successful meeting, Foster congratulated WBCA President David Black on his leadership of the game in his area, and urged the clubs to uphold their high standards.
Representatives of the clubs were given the opportunity to raise matters of concern with the BCB leadership, and numerous queries were raised and answered by Foster and his team. Black, on behalf of the teams, expressed gratitude to the BCB delegation for the meeting, and noted that he is consulted on all decisions regarding West Berbice cricket by Foster, who strongly believes in seeking advice as much as possible.