BCB reached greater heights between February 2018 and December 2019

Under President Hilbert Foster, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) continued to break barriers, launching and hosting in excess of 60 cricket tournaments over the last 22 months despite being confronted with eight months of rainfall in 2018 and 2019.

Tournaments have been organised at the U-13, U-15, U-17, U-19, U-21, Female, Inter-Primary, Inter- Secondary, Intermediate, Internal Zone, Village, Double Wicket, Second Division and First Division levels.
The BCB has also led the revival of every one of its member clubs, when once those had been dormant entities, existing only in name.
Its current administration assumed control of a bank account with just $42,000 therein, and has raised $2 million in cash and kind to develop Berbice Cricket.
Importantly, the affairs of the BCB have received a clean pass from auditors, who have praised the BCB’s financial accountability system.
This contrasts sharply with the stewardship of the last Guyana Cricket Board-backed BCB (2017 to February 2018), whose treasurer has failed to account for more than $2 million withdrawn from the account for unknown reasons, despite receiving written requests to so do.
This outgoing BCB administration has led a remarkable restoration of the BCB office, which has been transformed into a modern office; and has spearheaded the successful celebration of the BCB’s 80th anniversary with more than 15 major programmes planned.
Aside from the BCB having hosted two highly successful awards ceremonies and cricket academies in 2018 and 2019, heavy investments have been made in numerous club academies across Berbice, and dozens of young cricketers received cricket gear, educational materials, and bicycles during 2018-19.
Besides clubs across Berbice benefiting from millions of dollars’ worth of cricket balls, scorebooks, cricket gears, stumps, water pitchers, bicycles, educational materials, rain coats, trophies, special prizes and medals, financial investments were also made in the educational development of youths through the printing of educational posters and youth information booklets, among other materials.
More than $700,000 in financial stipends were given to youths, including female cricketers.
Numerous programmes were hosted, including the Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh coaching programme, Mother of the Year, Father of the Year, Pre Level One Coaches’ Seminar, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, Hall of Fame for Administrators, Tribute to Heroes, Wall of Fame, Cricketers Hall of Fame, Inter County MVP, Inter County Cap System, and Dare to Dream, among others.
A host of players drawn from clubs across Berbice gained selection to Guyana and West Indies teams. Inter-County Cricket returned to Berbice after an absence of over a decade; and after an absence of 15 years, two days’ first division cricket returned to Berbice and the publication of a 256-page book on the history of Berbice was launched.
President Hilbert Foster has indicated that he is seeking re-election for another term of two years. Thirteen clubs and three sub-associations would decide the future of Berbice Cricket. The choice is simple: vote for more progress, or return to a period of dormancy, wherein no sponsorship, no tournament and no developmental programme exists. (BCB)