BCB successfully launches Patron’s Social Skills Seminars

— Minister Bharrat stresses on discipline, hard work and education

The Honorary Patron of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, on Saturday hailed the outstanding work of the BCB as he officially launched the first of four social skills seminars that would be held under the BCB Patron’s Fund.
Before an attentive group of 45 under-19 youths drawn from the New Amsterdam-Canje area and gathered at the New Amsterdam Multilateral Secondary School, Minister Bharrat urged the development of a culture of hard work, discipline, commitment, and humility despite the adversities of life.

Sharing that he is a proud patron of this progressive cricket board, the Minister committed himself to working along with the Hilbert Foster-led BCB administration to mould all of the county’s cricketers into well-rounded individuals who would represent Guyana and the West Indies with honour.
BCB President Hilbert Foster has said the social skills seminars are the brainchild of the BCB Patron, who had expressed concern over the standard of cricketers off the cricket field in terms of basic mannerisms, etiquette, public speaking, and the balancing of education.
This first seminar would be followed by three others, in West Berbice, Upper Corentyne and Lower Corentyne.
The BCB President disclosed that more tha

n 160 youths would benefit from the four seminars which would be conducted by graduates of the University of Guyana’s Social Workers Class, and by qualified personnel that include Marissa Foster, Seeta Dalloo, Denicia Henry, Levi Nedd and Junior Blair.
Foster has urged the youths to take advantage of the opportunities being presented to them by the BCB and its Patron, as the opportunities represent investments in their future.
He noted that less than one percentage of youth players would go on to play for the West Indies, and he said that, as such, the BCB wanted the remainder to still have a successful life.
Both Foster and Minister Bharrat spoke widely on the danger of illegal drugs, false friends, and the negative influence of social media.
Among the topics covered at the six-hour seminar were life skills training, basic mannerisms, etiquette, team building, problem solving, conflict resolution, public speaking, leadership, and balancing sports and education.

Levi Nedd, House Master at the GuySuCo Training Centre taught the youth players – which included national female cricketer Ashmini Munisar – how to have lunch using the traditional knife and fork. The youths were also taught table etiquette as the BCB strives for to prepare them for future international duties.
Special emphasis was placed on public speaking, which is now relevant at both the regional and international levels.
Minister Bharrat involved each of the participants in public speaking by getting each one of them to introduced themselves. Former BCB Secretary Mortimer George also prepared a comprehensive ten-page document on the history of Guyana and West Indies cricket, which was distributed to all of the participants.
The BCB also handed over a special gift to Minister Bharrat at the end of the seminar.