BCB/Vitality Inc Educational Trust Fund disburses $260K to 13 youth cricketers

– Foster pledges more in 2021

“Since the election of the new administration of the Berbice Cricket Board in early 2018, we have stressed the importance of education.
“The BCB strongly believes that the pursuit of an educational background is just as important as striving to become a cricketing superstar, as only about two percent of our current youth players would go on to become professional cricketers.
“You must remember at all times that what you have in your brain can never be taken away from you, and the BCB is determined to make sure that each one of our young players understands the importance of education.”
Those were the words of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster as he delivered the feature address at the launching of the Vitality Inc Education Trust Fund, held at the St Francis Community Developers Training Centre in Port Mourant.

This event, organised by the Berbice Cricket Board, has seen 13 under-17 players drawn from the Upper Corentyne area benefiting from the disbursement of $260,000 from the BCB/Vitality Inc Educational Trust Fund. The players each received a voucher valued at $20,000, which they would exchange at the Metro Office Supplies Store in New Amsterdam for educational materials.
Among these players were Jamiel Clarke, Khemraj Sukwah, Ramesh Singh, Davindra Persaud, Orlando Campbelle, Emanuel Issacs, Salim Khan, Isaac Chandan and Tavindra Doobay.
Foster disclosed that the players were selected by the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association based on personal discipline, classroom performance, membership of a cricket club, and commitment to the game.
A CWI Director, Foster used his half-hour feature address to speak on a wide range of topics, including the danger of drugs, importance of education, faith in God, respect for elders, and choosing suitable friends.
The BCB, he said, has over the last three years assisted hundreds of youths with educational materials, school bags and bicycles, while dozens have this year benefited from educational grants. The BCB has also sponsored a one-year scholarship for a cricketer attending the University of Guyana.
Foster has disclosed that the next area to benefit from the programme would be the Berbice River Sub-Association, while more students from the Upper and Lower Corentyne, West Berbice and New Amsterdam/Canje areas would receive grants. The main objective, he said, is to assist at least 70 cricketers with grants in 2021, while school bags would also be shared out with educational materials.
Special thanks have been extended to the Management of Vitality Inc for their support of Berbice cricket. In addition to sponsoring the Educational Trust Fund, the company and its Charity Foundation recently donated $1.4M worth of cricket gear to eight Berbice clubs, and sponsored a 20/20 cricket tournament for Upper Corentyne clubs.
The Vitality Inc Foundation would also construct a home for one less fortunate employee of the BCB. The construction of the home for the mother of five is expected to start shortly, after some minor arrangements are put into place. This would represent a first of its kind for the proactive cricket board, which is now focusing on off-the-field activities due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Director of Vitality Inc, Abbas Hamid, has said his company is very pleased with developments taking place in Berbice cricket, and is delighted to be associated with the BCB.
He joined with Foster to stress the importance of education and discipline. Vitality, he noted, is committed to playing a major role in the development of Guyana, and intends to become a major force in the country by offering service of the highest standard. The company is a $2B investment in Guyana with special interest in the Oil and Gas sector. Among the subsidiaries of Vitality Inc are Vitality Supplies and Vitality Accounting/ Consultancy.