Foster calling for young leaders in Berbice cricket

By Brandon Corlette

Berbice Cricket Board President Hilbert Foster is calling on young individuals to step up to the challenge of taking up leadership roles in Berbice cricket. In a recent interview with this publication, Foster disclosed that his term is set to end in December 2023, and he has no immediate plans to continue as BCB President.
“I had offered my resignation in July out of total frustration, the clubs and the executives rejected it. My term ends on December 31, 2023, (and) I have no immediate plans to continue, because this work has become a fulltime job,” Foster explained.
The BCB boss slammed a few of the local administrators for taking up positions and not performing necessary roles.
“Let us keep our fingers crossed that, in 2023, there might be an inspiration. However, Berbice Cricket needs new leadership; there have been too many people in Berbice administration and the club level and the board level that just take the position for the sake of taking it. As it has become the norm across the Caribbean, the work is left to very few. It is my sincere hope that those people who are not productive will find the time to admit it and move on, and to allow younger heads to take over. There are a lot of young people in Berbice who are looking to contribute. For people who have been in the system for 40 to 50 years, it might be time for them to move on,” the BCB President has said.
As it relates to Foster’s presidency and calling time, he said that, when the time arrives, he would walk away feeling satisfied with his work.
“If the club in Berbice feel that my time is up, I am willing to walk away, and I will do so with my head held high. I think (that), over the last five years, my administration has achieved what no other cricket administration in Berbice has achieved, and we will see what happens in 2023,” Foster disclosed.
Foster was re-elected as BCB President in July 2022 at an Ordinary General Meeting (OGM) for the third quarter. That OGM was held at the Port Mourant Cricket ground, and Foster was returned for another term as President.
That meeting was attended by all members, apart from Young Warriors CC and Mt Sinai CC, and was conducted in a calm and cordial atmosphere, which has become the norm at all BCB meetings.
Delegates approved minutes of the last OGM, and expressed satisfaction that all plans unveiled and promised made were fulfilled, including the visits by several legendary West Indies former players, gear was distributed across the county, and the board’s developmental programme was expanded.
Delegates had unanimously rejected Foster’s resignation letter which was to take effect on July 31.