Home Sports Foster re-elected unopposed as BCB President
By Brandon Corlette
Hilbert Foster was re-elected unopposed as President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday at the Port Mourant Community Centre Cricket Club. The BCB elections were overseen by Cricket Ombudsman Malcolm Peters and conducted by Colin Bynoe Sr, who performed the duties of returning officer.
A total of 34 of the 38 delegates voted at the elections. In addition to Foster, Vice President (Administration) Albert Smith, Vice President (Finance) Cecil Beharry, Vice President (Cricket Development) Qualis Winter, Secretary Angela Haniff, Assistant Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Treasurer Rovin Beharry and Assistant Treasurer Neil Rudder were all elected.
Clubs that voted at the elections were Rose Hall Canje, Blairmont, Port Mourant, Kildonan, Chesney, Albion, Whim, GUYMINE. Police, Mount Sinai, Rose Hall Town, and Young Warriors. Albion had only one delegate present during the electoral process. The three sub-divisions present were Berbice River, Upper Corentyne and West Berbice.
After Foster was re-elected for his third term, he noted that a lot of work was still left to be done in Berbice cricket. The proactive BCB boss indicated that a total of 30 tournaments was on his radar in 2022. He extended gratitude to the BCB for placing confidence in him for another term.
“I would like to thank you guys for your confidence in me. I remember when I took over in 2018, a good friend asked me if I was a mad man to take on the troubled BCB. I told him that every problem could be solved once you have commitment, sheer hard work, honesty, visionary leadership, and drive to make a positive difference,” Foster recalled.
The list of accomplishments by the BCB is certainly a long one. For instance, Foster and his team, who inherited $43,000 in funds, have worked hard to distribute over $6 million worth of COVID-19 relief hampers. While the BCB will continue to focus on completing cricket tournaments, Foster noted that major developmental activities were on the horizon, with the most significant of those activities being the visit of legendary West Indies fast bowler, Sir Curtly Ambrose.
Notably, Foster is aiming to see the development of young leaders who would carry on the baton in Berbice cricket. He also outlined commitments he has planned for Berbice cricket, in a printed report, saying he would try his best to fulfil them.
Cricket Ombudsman Peters congratulated all those elected, and outlined the way in which cricket clubs should be organised, in compliance to the Cricket Administration Act.
The Mental Hospital club was the only one not present at the Annual General Meeting as 12 clubs and all three sub-associations turned up in a show of massive support for the vibrant Board.
President Foster immediately went to work by summoning an executive meeting, where he informed his executives that there would be no place for laziness, dishonesty and victimisation. He told the executives in no uncertain terms that they would be expected to fulfil their duties and that they must be more visible across the county.
The executives appointed Simon Naidu as the Public Relations Officer, Leslie Solomon as Competition Chairman, Balram Samaroo as Junior Selectors Chairman and Albert Smith as Chairman of the Senior Team. The names of the other selected persons would be announced shortly.