Minister Ramson Jr launches BCB’s Brian Ramphal school bags initiative

… holds successful meeting with executives

Youth, Culture and Sport Minister Charles Ramson Jr on Friday last joined Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) President Hilbert Foster to officially launch the Board’s Brian Ramphal school bags project for young cricketers in the Ancient County.
The Minister also met with executives of Guyana’s most vibrant and progressive cricket board as part of his outreach programme. The school bag project is an annual one by the Foster-led BCB and falls under its educational assistance project.

Dozens of young cricketers who attend primary and secondary schools will receive schoolbags and other educational materials under the project, which in 2020 has support from overseas-based Guyanese businessman Brian Ramphal and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC).

Minister Ramson handed over bags to six Under-15 players from the RHTY&SC, Albion and Rose Hall Canje cricket clubs. He urged the players to take care of the bags and also to place special emphasis on education. Foster, who is also the Secretary/CEO of the RHTY&SC, stated that 100 cricketers would receive school bags, as the BCB strongly believes in the value of education. Only last week, the Board handed out financial stipends to six cricketers who excelled at the 2020 Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) exams under the Adana Homes Educational Scheme. He committed the BCB to investing in the educational career of every cricketer, and noted that clubs and cricketers have received over $10 million in cricket balls, stumps, and other cricket gear; bicycles, uniforms, educational materials, water pitchers, scorebooks among other items since his election to the presidency in February 2018. He expressed gratitude to Brian Ramphal and the RHTY&SC for their continued investment in the development of Berbice cricket.

Meanwhile, the Minister and Kashif Mohamed met with the BCB executives led by Foster in a very fruitful meeting in the boardroom of the Albion Sports Complex. Other BCB executives in attendance were Vice President Albert Smith, Robby Saywack, Secretary Angela Haniff, Assistant Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry, Assistant Treasurer Rovin Bahadur, Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, and Executive Mr. Edwards. The Minster used the opportunity to bring the BCB top brass up-to-date with the current status of the Cricket Bill Act and praised the outstanding work of the Board.
Foster provided the Minister with an overview of the efforts of his administration over the last two years. The current executives inherited a board with no funds, no developmental programme in place while the game was slowly falling apart at the grassroot level, as no proper cricket tournament had been held for years. Two years later, the BCB has raised over $30 million in cash and kind, organised over 60 tournaments at all levels, implemented dozens of developmental programmes and assisted clubs as never before.
The Sport Minister committed to assisting the BCB with funds for tournaments, cricket coaches and to look into possible ways of assisting with grass-cutters. It was also disclosed that an indoor cricket practice centre would be constructed as part of the Albion Stadium. The BCB submitted a list of grounds to Minister Ramson Jr for possible upgrading by the Government. The grounds include Paradise, Bush Lot, Bath, Lovely Lass, Blairmont, Guymine, Sisters, Hampshire, Fyrish, No 19,Kilcoy and Skeldon. The Minister was also informed of four motions passed at the BCB Annual General Meeting which the Board hoped to see included in the cricket bill. At the end of the meeting, Foster expressed gratitude to the Minister for his cooperation and pledged to uphold the high standards the BCB has set itself.