Odyssey Travel Service donates over $300,000 in scorebooks to RHTYSC

Dozens of cricket clubs in the Ancient County of Berbice will shortly receive scorebooks as the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) continues its outreach programme to assist its sister clubs to fulfil their mandate.
The club on Thursday received a donation of scorebooks valued over $300,000 from its long-time sponsor, Odyssey Travel Service.

Club Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster and Organising Secretary Rabindranauth Kissoonlall collected the donation from Troy Khan, the Manager of the Travel Service, in the presence of Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Treasurer, Dr Cecil Beharry at the company’s Light Street, Bourda head office.
Foster stated that since its formation in 1990, the RHTY&SC has assisted over 150 cricket clubs in Berbice with millions of dollars’ worth of cricket gear, scorebooks, cricket balls, stumps, cricket uniforms and coaching equipment. Despite being a rival cricket club, the RHTY&SC strongly believes, Foster stated, in assisting others, so that they too can make a positive difference in the lives of youths.
Foster, who is also the President of the vibrant BCB, noted that the two organisations enjoyed a close working relationship, with the objectives of lifting Berbice cricket to a higher level, making sure that every potential talent is nurtured and the game is promoted as an alternative to a life of crime and drugs.
The scorebooks will be distributed to every club in Berbice apart from those who would have granted a walkover to other clubs in a BCB-organised tournament or who played unauthorised players. Noting that discipline is important to a club’s success, Foster stated that clubs who failed to respect the BCB rules would not benefit from any assistance.
Since the Foster-led BCB took over in February 2018, clubs and youth players have benefited from over $6 million worth of balls, cricket gear, trophies, medals, educational materials, bicycles, school bags, scorebooks, and raincoats among other items. This, the BCB President stated, is because the Board is fully aware of the huge financial cost attached to the game and it is committed to assisting as much as possible.
Among the clubs that will receive the scorebooks are No 73, No 72 Cut and Load, Scottsburg, Dukestown, No 48, Ramnarine Memorial, Tain Block 4, Whim, Port Mourant, Albion, Chesney, Fyrish, Blairmont, Cotton Tree, Achievers and Bush Lot United. The BCB, Foster stated, is already looking at other areas to assist clubs during the rest of the year.
Earlier this year, member clubs of the Board, along with those with junior teams, received $400,000 worth of cricket balls, donated by former Health Minister, Dr Leslie Ramsammy. As part of its own effort to become self-reliant, the BCB has also obtained its own coaching gear and a pair of cricket pitch covers worth $320,000 under a special developmental fund spearheaded by its former President, Anil Beharry.
RHTY&SC Organising Secretary and Cricket Manager Rabindranauth Kissoonlall expressed gratitude to the management and staff of the Odyssey Boat Service, especially MR Feroze Barkat and Troy Khan for their support of the club and Berbice cricket over the years.
Kissoonlall assured the company that both the RHTY&SC and BCB would promote their business across Berbice as a thank-you gesture.
The Odyssey’s Manager, in brief remarks, stated that his company was very impressed with the outstanding work of the RHTY&SC and will continue to assist in the future.