Overseas-based Guyanese pumps US$2,500 into Berbice Cricket

When the Hilbert Foster-led administration took over the running of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last year, it did so with just forty-two thousand dollars ($42,000) in the BCB account.

Desperate to raise funds, Foster contacted former BCB Secretary Oscar Ramjeet to lobby overseas-based Guyanese for assistance. One of the first persons to respond was Brian Ramphal, a Texas-based tech businessman, who supported the BCB with a whopping Gy$1 million (US$5,000).
Those funds enabled the BCB to host its Annual Awards Ceremony, Coaching Clinics, First Division Double-Wicket Competition, and production of its Educational Posters, among other things.
Over the last fourteen months, this proactive Berbice Cricket Board has raised over $15 million in cash and kind, to not only host more than 40 cricket tournaments, but to transform the fortunes of Berbice Cricket.
Based on a comprehensive proposal emanating from the Marketing Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board, Ramphal, on Tuesday last, handed over US$2500 as his sponsorship for 2019. This contribution of half a million Guyanese dollars would be used by the BCB to host the 2019 Awards Ceremony, a Social Development Seminar for young cricketers, and the 100 Balls Tournament in the New Amsterdam/Canje sub-association.
Foster has hailed the continued contribution of Ramphal, whom he described as “a true friend of Berbice Cricket”. He said the BCB remains deeply grateful to Ramphal, and other overseas donors like Dr Puran Singh and Dr Tulsie Dyal Singh.
Their assistance, the Berbice Cricket Board boss has said, has assisted Berbice Cricket to move from a period of stagnation into a very progressive period of development.
The BCB has already launched fifteen tournaments for 2019, and another six are to be unveiled in a few weeks’ time. The B CB is aiming to host more than thirty tournaments at the different levels, and would be hosting several developmental programmes wherein Clubs across Berbice would receive assistance with cricket gears, balls, scorebooks, water pitchers and cricket shirts.
Ramphal has said he is delighted to be associated with Berbice Cricket, and is confident that his investment was used for the intended purpose.
He disclosed that he was very impressed by the hard work and vision of the BCB leadership on his visit to Berbice late last year.
He has received the BCB’s highest award, “Tribute to a Hero”, and has been able to see first-hand the impact his contribution has made.