RHTY&SC, St Francis host surprise tribute programme

…Foster hailed as outstanding youth leader, mentor, and humanitarian

Long-standing Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC) Secretary/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hilbert Foster on Sunday was described as an outstanding youth leader, humanitarian and mentor, who has touched and changed the lives of countless persons, especially youths and the less fortunate.
Foster was a special guest at a tribute event, which was coordinated by executives of the RHTY≻ Berbice Cricket Board (BCB); St Francis Community Developers; the Roman Catholic community of Port Mourant; family and his close friends. The BCB President had turned up at the event, expecting to be part of a ceremony to honour his elder brother Alex, President of St Francis.

RHTY&SC Assistant Secretary /CEO Simon Naidu noted that the organisers were forced to host a surprise event as Foster would have never agreed to be honoured. The Club, he stated, had attempted to honour Foster on numerous occasions, but he always turned them down as he worked to make a positive difference, not to be honoured. The event, Naidu noted, was done in appreciation for the outstanding work that the 52-year-old Foster has done over the years at the club, BCB, St Francis and for the Catholic community in Berbice. The groups also honoured Foster for his elevation to Vice President of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) and his achievement as the first Director of Cricket West Indies (CWI) from the Ancient County.
Speakers at the function included Rose Hall Town Mayor Dave Budhu, GCB President Bissoondyal Singh, BCB Treasurer Dr Cecil Beharry, St Francis Community Developers President Alex Foster, Carol Appadu of the Catholic Church, GCB Executive and long-time friend Anil Beharry, Ameer Rahaman of the Rose Hall Canje Cricket Club, Upper Corentyne Cricket Board Vice President Sydney Jackman, Journalist Brandon Corlette, RHTY&SC Youth Ambassadors Denica Henry and Marissa Foster . Other speakers included Father Ramesh Vanan of the Catholic Church who offered prayers, and sponsor representatives Alisa Anderson, Poonai Bhiroog and Avie Lindee.

All of the speakers spoke highly of the outstanding work that Foster has done for close to four decades and his impact on the lives of so many. His ability to stay grounded, to be humble at all times and his approachable nature were lauded as his main strengths along with an unmatchable ability to be visionary in his planning. Special mention was made of his hard work to turn around the fortunes of the BCB in just a matter of months after taking over a system that was totally destroyed.

GCB President Singh noted that Guyana cricket was proud to have a leader like Foster while Ameer Rahaman called the BCB President his mentor and role model who leads from the front. Several speakers spoke on the impact that the new CWI Director has had on their personal development and the fact that he was always available to offer words of advice. The programme also featured several cultural items that lightened up the atmosphere for the appreciative gathering. The event was hosted under very strict COVID-19 guidelines. Several former associates and work colleagues of Foster, including Moonish Singh, Brian Ramphal, Mortimer George, and Karen Nero sent congratulations via pre-recorded messages from their homes overseas.
An unusually emotional Foster stated that he felt humbled to be honoured, but he was doing what came naturally to him. Serving people, he noted, is work he enjoys and as long as God gives him health he would continue to serve humanity. In remarks directed to the youths in the audience, he urged them to focus on their education while rejecting the evil ways of Satan. Foster hailed the support he has received from the clubs, his fellow parishioners of the Catholic community in Port Mourant and the BCB. Speaking directly to Singh, Foster stated that he was pleased to serve as his Vice President and committed himself and the GCB Board to working overtime to take cricket in Guyana to another level.
At the conclusion of the well- organised three-hour event, several tokens of appreciation were handed over to Foster on behalf of the different organisations he is associated with. An appreciation booklet on the work of Foster was also launched with sponsorship from Bakewell while an exhibition was hosted on his journey over the past 30 years.