St Lawrence Primary School wins 3rd edition of Republic Bank’s “Five for Fun” tournament

Cricket West Indies (CWI), in partnership with Republic Bank, hosted a vibrant finale to the 2025 “Five for Fun” Cricket National Festival on Saturday at the National Gymnasium, Mandela Avenue, Georgetown.
The event brought together excited young cricketers from across Guyana, showcasing the spirit of grassroots sport and celebrating emerging talent from the Essequibo, Berbice, and Demerara districts.
St Lawrence Primary from Essequibo, Region Two (Pomeroon-Supenaam), emerged as the overall champions of the national finals, delivering a commanding performance that earned them the coveted title. Massiah Primary of Berbice secured second place, while Supply Primary from Demerara claimed third.
Individual excellence was also on full display throughout the tournament, with several young players rising above the field.

Tianna Steele of St Lawrence Primary was both the best batter and the most valuable player for the tournament. Massiah Primary’s Susanie Turnail impressed with the ball to secure the Best Bowler Award, while Videsh Pitam was recognised as the best fielder for his sharp awareness and athleticism on the field.
Massiah Primary also received the Spirit of the Game Award, reflecting their sportsmanship, teamwork, and positive attitude throughout the competition.
Addressing participants at the closing ceremony, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, Steven Jacobs, underscored the importance of corporate partnership in youth development.
In a departure from his usual critique of private-sector engagement, Minister Jacobs applauded Republic Bank for its continued support of the Five for Fun programme.

“Whenever as a Minister I get the opportunity to speak, I always scold corporate Guyana. But in this case, let me congratulate Republic Bank, and please put your hands together for them for sponsoring this moment,” he told the audience. “It’s very, very important that you sponsor sport, and especially from the grassroots level.”
Jacobs further emphasised the shared responsibility required to strengthen youth sporting programmes nationwide. “It is very important that from our grassroots level, we have that structure. And for that to happen, yes, the Government will take the lead, as we are doing, but corporate Guyana also needs to partner with us, along with the associations across disciplines, so that we can execute what we really want for every single Guyanese, and especially our children.”
The “Five for Fun” initiative continues to play a vital role in introducing children to cricket in a fun, inclusive environment, aligning with CWI’s long-term development goals.
This year’s finale once again highlighted the programme’s impact in building confidence, teamwork, and sporting excellence among Guyana’s youngest athletes. (Gerold Montfort)