Successful 80th anniversary celebrations wrap up in ancient county

BCB 80th anniversary 1939-2019…

“The transformation of Berbice Cricket over the last nineteen months has been remarkable. The situation in early 2018 was our cricket was leaning over a cliff, but in September 2019, we are now on firm footing and on the way to greater success. The 80th Anniversary celebration was an overwhelming success, and all of our objectives were achieved.

“The 70th Anniversary celebration in 2009 and 75th in 2014 were great (successes), but the 80th anniversary surpassed all expectations. As President of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB), I can proudly say that never, in the history of Guyana, has a Cricket Board worked so hard to develop the game during a two-year period.”
Those were the words of BCB President Hilbert Foster as he officially ended the month-long celebration of the board’s 80th anniversary.
Foster, along with Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu, visited the home of the President of the Berbice Cricket Umpires Association, Joseph Simon, to hand over a Tribute to Hero Award and also donation of a water pitcher, grocery hamper, a pair of crutches and several gifts.
Simon, an umpire for over 43 years, recently lost his left leg due to complications from diabetes. That presentation officially ended the month-long celebration of the 80th anniversary.
Foster has repeatedly stated that, under his leadership, the BCB would be a compassionate organization, and would not only organize cricket, but would also make a positive difference in the lives of others.
He committed the BCB and his club, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club (RHTY&SC), to assisting the ailing umpire on a regular basis. Foster also urged other clubs, NGOs and cricket associations to assist umpire Simon.
The 80th Anniversary Celebration started with the presentation of a bicycle to every Under-13 female cricketer in Corriverton, while among the other programmes were Tribute to Heroes, Television programmes, 256-page Anniversary Book, Berbice Greatest Cricketers, Tribute to Retired Cricketers, Hall of Fame for Cricketers, Administrators’ Hall of Fame, Honouring of West Indies Debutants, Youth Information Booklet, Trophy Stall Under- 13 Cricket Tournament, Stag Beers 50 overs’ First Division Tournament, NBS 40 overs’ Second Division Tournament, Let’s Bet Sports 100 Ball Tournament, UCCA Inter-Secondary School Tournament, Somwaru Tribute Tournament, and publication of a four-page newspaper pullout.
The BCB also assisted fifteen young cricketers with more than $300,000 worth of cricket gear; clubs benefited from $400,000 worth of water pitchers, and three educational competitions were organized for nursery, primary and secondary students respectively.
Eighty less fortunate students collected school bags. Donations were made to several places, including the Port Mourant Public Hospital. Anniversary souvenir cups were distributed, while clubs and players received scorebooks, bicycles and cricket balls.
The main project was the upgrading of the BCB office, which would be completed in late October. The upgrading includes tiling of the floor; sealing of the roof; purchasing of brand new furniture, including plastic chairs, plastic tables and folding chairs.
The BCB President was also to obtain a new three-piece chair suite, table top computer and printer, fax machine and phone set, 32- inch television set, water dispensers, electric fans, kitchen utensils, water cart and stationery.
The main objective of the upgrading project is to improve the BCB’s general service to the general public and to cut back on operational expenses.
The Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh Wall of Fame would also be unveiled on October 26th by Dr Singh, who would be visiting Berbice.
The BCB was established in 1939 by two former West Indies players, LS Burkett and CR Browne, who hailed from Barbados but were employed as senior managers at the Blairmont Estate.
BCB’s President Foster would like to express gratitude to all the sponsors who made the anniversary programme a success, including Dr. Tulsi Dyal Singh, Dr Puran Singh, AH&L Kissoon, University of Guyana, Food for the Poor, Massy Industries, Ansa McAl, Poonai Pharmacy, Balram Shane General Store, Devindra Bishoo, Anthony Bramble, Gudakesh Motie, Caribbean Nations Group, Rodwell Jagmohan, Sentinel Security, J’S Printery, Ministry of Finance, Caribbean Indo Federation, RHTY&SC, Colin Elcock, A Hamid and Sons, Vice President Khemraj Ramjattan, NCN, Sukhpaul Gas Station, RDC Region 6, Metro Office Supplies, Trophy Stall, Republic Bank New Amsterdam, and the Management and Staff of GuySuCo Albion Estate.