UG Berbice campus unveils cricketers’ wall of fame

The University of Guyana Berbice Campus has unveiled a wall of fame for local cricketers, both past and present, who have made it to the highest level.
The event, which was held on Thursday at the Tain, Corentyne campus, was done in collaboration with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB).
The wall of fame features 31 exceptional Berbice cricketers who have represented the West Indies in the Test arena and other levels such as One-Day International (ODI) and T20 matches.
BCB President Hilbert Foster explained that John Trim, who made his debut in 1948, was the first Berbician to play in the Test arena and since then, many others from the county, including women, have followed in his footsteps.
“Since 2018, Berbice cricket has enjoyed unmatched development and I can safely say that our development programme is a role model for others to follow. We have successfully completed over 120 cricket tournaments at all levels, hosted dozens of developmental programmes, honoured almost all of our cricket heroes who have served the county well, and assisted hundreds of cricket clubs and cricketers with millions of dollars’ worth of items in an effort to get them to develop,” he highlighted.
The BCB President pointed out that over the past six years, the county has produced a total of 15 new players for the West Indies at the junior and senior levels.
“We have invested heavily in providing the necessary items for youth development; 30 bowling machines, six batting cages, cricket gears, pitch covers, coaching equipment, coaching manual among others. Cricketing heroes the likes of Curly Ambrose, Sir Andy Roberts, Desmond Haynes, Courtney Walsh, Roland Butcher, Jimmy Adams, and even Joseph “Reds” Pereira have visited as part of this program,” Foster said, noting the BCB has reintroduced cricket at the primary and secondary levels and has 18 Cricket Coaches working across the county as part of the Government of Guyana’s 10-day work programme.
“Very shortly, a pool of 100 young cricketers would receive $8 million worth of cricket gear, 23 youth teams would benefit from $3 million worth of coaching equipment, and the BCB would get its own mobile grass cutter while a great effort is being made to have our own office space and indoor cricket practice facility,” he added.
Meanwhile, UG Vice Chancellor, Professor Paloma Mohamed Martin, at the unveiling of the wall of fame, located at the Tain Campus, explained that the University of Guyana has been intensifying its focus on sport.
“In doing this, the Berbice Campus has preceded Georgetown in setting up a wall of fame, so we have some competition now. But I would like to see the growth from a wall to a hall of fame, because we have so many good cricketers not only in Berbice, but around the country.”
Even with its small start, the Vice Chancellor said, it is something all Guyana could be proud of.
Former West Indies Vice Captain Guyanese Roger Harper also speaking at Thursday’s ceremony said the wall of fame would allow for persons to pay tribute to those who have left their mark on the game of cricket, not only in Berbice, Guyana or the West Indies but throughout the world.
“My hope is that it serves as a beacon of inspiration, encouraging our youths: the generation next. I hope that it inspires them to be determined to have their names on this wall also. This wall of fame will evoke stories and in some cases, fond memories of the remarkable men and women, whose names adorn it,” the former off-spin bowler said.
The players featured on the wall are John Trim, Ivan Madray, Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher, Roy Fredericks, Alvin Kallicharran, Sew Shivnarine, Leonard Baichan, Clayton Lambert, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Devindra Bishoo, and Brandon Bess.
Veerasammy Permaul, Candacy Atkins, Assad Fudadin, Shimron Hetmyer, Gudakesh Motie and Joseph Solomon are also included.
The wall of fame further features Romario Shepherd, Milton Pydana, Royston Crandon, Kevin Sinclair, Tremayne Smartt, Shemaine Campbell, Erva Giddings, Sheneta Grimmond, Shabika Gajnabi, Subrine Munroe, and Ashmini Munisar.
Also speaking at the ceremony were UG Chancellor Professor Edward Greene and former cricket commentator Perreira.
The event also saw the launching of a cricket scholarship by the University.
According to the Vice Chancellor, two of the four scholarships being offered by the University are going to the BCB.
She pointed out that the scholarships were for any discipline meaning that a recipient did not have to pursue a course in sports once the requirements of the University were met.
“So you have to be able to reach the requirements to be accepted by the University. Once you are accepted, the Board then takes over and says this is the person.”
She said the scholarships must be gender and ethnically-inclusive as well as geographically inclusive.
“We would be ensuring that you maintain a good GPA – you have to be passing your courses. So, you can’t get a scholarship and just do what you want after that; then you will lose it,” she said.
The BCB new coaching manual was also released at the ceremony, which was held at the Berbice campus. (Andrew Carmichael)