Berbice cricket is going places

Sep 10, 2009 Sports

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Dear Sir,
The article in the Sports section on 8th September, 2009 under the caption “Officials disappointed after national players desert clubs for private tourney” ends with the following phrase “also suggests that all is not well with Berbice Cricket”. This is because of the belated inclusion of Richard Ramdeen to the Berbice Squad.
Mr. Editor, just because a cricketer was added late to the squad means that all is not well in Berbice Cricket is surely carrying it too far, as anyone who has been following cricket in Berbice for the last two years would surely be aware that the game is enjoying a breath of fresh air on and off the field. Cricket is being played as never before at all levels from the Under-13 to the senior level.
Among the numerous tournaments played so far are Poonai’s Pharmacy Inter-Zone Under-13, Tenelec Under-15 Inter-Club, Leslie Amsterdam Under-17 Memorial Inter Club, Republic Bank Under-17, Spready’s Bakery Under-19 Inter Club, Diamond Fire Under-19 Inter-Zone, NBS Second Division Tournament, ABS First Division 40-Overs Competition, Tenelec 50-Overs First division, while shortly the Associated Construction Service Under-23 Competition and the Millie Lewis Inter-Zone Female Tournament would start.
Sponsors are once again coming on board with the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and this is because of their confidence that things are going in the right direction. In addition clubs and schools also play in numerous tournaments organised by the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club.
The Berbice Senior squad of 26 players are currently undergoing trials and training because the BCB mandated its selectors to start early preparation. No other county board has started preparation and we are already a month into ours. Berbice selectors are attending matches at all levels and are selecting teams based on what they see. Surely, no one expects the selectors to attend every match or to stay all day as the position is voluntary and people have their lives to look after including employment.
The Junior Selection Committee headed by Leslie Solomon has been working overtime with so much cricket being played, while the Senior Selection Committee has been making a great effort to view matches as their respective employment allows.
Mr. Editor one is left to wonder if the author is aware of development in Berbice Cricket and for his \her sake may I inform him/her of some of them over the last eighteen months – two major Awards Ceremonies, Tribute to heroes Programme, Historic Cricket Academy, Tribute to Cricket Workers Programme, BCB Educational Awards Scheme, Berbice Hall of Fame, Berbice All Time XI, Berbice Inter-County caps system, First Aid Workshop, Historic Review Magazine, Basil Butcher Cricket Trust Fund, Cricket Balls for over 20 Clubs, travelling uniforms for all Berbice Teams along with Hygiene Kits, restoration and upgrading of Board’s office, educational materials for over 50 clubs, Awards for Berbice MVP in all victorious Berbice Inter-County Teams, Berbice Cricket Calendars, Berbice Cricket Christmas Cards, Assistance to ten clubs for fundraising events, Honorary Membership Scheme, assistance to promising young cricketers and assistance to the Berbice Umpires Association.
In addition, the board in an effort to be transparent and accountable to the Berbice cricketing public has held at least four press conferences this year which were covered by all the Television stations in Berbice with NCN carrying all of them in their entirety.
For the first time ever, the cricketing public of Berbice was brought up to date of developments of the game, future plans of the BCB, Financial updates and reports of the different committees including marketing, selection and special events. The Public Relations Committee consisting of Public Relations Officer Hilbert Foster and Carl Moore have been working overtime to keep the national public informed by making sure that every event, game and programme is carried in the print media.
The BCB is making plans for the future as its sole intention is to make itself the best in the Caribbean. Among current plans is the BCB’s 70th Anniversary Celebration from the 20th to 27th September, 2009, a DVD Coaching Cassette, Scorers Seminar, masters Cricket, Personal Skills sessions for the elite Under-13, Under-17 and Under-19 squads, Female Inter-Club Tournament, monthly Television Programme and Construction of its own board office.
Mr. Editor, any fair observer would see that Berbice Cricket is on the move and we would like to invite all shareholders to join hands with us to do more in the future. We welcome fair criticism as we would use them to correct situations that need to be corrected including imposing discipline where it is necessary. We welcome the assistance of the national media in covering the work we do, but we also would be grateful if journalist can stick to the facts without getting emotional. If all is not well in Berbice Cricket then one is left to wonder what can be said of the rest of Guyana when you compare the achievements above with theirs.
Hilbert Foster,
Public Relations Officer,
Berbice Cricket Board.

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