BCB enjoys productive and progressive 2012

Dec 28, 2012 Sports

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The Keith Foster led administration of the Berbice Cricket Board, since its election to office in December 2008, has surpassed all expectations and objectives and over the past four years has transformed cricket in the Ancient County in such a large way that the game today is enjoying its most productive time on and off the field.

Cricket in Guyana seems to attract controversy but Berbice continues to be a shining example of how unity, visionary leadership and forward planning can achieve unbelievable success.
The year 2012 is almost completed but the Public Relations Officer of the Berbice Cricket Board Hilbert Foster has described it as the most successful in the Board’s 73 year history. The BCB had set itself a target of 75 off the field programme/activities and to play cricket at all levels especially in areas which were neglected in the past.
The veteran cricket Administrator stated that in 2009, the Board successfully transformed itself into a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) and has been playing a major role in making a positive difference in the lives of youths, the elderly and less fortunate.

The major highlight for 2012 was the Test debuts of Assad Fudadin and Veerasammy Permaul that brought the number of Berbice Test players to 17. Remarkably, six of those players have made their debut in the last seven years.
Fudadin and Permaul also played for the West Indies ‘A’ Team with Permaul as the Captain. Permaul also toured Bangladesh with the HPC team, while Narsingh Deonarine and Devendra Bishoo also played Test cricket for the West Indies this year.
Bishoo also played ODI and T20 for the Region, while on the distaff side Shemaine Campbelle, Tremayne Smartt and Subrina Munroe represented the West Indies at the highest level including the T20 World Cup.
Several Berbicians including Sewnarine Chattergoon, Richard Ramdeen, Royston Crandon, Brendon Bess, Keon Joseph and Gajanand Singh represented Guyana at the senior level along with the Test players while former Berbice Captain Esuan Crandon served as the national cricket Coach.
At the junior level, Arif Chan, Shailendra Shameer, Shimron Hetmyer, Sharaz Ramcharran, Shawn Pereira, Romario DeJonge Shepherd and Gudakesh Motie Kanhai all did Berbice proud representing Guyana. Motie led the national Under-17 team while Pereira was captain at the Under-19 level.

The BCB’s achievement on the field to date; they have completed the 2011 NBS Second Division, the 2011 Leslie Amsterdam Under-17 Memorial, 2011 Tenelec 50 overs first division, 2012 West Berbice Hand-in-Hand 40 overs, West Berbice Two-Day Jumbo Jet Cup, New Amsterdam/Canje T20, Berbice River T20, Upper Corentyne T20, Elizabeth Style Under-21, Ramcharitar 50 overs first division, Neal & Massy 50 overs Intermediate, NCN Under-15 Inter-Zone, Republic Bank Under-17 Inter-Zone and Diamond Insurance and Diamond Fire & General Insurance Under-19 Inter-Zone.
Tournaments started and expected to be completed shortly are the Lower Corentyne T20 Cup, West Berbice Norman Singh T20 Cup, Universal DVD T20, Carib Beer T20, Elizabeth Style Under-19, Tenelec Inc. Under-15, NBS Second Division and Tenelec Inc. 50 overs first division.
Tournaments expected to start early in 2013 due to a heavy schedule are Universal DVD Female 50 overs, A. Ally & Sons Inter School and the Upper Corentyne Inter Secondary School tournaments.
The Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports continued to assist the BCB with the hosting of the annual Busta Champion of Champions 50 overs Cup and a Day of Champions tournament.
The Board also joined with the Berbice Chamber of Commerce to host two successful cricket tournaments at the Albion Cricket ground featuring Berbice vs Hits & Jams Team from Georgetown.
Foster described the 2012 season as the busiest in the history of Berbice with the game being played at all levels. He highlighted the introduction of competition for clubs at the Inter Zone level as part of their efforts to return the game to the grass roots level.
This format has proven to be very successful with the crowd being very encouraging.
Off the field, the BCB has surpassed its target of 75 programmes/activities by over 100 percent and completed a record breaking 175 events. Special emphasis was placed on cricket development and coaching. Under the Guyoil Training Programme over 500 young players were coached.
Special emphasis continued to be placed on education by the Berbice Cricket Board as it strongly believes that education is the foundation to a successful future. The Board also continued its tradition of honouring its own especially those whose contribution were beyond the call of duty.

In the area of charity, over 50 clubs benefited from over $8M worth of items in a joint venture with Food for the Poor.
The Public Relations Committee of the Board made sure that the Berbice cricketing public was kept up to date of the development by hosting monthly Television Programmes, 29 press conferences while also issuing 202 press releases.
Foster described the work of the entity as unbelievable and noted that over the last four years the Board had completed over 400 off the field programmes/activities that have completely transformed the game in the Ancient County.
Special recognition was made of President Keith Foster, Secretary Angela Haniff, Treasurer Anil Beharry, Leslie Solomon, Carl Moore and members of the Special Events Committee.
The work of the Berbice Cricket  Board, Foster stated would not have been possible without the support of its numerous sponsors especially Tenelec Inc, Ramcharitar Construction Services, Carib Beer, Universal DVD, NCN, Amerally Sawmill, Republic Bank (Guy) Ltd, Diamond Fire & General Insurance, Elizabeth Styles, NBS, Neal & Massy Ltd, Hand-in-Hand Insurance, Jumbo Jet Auto Sales, Norman Singh Memorial, Bobcat of Berbice, Food for the Poor, Guyana Beverage Company, Berbice Chamber of Commerce & Development Association, Safraz Photo Studio, EZ Jet, Cops Security, Guyana Telephone & Telegraph Company.

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