From a struggling group to a successful organisation RHTY&SC celebrates 23 years of steady progress

Sep 15, 2013 Sports

Twenty three years ago, a group of residents from the Rose Hall Town community convened at the old Port Mourant Community High School building at the behest of founder member and then Public Relations Officer of St. Francis, Hilbert Foster, and formed the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club with an aim of positive life changing activities as an alternative to a deviant

President of the RHTY&SC Keith Foster

life. Since then, the club has engaged in several initiatives, including tutoring youngsters in the intricacies of cricket. Those activities have served to address the club’s objectives and recently, the executive reminisced on those achievements and their importance in the social stability of youths in that community and even further afield. Today, Sunday, September 15, the club would be reminiscing on those 23 years since its formation.
Mr. Foster also served as Secretary/CEO and described the first year as challenging since executives were forced to operate devoid of adequate finances and by extension, unavailability of gears. It was only after the club gained membership under the Berbice Cricket Board in January 1992 that it became widely recognized and by May 1992, hosted the Barbados Cricket Team with such starts as Carlisle Best, Roland Holder and Courtney Browne among others. It was around that time that the club ventured into charity related activities as well as educational and community development programmes. Administrators also initiated a weekly feeding programme while offering assistance to less fortunate students as well as contributed to the restoration of the Lower Corentyne Secondary School in 1991-1992 at the cost of $4M.
Administrators also boasted that they were able to transform the Area “H” ground from a swampland into a modern sport facility while constructing the pavilion in January 1991 with support from then Executive President of Guyana and Club Patron Hugh Desmond Hoyte. The pavilion according to Foster was a major boost for the Club because prior to its construction, players were forced to seek relief from the hot sun under a cherry tree.
The club also benefited from a multi-million dollar grant from the Andrew Mitchell Charity Fund of England which assisted in fencing of the entire ground, installation of sanitary facilities, score boards and sight screens. Administrators also facilitated an adequate water supply and a concreted practice facility.
The club also engaged in ‘beyond the boundary’ activities in the areas of culture, education, charity, anti-drugs, social, religious, youth development and community development. To this effect donations and awards supported by economic ventures have reached insurmountable heights reaching well over $200 million dollars in

The club also host the annual Republic Bank August holiday camp.

cash and kind.
Indeed, the Club’s fortunes underwent positive changes following the installation of Secretary/CEO, Hilbert Foster, in September 1998. The dynamic leader joined with his executives to transform the Club into a dynamic entity, organizing numerous projects that contributed to the club maintaining its status as one of the Guyana’s leading cricket club.
Several founder members were also present at the meeting including Leon Wiggins, Keith Foster, Moses Ramchanden, Alston Hendrax, Errol Hendrax, Keith Hicks, Linden Ross and Rabindranauth Kissoonlall. Keith Foster was elected first President of the Club, Moses Ramchanden – Secretary, Leon Wiggins – Treasurer, Hilbert Foster – Public Relations Officer and Leonard Lashley – Club Captain.
The support rendered by corporate Guyana over the years has been noted and came in for commendation. These include Bakewell, Courts, GT&T, Farfan & Mendes Ltd, Gizmos & Gadgets, Windies Sports Bar, DDL, Pepsi, Metro Office Supplies, Republic Bank, Scotia Bank, New GPC Inc, Ansa Mcal, Busta, Banks D.I.H Ltd, Mings Products Service, John Fernandes Ltd, Berbice River Bridge Company, Western Union, The Gift Centre, Universal DVD, Sentinel Security, DTV-8, Ricks & Sari Agro Industries Ltd, Impressions, Sterling Products Ltd, Bounty Farm, Beharry’s, Namilco, E-Networks, H.A Snacks, Trophy Stall, Hand-in-Hand, GTM, F&H Printery, TCL Guyana and Food for the Poor. Several individuals also came in for high praise including Ralph Ramkarran, David Burgess, Feroze Barakat, Conrad Plummer, Chetram Singh, Bishwa Panday, Bissoondyal Singh, Alfred Mentore, Minister Jennifer Westford, Stanley Ming, Dr, Jose DaSilva, June Mendes, Peter Ramsaroop, the late President Desmond Hoyte and Wystan Robertson.

The Basil Butcher Cricket Trust for young cricketers was also initiated through the club.

The outstanding services of its four honorary patrons have been noted including the late President of Guyana, H.D. Hoyte, Peter Ramsaroop, June Mendes and Beverley Harper. Media entities also came in for commendations.
Consequently, executives would be meeting on the September 23 next to map the course of the Club over the next two years, leading up to the grand 25th anniversary celebration in September, 2015.