New Building Society 2014 Second Division Cricket launched in Berbice...

New Building Society 2014 Second Division Cricket launched in Berbice…

Mar 30, 2014 Sports

Over 85 teams registered so far

By Samuel Whyte
The10th edition of the annual New Building Society (NBS) Second Division Cricket competition organized by the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) was launched on Wednesday at the Bank’s New Amsterdam Branch Office, New Street, New Amsterdam.
At a simple presentation ceremony, NBS Berbice Branch, Senior Manager and Vice President of the board, Anil Beharry, chaired the proceedings which were attended by executives and staff of the board and the bank. The 40 overs-a side tournament will be played throughout Berbice.

New Building Society Rose Hall Town Branch Manager Rana Persaud (left) hands over the sponsorship cheque to Vice President of the Berbice Cricket Board Hubern Evans at the Bank’s New Amsterdam Branch Office as executives and staff of both entities look on.

Beharry, who is still an active cricketer and a former Berbice inter county player, in his remarks stated how pleased the management and staff of NBS is to be associated with the BCB in the ongoing venture which they have been doing for the past 9 years. He said that his company will always try to put back into the community from which it garners its support.
“At NBS, our mandate is to house, but we also recognize the importance of sports particularly cricket as it is a unifying sport in our society in a country that is as diverse as Guyana. We would like to see the development of sports throughout the country and we are prepared to play our part. We have upped our sponsorship this year to the value of $680,000. This competition is one of the largest in the Caribbean and it helps to keep person in the villages active and the grounds in shape. Cricket is part of Guyanese culture and we are happy to join hands once again with the BCB,” he assured.
Manager of the Bank’s Rose Hall Branch, Rana Persaud, who handed over the cheque, stated that the bank is pleased to be associated with cricket in the Ancient County and is happy to be able to give back to the sport.
The manager said, the support the Bank receives from Berbice has been tremendous and they feel compelled to give back in a big way and noted that cricket is a good way to do so.
He stated that cricket covers a wide cross section of the population and involves persons from all walks of life. He gave the assurance that his bosses will agree to further sponsorship, because they are certain that the competition will once again be played with the highest standards and conducted with good accountability, which he said the board is noted for.
In accepting the cheque, Vice President of the BCB Hubern Evans stated that the board is grateful to NBS for their continued and unstinted support over the years. He is pleased that such a prestigious company as NBS continues to show faith in the board and has once again come forward to join with the BCB in sponsoring the competition. He on behalf of the BCB is honoured to be receiving the cheque to solidify their ongoing and growing relationship over the years. He also thanked the NBS on behalf of the BCB. The BCB he assured will put its best foot forward and make sure that it delivers a competition of the highest standards.
According Carl Moore, Chairman of the competition committee of the board, so far over 85 teams have registered for the competition with entries expected to come in from the Berbice and Canje River areas. This competition is one of the most eagerly awaited and the most challenging on the board’s cricket because of the number of teams and its vastness. Moore, who has been the competition committee chairman for a number of years and considered one of the best in the country, gave the assurance that the competition will be well organized since the board is second to none in its organizing abilities.
He said that the area has been divided into 16 zones covering the length and breadth of Berbice stretching from Abary on the West Coast of Berbice to the East Bank Berbice to Crabwood Creek in the Upper Corentyne area, including teams from the Berbice, Corentyne and Canje river areas.
The competition will get started today in most of the zones. Competition in the River areas, Canje and Corentyne River, are expected to commence later.
Since sponsorship began in 2004, the competition was played once at the first division level.
Young Warriors Club of East Canje are the defending champion.