BCB honours outstanding players at launching of 75th Anniversary

Sep 02, 2014 Sports

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The Ancient County of Berbice has contributed significantly towards the development of cricket in Guyana and the West Indies. On Sunday night last the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) which was founded in September 1939 launched its Diamond Jubilee Anniversary (75years) where they honoured their past and present international cricketers and administrators at St. Francis Training Centre, Port Mourant.
Among those attending the ceremony were Head of State Donald Ramotar, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Dr. Frank Anthony, Minister of Health Dr. Leslie Ramsammy as well as former Test players Basil Butcher and Sewdat Shivnarine.
The first major achievement of the Board took place when the late John Trim became the first Berbician to play Test cricket in 1948. Thereafter sixteen males and one female have followed in his footstep – Rohan Kanhai, Ivan Madray, Basil Butcher, Joseph Soloman, Roy Fredericks (deceased), Alvin Kallicharran, Leonard Baichan, Sewdat Shivnarine, Clayton Lambert, Mahendra Nagamootoo, Narsingh Deonarine, Sewnarine Chattergoon, Devendra Bishoo, Brendon Bess, Veeresammy Permaul, Assad Fudadin and Candacy Atkins.
Milton Pydanna (deceased) and Royston Crandon have played One Day Internationals while Erva Giddings, Shemaine Campbell, Tremayne Smartt and Subrina Munroe have represented the West Indies female team. Numerous Berbicians have played for Rest of the World, West Indies ‘A’, U-19, U-15 and Sixes teams including Dereck Kallicharan, Sudesh Dhaniram, Leslaine Lambert, Randolph Ramnaresh and Hemnarine Chattergoon.
Among the major achievements of the Board have been the hosting of the Pakistan International Airline team in 1973 and 1975 and the overseas tours by Berbice teams in 1974, 1978 and 1984. The BCB also hosted the MCC team in 1974 and created history in 1977 when they hosted the first One Day International match in the Caribbean versus Pakistan at the historic Albion Cricket ground.

The board has over the last six years organized cricket at all levels for both males and females while special emphasis was placed in the West Berbice area. Speaking the launching President Ramotar congratulated the BCB on their achievements and said cricket is part of our culture and it is important for national development.
He added that players from Berbice who have entertained on the world stage were of the highest caliber. Ramotar stated that the game has inspired literature and music. He pointed out that some of the past players grew up under the fight against colonialism adding that he had the good fortune of witnessing the likes of Kanhai, Butcher, Kallicharran, Soloman, Baichan and Shivnarine in action.
He stated that GUYSUCO has supported cricket admirably and sugar still has a major contribution to sports in Guyana adding that the company has not been given the credit it deserves.
The President said that the game has changed somewhat referring to the T20 format stating that the lights which was recently installed at Albion is to ensure that the area produce top class T20 players. He informed that the Government will upgrade 73 grounds in Region 5 and 6 and they will continue to work for the development of cricket.
Anthony congratulated the BCB and noted that Berbicians are always passionate about the game. He said that a number of clubs have laid the foundation for the board since they existed before the BCB. Anthony explained that the former players had a passion for the game while underscoring the importance of history.
Butcher who scored 3,104 runs in 44 Test matches with a highest score of 209 not out stated that its time West Indies improve which he feels will not happen as long as Guyana gets better. “When Guyana does well, West Indies do well,” he added.

In brief remarks, President of the BCB Keith Foster indicated that cricket has made Berbice and Guyana proud and the County has contributed tremendously to the West Indies female team. He said Berbice will always play a major role in Guyana’s cricket and thanked all those who have contributed to the board over the years.
Public Relations Officer and Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee, Hilbert Foster expressed gratitude to Anil Beharry, Angela Haniff, Alisa Moonsee, the Media, Bobby Deonarine, Mortimer George for his research on Berbice cricket, Deonarine Shane, Bobby Deonarine, Jameel Mohamed, Mr. Motie, Ansa McAl, DDL, Guyana Beverage Company, Banks DIH, Guyoil, Metro, Ramesh Sunich of the Trophy Stall, Bissoondyal Singh, D. Arjune and Sons, Impressions Printery, St. Francis Community Developer, Berbice Chamber of Commerce, The Government of Guyana, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport and the Ministry of Public Service for their support.
He gave an overview of the board’s undertaking for the rest of the month which includes the renaming of their office in memory of the late Leslie Amsterdam, Hall of Fame for Administrators, donating school bags to the less fortunate, unveiling of the Rohan Kanhai Portrait, musical evening, panel discussion on NCN, donation of balls to four clubs, 75 hampers to less fortunate families, presentation to Essay competition winners, feeding of orphans, renaming of pavilions and a quiz competition.

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