ECCB set Buxton as a venue for President Ali’s Unity Cup

Dec 19, 2021 Sports

But Sports Minister says only Football will be played there

By Sean Devers

Kaieteur News – All is set for the start of the Unity Cup along the ‘Corridor of Unity,’ which includes several villages along the East Coast Demerara. The cricket tournament is the brainchild of His Excellency President, Dr. Mohamed Irfan Ali.

The Buxton cricket pitch is being resurfaced.

President Ali in February of this year announced that several communities along the East Coast of Demerara will benefit from a pilot project to enhance unity as Guyana moves forward with a singular objective of growth and development for all.
The communities targeted are Lusignan, Enterprise, Buxton, Foulis and Golden Grove. The Head-of-State made it his mission to personally inform the residents of the plan according to well-placed sources inside the East Coast Cricket Board (ECCB) which is led by GCB and DCB President Bissoondyal Singh, fixtures state that the Buxton ground is one of the venues as home ground of the Buxton Cricket club which was formed in 1997.
However, according to President of the Buxton ‘Carl’ Hooper’ Cricket Club, Essie Peters, who is an executive of the ECCB, the Sports Minister Charles Ramson Jnr. disclosed that the Buxton ground would be developed into a Football facility.

Sean Devers conducts a coaching session at the Buxton cricket Camp.

“Mr Singh helped us with funds to resurface our pitch but now we are confused since the President is fully behind the Unity Cup which includes the Buxton cricket Club who are the defending champions in the Elizabeth Styles First Division Cricket tournament. So it is very confusing when we heard Minister Ramson say Buxton is a football ground,” explained Peters.When contacted for a comment, Singh could not be reached, but sources inside the ECCB say their President is firm supporter of cricket in Buxton.

Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ CC President Essie Peters (2)

“We have been playing cricket at the Buxton ground for many years and although we have to share the ground with the Footballers the venue has a pitch and a sightscreen which makes it a cricket ground. We have no problem sharing the ground with Football,” continued Peters.
Peters says although Minister Ramson said only Football will be played at the Buxton ground he has not sent any correspondence to the ECCB or the executives of the Buxton ‘Carl Hooper’ Cricket club which is registered with the ECCB.
Acting Secretary of the Club, Marvin Cato, pointed out that the Buxton ground is a part of ancestral lands and belongs to the community.
“The Sports Minister has not met us and I doubt that he will. This is not just me or Mr Peters but all Buxtonians who have an interest in cricket are against the minister preventing us from using our ground. Let me make clear that we are not against Football being played there but that only Football will be played there.
This is a community and no Government…PPP or Apnu…can stop us from using a Community ground.
If football is the only Sport to be played there, then not only cricket will suffer but other sports that are played there like Volleyball and basketball. If all cannot benefit then nobody should benefit,” added Cato.

Marvin Cato (2)

Peters said that $15million is reportedly being spent on the venue but nothing was given to the cricket section, which is Guyana’s number one sport.
“The Minister bypassed the ground committee and NDC and only consulted with one group. I believe this is about politics. We will continue to fight and continue to do our pitch. If we can’t play cricket at Buxton, where will our team practice?” Peters asked.
“The Minister has never met with the cricketers or given them anything. The young cricketers have done a lot for this community and will not give up our ground just like that,” Peters noted.
The ECCB source says they feel sorry for their President who he said does a lot for East Coast cricket and would often also assist the Black Clubs.
“He now finds himself in a bind between the President and the Sports Minister,” said the ECCB source who did not want to be named.

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