Berbice Cricket Board Awards Ceremony: Gudakesh Motie, Shenika Grimmond top male and female awardees

Jul 05, 2025 Sports

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…Test players Shamar Joseph and Kevin Sinclair also recognised

By Samuel Whyte

Kaieteur Sports – The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) held its awards ceremony on Saturday at the St. Francis Community Development Centre, Port Mourant, Corentyne Berbice.

A number of awards were distributed to cricketers, clubs, administrators and donors among others for their contribution to the BCB for 2024.

The ceremony was attended by Minister of Culture, Youth and Sport Charles Ramson Jr., Minister of Natural Resources and Patron of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) Vickram Bharrat, Regional Executive Officer Region six, Narendra Persaud, President of the Guyana Cricket Board Bissoondyal Singh, former West Indies cricketers Devendra Bishoo and Jamaican Marlon Samuels among others.

Giving the feature address was Minister Charles Ramson. He congratulated the awardees and the BCB for organizing the event and spoke about what the Government is doing for cricket and cricketers.

The minister reminded of the past greats of Berbice and encouraged the present cricketers to up their game to emulate what was achieved before.
He said that Guyana is a country with a small population and Berbice may have the distinction of producing the most test players per capita.

Minister Ramson reminisced on 1975 when West Indies won the first cricket World Cup. The team was led by Guyanese Sir Clive Lloyd. There were five Guyanese in the squad with three Berbicians, notably Roy Fredericks, Rohan Kanhai and Alvin Kallicharran the other player being Lance Gibbs,
Ramson said that cricket is our number one sport and we must invest in it. He said that Stadiums are being built at Albion and Palmyra in Berbice, in Linden and in Anna Regina, Essequibo.

The minister stated that, “We possess the capabilities to be the best in the world but, making the team is just the start.”

Minister of Natural Resources and Patron of the BCB, Vickram Bharrat, in a wide raging address told the awardees to never give up on their dreams.
He stated that, “Our cricketers have to be trained in off-field aspects of their cricket- discipline, public speaking and etiquette among others. Education is key he noted.

He questioned why Berbice is not reproducing their youth level success to the senior inter-county level. Bharrat, a former cricketer, has agreed to sponsor two weeks of coaching across Berbice.

GCB President, Bissoondyal Singh, congratulated all the awardees and recognised the hard work of the BCB.

Singh spoke of the strong tradition of Berbice cricket over the years. He highlighted plans of the GCB to assisting the BCB in the future. Among those plans are Cricket development, the expansion of coaching clinics, school competitions and talent identification programmes.

He stated that the GCB will spend $400,000 in sponsoring six full-time academies with coaches across the county for both and girls and boys ages seven to 17. A two days first division club competition will be sponsored, while the GCB has increased its subvention to the BCB from $2.5M to $5M per annum.
All other expenditures, including wages, will be fully paid by the GCB.

Regional Executive Officer Narendra Persaud in his remarks, congratulated the awardees and the BCB for organizing the event. He highlighted the contribution made by the Regional Administration in assist the BCB and cricketers in general.

President of the BCB Dr Cecil Beharry in his address stated that, “We took over a Board under a cloud of suspicion with a financial audit hanging over our heads but we have used this audit to our advantage.”

He highlighted achievements of the BCB over the year and plans for the year 2025.

He thanked all those who supported including Dr Allister Denbow and Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh for their sponsorship over the years. He also sought every support going forward.

Former West Indies star, Marlon Samuels, was a special guest at the function. Also spoke to the gathering and congratulated the awardees and the BCB for organizing the activity.

The awardees were -The senior male cricketer of the year went to Junior Sinclair of the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sport Club (RHTYSC).

The senior female cricketer of the Year award went to Sheneta Grimmond of the RHTYSC.

West Indies left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie was named the international cricketer of the year.

West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph received the award for the best ‘International Performance’ of the year, with his 7-68 against Australia.

The Under 19 Cricketer of the Year is Rampersaud Ramnauth. The female Under-19 Cricketer of the Year is Crystal Durant. The under-17 cricketer of the year is Afraz Ali Budhu. Under-15 Cricketer of the Year is Adrian Hetmyer, while the under-13 cricketer of the Year is Leon Reddy.

The most improved junior Cricketer of the Year is Gilbert Griffith. The most Improved female cricketer is Danielle Manns. The most Disciplined cricketer is Okasie Boyce. Junior Performance of the year award went to Romario Ramdeholl.

The Second Division Player of the Year for West Berbice is Kevon Jawahir, for New Amsterdam /Canje is Ramnarine Jugisteer, for Upper Corentyne its Trevon Sukhu, while for Central Corentyne its Naresh Kissoon.

West Indies selectee Kevlon Anderson got a special award for outstanding and consistent performance. Test Player Kevin Sinclair also received an award for outstanding performance.

Guyana U-19 Female captain Realeanna Grimmond and U19 female player Trisha Hardat also received special awards.

Former West Indies pacer and current Guyana female coach, Tremayne Smartt, copped the Coach of the Year award. Imran Moakan was named Umpire of the Year.

The RHTYSC was named the senior Club of the Year. Junior Club of the Year is Rose Hall Community Centre.

Second Division Clubs of the Year awards went to – for West Berbice Cotton Tree Diehard, for NA/Canje Tucber Park, for Central Corentyne to Whim Community Centre and for Upper Corentyne to Number 70 Sparta.

The BCB inducted long serving Administrator Angela Haniff into its Hall of Fame.

Sponsors recognized include Dr Frank Denbow, Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, Beharry, Anil Lalsa, Orvin Mangru, LGSS Alumni, Wazir Ali and Romario Shepherd.

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• Berbice Cricket Board, Gudakesh Motie, Samuel Whyte, Shenika Grimmond

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