Dear Editor,
The rot that has engulfed cricket at the national level has now reached the ancient county, where without doubt it has been the administered cricket in Guyana. Berbice over the last eight years under the visionary and inspiring leadership of Keith Foster and now the highly respectable Anil Beharry has become the envy of every cricket administrator in Guyana. The powers that have destroyed our national game in Essequibo and Demerara are not satisfied, and in their quest for total domination of cricket have now turned their destructive eyes on the only shining spot in Guyana.
The Berbice Cricket Board has over the years worked beyond the call of duty, and together with clubs like Albion, Rose Hall Town, Young Warriors and Bermine have transformed Berbice cricket. Unlike the two other counties, cricket has been played at all levels – Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-21, Intermediate, Inter-zone, Second Division, Female, First Division and now under Beharry’s administration, school cricket, which has returned at all levels. The county has produced players like Deonarine, Fudadin, Bess, Permaul, Bishoo, Campbell, Crandon, Smartt, Giddings, Munroe, Hetmeyer and Motie Chattergoon who has represented the West Indies at different levels. The Berbice Cricket Board off the cricket field has also transformed itself with over 700 projects/programmes that include an annual cricket academy, annual magazine, educational posters, elite training programmes, tribute to heroes, Hall of Fame for players and administrators, Berbice All Time XI teams, and numerous coaching clinics, among others. The Berbice Cricket Board has also assisted dozens of clubs in Berbice with balls, cricket gear and other items, to assist them in fulfilling their mandates. Ironically, the two clubs that sought the injunction against the Berbice Cricket Board benefited on numerous occasions.
Cricket sponsorship is very rare in Guyana and the Guyana Cricket Board, Demerara Cricket Board and Essequibo Cricket Board have hardly attracted any major sponsorship. The outstanding work of the Berbice Cricket Board and financial accountability, in contrast, have resulted in the following companies coming on board over the years: NCN, Tenelec Inc (USA), A Ally & Sons, Ansa McAl, Annirud Ramcharitar, Mohamed Raffik, Bobcat of Berbice, Hand-in-Hand, Spready Bakery, NBS, Republic Bank, Peter Lewis, Berbice River Bridge, Jumbo Jet, G Singh & Sons, Elizabeth Styles (USA), Namilco, Ricks & Sari, Bakewell, Scotia Bank, Demerara Bank and Associated Business Services (ABS). Hundreds of other companies, agencies and individuals have all come on board to support the visionary leadership of the Berbice Cricket Board in its quest to develop the game by sponsoring off-the-field activities, and they include Guyoil, Metro, Sterling Products, New GPC, GTM, Busta, Banks DIH Ltd, Kris Jagdeo, Office of the President, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Sport, Trophy Stall, Impressions and GT&T. The Berbice Cricket Board created history when it became the first and only county board to secure sponsorship for its inter-county teams.
Cricket administration in Guyana is now at the mercy of several individuals whose only interest is to remain directors of the WICB. They destroyed Essequibo and Demerara and despite numerous attempts could not get their way in Berbice. In an effort to get a footing in the county, they got one of their associates installed as President of a struggling club and then pumped millions of dollars to assist clubs with gear and pitch covers. Certain club delegates, including a retired umpire, were honoured at the ripe old age of 73 years. What is laudable is that clubs that they now claim do not exist received gear, including Kildonan Cricket Club. Their efforts were however defeated; Berbicians as some politicians are now realizing, are very smart people and they know who has their interest at heart.
On the day of the Berbice Cricket Board elections, those who wanted to take over turned up with a full press corps and champagne in hand. Defeated by a wide margin they retreated and planned again and then chose two cricket lightweights to destroy Berbice cricket with a court challenge. One of those lightweights wanted to become an executive of the Berbice Cricket Board and ran against one of his own, receiving a miserable five votes including four from his own sub-association. What is shocking is that the petitioners are seeking to deprive the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club and Young Warriors Cricket Club of their voting rights. One of the same petitioners voted to accept the two clubs as voting members of the Berbice Cricket Board, a right they have all enjoyed for over two decades. This same individual received the support of those two clubs when he was elected Vice President several years ago. Berbice cricket is strong today because of these two clubs and Albion. They have the best players, the best administration and development programmes.
Editor, the Anil Beharry administration is not only highly respected but highly qualified, representing honest individuals who have the support of clubs, the business sector and 99% of the Berbice cricketing public. The present Berbice Cricket Board administration represents the entire Berbice area – West Berbice, New Amsterdam/Canje/East Bank, Lower Corentyne, Central Corentyne and Upper Corentyne. Each of the executives is highly qualified:
Anil Beharry – former cricket/banking executive; D Somwaru – retired headmaster/international umpire; Qualis Winter – headmaster; Vemen Walter – human resources manager/University of Guyana graduate; Angela Haniff – longstanding Secretary; Plaffiana Millington – Guyana cricketers/national Under-19 Captain; Vicky Bharosay – banking executive; Richardo Bachan – GuySuCo senior staff; Hubern Evans – coach, former national cricketer; Rajiv Bisnauth – highly respected journalist; Julian Cambridge – head teacher; Malcolm Peters – Hall of Fame administrator; Keith Foster – former president/businessman; R Saywack – businessman/cricket club Presidenp; Carl Moore – highly respected cricket administrator.
What is remarkable about this group is that they are not only visionary and brilliant leaders but they have never been involved in any corrupt activities and most importantly have never had their names printed in the national media to appear in the courts for any offence. Berbicians must unite to save their cricket and not allow our game to be hijacked and destroyed. We cannot allow our cricket to become like that of Essequibo and Demerara. We are proud people and with cricket leaders like Beharry, Somwaru, Walter, Winter and others, our cricket is in safe hands.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)
