Twenty students drawn from clubs in the county of Berbice are expected to benefit from the Educational Awards Scheme which the Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) launched last Thursday at its office in New Amsterdam.
Speaking at the launching ceremony, chairman of the Special Events Committee of the BCBC, Hilbert Foster told the youths who were chosen that they are indeed fortunate to have been selected from among hundreds of others who play the game in Berbice.
“You must consider yourselves lucky and I urge each and everyone of you to cherish this award and make the most of it. Education is the key. Once you receive an education, no one can take it away from you no matter how good a cricketer you are and even with the advent of technology, you must be able to read and write,” Foster said.
Foster who also holds the post of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the acclaimed Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club set out a challenge for the awardees by urging them to top their class at the end of the year so they can receive an extra boost from the Committee.
Also making a brief statement to the students was vice- president of the BCBC, David Black who urged the recipients to cherish the gifts received and to follow the advice given by Foster.
Those receiving awards in their respective clubs are: Veerapen Permaul (Albion), Gary Mc Alister ( Berbice Police), Mark Jackman ( Bermine), Darren Crawford (Blairmont), Davendra Heeralall (Chesney Cricket Club), Kevis Mendonza ( Kildonan), Jamal Joseph (Mental Hospital Cricket Club), Lloydel Lewis (RHTY&SC), Shilendra Shamir (Port Mourant), Udesh Imrit (Rose Hall Community Centre), Rohan Sukhra (RHTY&SC), Bickram Sooknanan (Whim),Seon Hetymyer and Mortimer Fraser (Young Warriors), Khemraj Rampersaud (West Berbice Cricket Association), Akram Razack (Scottsburg), Rakesh Hemraj and Ganesh Dhanessar (Rising Star), Sherwin Osborne (Berbice River Cricket Association) and Clinton Pestano (Skeldon).
The BCBC also has other award programmes planned for the year. These include an award ceremony for the outstanding Under-15, 17, 19 and Senior Inter-County cricketers along with the most outstanding female cricketer.
Outstanding coaches along with first division and school teams will also be acknowledged by the BCBC. The most promising Under-13 players will not be left out, while a Lifetime Achievement Award will be bestowed on the former president of the BCBC, the late Leslie Amsterdam.
The BCBC intends to upgrade its Hall of Fame every two years. Already past Test players, John Trim, Joe Solomon, Roy Fredericks, Basil butcher, Rohan Khanai and Alvin Kallicharan, have been identified as members to be inducted.
The BCBC also has on its agenda, a Tribute to Heroes programme which will kick off during the Regional Carib Beer fifth round match between Guyana and the Combined Colleges and Campuses (CCC) at Albion.
During each luncheon break of this match, an elite Under-13 squad will be selected to showcase their talent to spectators and officials at the ground.
