Guyana and West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine was named the Senior Cricketer of the Year 2007 when the Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) held its first awards ceremony last Saturday at the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School, Area ‘H’ Rose Hall, Corentyne.
Addressing the small gathering that included Mayor of New Amsterdam Claude Henry, Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board and President of the Georgetown Cricket Association Bish Panday and former Guyana and West Indies middle order batsman Basil Butcher, chairman of the Special Events committee of the BCBC Hilbert Foster stated that the event was scheduled to be held a while ago, but unforeseen circumstances had affected the timing.
“Over the past decade persons attending the AGM of the BCBC would have heard me clamouring for the Board to do more to improve the game in the county of Berbice starting with an awards ceremony but sadly, my pleas fell on deaf ears.”
Foster continued: “These same activities and programmes had worked miracles at my club, Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, and also helped to transform the image of the club from one that was just surviving into Guyana’s best and most dynamic youth organization and I am confident that the same can be done with the BCBC.
“I never had any intentions of working along with the BCBC, but after some changes in the leadership in late 2007 and with much pleading from close friends, I took up the offer to work along with the Board for a one-year period in order to have the changes and programmes I was clamouring for bear fruit, thus the birth of the Special Events Committee of which I am privileged to head.”
Key to success
“The key to success is to dream big and then dedicate yourself into making that dream a reality. In two months this committee has achieved a great deal and has started a process of transforming the image of cricket in Berbice and intend to make the BCBC the role model of all cricket boards in the Caribbean as failure or laziness is not part of any body I am heading,” Foster declared.
He noted that already for this year they had already achieved some of their goals, including the first ever BCBC Educational Awards scheme where school and hygiene kits valued at $10,000 had been distributed to 20 cricketers from across the board’s membership along with a $400,000 donation comprising hygiene kits, stationery, educational packages, detergents and office equipment from RHTY&SC to the board.
There is also a monthly television programme on NCN titled ‘Cricket in Berbice’ which is used to keep all
stakeholders in Berbice cricket updated on developments.
Foster also took the opportunity to launch the board’s first quarterly leaflet that will be used to inform shareholders of developments taking place on the board. The leaflet will be printed in March, June, September and December of every year and will be issued to all clubs in Berbice.
“With all those dreams being made a reality and others waiting in the wings to bear fruit, I must say thanks to the hard working members of the Special Events Committee including second vice president David Black, Secretary Angela Haniff, Treasurer Anil Beharry, DTV’s Gregory Rambarran, Dhieranidranauth Somwaru, Samuel Whyte and coach Winston Smith. ”
There are several more events earmarked by the committee including their Tribute to Heroes Programme through manager of the senior Guyana cricket team Carl Moore, former president Malcolm Peters, Seelochan Singh, umpire Rafik Lattiff and Mortimer George would each be the recipients of a special plaque.
There is also the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB)/Scotia Bank countrywide Kiddies Cricket programme, one-week cricket academy which will be held in August for an elite Berbice under-15 squad at a venue to be named.
Meanwhile, the committee will be launching the first ever Berbice Cricket Hall of Fame in May with a gala opening ceremony.
Rohan Khanai, Basil Butcher, Joe Solomon, John Trim, Roy Fredericks and Alvin Kallicharan, six of the country’s greatest cricketers, will be inducted and the committee is confident that the Hall of Fame would inspire young and upcoming cricketers to follow in their footsteps.
Butcher in his feature address, called on former players to give back to the game in some form or the other and encouraged young cricketers to seek advice from older persons who have played the game, especially at the highest level.
“Yes, of course we must have a few people who may not necessarily have played the game, but are successful in business which is good since they will be an asset in terms of marketing strategies. But we must have former players involved and playing a major role in the administration of the game. It is important that those who have played the game before attach themselves to a club or clubs of their choice and impart to the young players whatever knowledge they would have on the game. Whatever is happening in West Indies cricket today has started at the bottom and it is there that we need to stamp it out from.”
The former Port Mourant cricketer, who is also one of 12 Berbicians to have represented the West Indies, urged the young cricketers in the gathering to get involved in the affairs of their club when their playing days were over.
Guyana and West Indies middle order batsman Narsingh Deonarine was named the Senior Regional Cricketer of the Year while his team mate Assad Fudadin was named the Senior Inter-county Cricketer of the Year.
Other recipients of awards were national female captain Tremayne Smartt (Female Cricketer of the Year), Kevon Joseph (under-15 player of the year), Harrinarine Chattergoon (under-17 player of the year), Sewnarine Chattergoon (Most Disciplined Player), Adrian Amsterdam (Coach of the Year), Dhieranidranauth Somwaru (Umpire of the Year) and Paul Wintz (Most Improved Player).
Dominique Ricky (batsman), Shemaine Campbell, Lloydel Lewis, Shawn Perreira, Gudakesh Motie, Jermaine John and Kevin Ramdeen received awards for being the most promising players.
Port Mourant Junior High School was adjudged the School of the Year and Albion Community Centre the Team of the Year. Another national player Royston Crandon received an award for his century-making debut in the 2006 regional Carib Beer tournament. He made 101 against the Windward Islands.
National Under-19 coach Hubern Evans was honoured for his long and dedicated service to the game of cricket as a coach and first division player in Berbice.
After the presentation, the awardees and invitees were treated to a luncheon held at the St Francis Xavier Annex restaurant.
