The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) rolled out its ground enhancement project Thursday at the Scottsburg Cricket Ground, Upper Correntyne.
The programme is the brainchild of BCB boss, Hilbert Foster, who disclosed during the launch, that during his county-wide travels, the main concern of club executives was the inability to properly prepare venues due to the lack of equipment to cut the grass.
“The Berbice Cricket Board is very committed to making a positive difference and to taking our cricket to another level. We accepted your decision to vote us in as your executives and it is a mandate we take very seriously. In the history of Berbice cricket no administration has ever worked so hard to assist clubs as the current one and I wish to assure that in the coming months, your different clubs would continue to benefit even more as we unveil more projects,” Foster said.
Foster pointed out that in the past many matches had to be postponed due to this problem and as a result a decision was made to correct the issue.
According to a release from the board, at least 24 grass cutters are expected to be distributed to the four sub-associations.
Foster indicated that five cutters were handed over to Upper Corentyne Cricket Association (UCCA) while committing to donating another three in the near future.
He disclosed that the BCB had received assistance from long time sponsor Dr Tulsi Dyal Singh, businessman Jason Sripal of J Supermarket and had also used some of its own funds for the much needed project. The BCB president cautioned the clubs present to take care of the equipment and not to use them for personal work and to appreciate the hard work of his executives over the last three years.
BCB Public Relations Officer Simon Naidu expressed thanks to Dr Singh for his support and Jason Sripal for their support of the special project.
UCCA president Dennis D’ Andrade hailed the outstanding leadership of the BCB and described Foster as a remarkable leader who is always on the ground to listen to advice plus offering solutions. He stated that no other BCB leader has visited his sub association as much as the current president who has paid over 100 visits since his election in 2018.
Clubs in the Ancient County have benefitted from donations of cricket gear, water pitchers, coaching equipment, bicycles, stumps, scoring books, educational materials ,trophies, medals, cricket balls among other items from the board over the last three years at the combined cost of over $15,000,000.
The release highlighted that the 2021 season would be restarting as soon as the weather improves and more importantly, when the majority of the players are fully vaccinated. The board has successfully hosted 19 finals for this year before the season was suspended due to the increasing COVID-19 cases and another 23 tournaments are on hold at the junior, female and senior levels.
