Despite the coronavirus crisis affecting global sport, the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is using the off season to strengthen its capacity to further develop cricket and also make a positive difference in the lives of the less fortunate.
With the season closed since late February, the BCB office has also been closed, but the staff are still being paid. The BCB is currently hosting a coronavirus food hamper drive along with ten cricket teams of the RHTY&SC, MS, to distribute 500-600 hampers to less fortunate families across Berbice, while it is also sharing out face masks as well in its efforts to combat the deadly virus.
The BCB is also on the verge of creating a Berbice Cricket flag and emblem as it forges ahead with its vision. The flag would be flown at all BCB cricket finals and events, while the emblem would also be placed on all BCB souvenirs, including Inter-county caps, shirts, cups among others.
In another major investment, the BCB has received two lengths of pitch covers. The covers have a length of 50 feet each and a width of 20 feet and would be stored at the Albion Cricket Ground on a fulltime basis.
The donation was made possible with the assistance of former BCB President Anil Beharry, who obtained support under his Friends of Berbice Cricket programme. Those making donations were Noreen Gaskin of Sentinel Security, Tyler and Mia, Kalvin Somrah, Renwick Beharry, Raj Rebhel Mathura, Ian Bhagwandhin and Khemraj Tageram.
A delighted BCB President Hilbert Foster stated that the policy of his board is to become self-reliance in an effort to cut operational costs, so that more funds can be pumped into developmental programmes such as coaching.
With the BCB now having its own cricket covers, the Competition Committee is now in a better position to organise semi-finals and finals at non-traditional venues, where there are no covers.
Under Foster’s leadership, the BCB has organised semi-finals and finals at non-traditional venues like Fyrish, Number 69, Cotton Tree, Number 72 Cut and Load and Hampshire in an effort to promote the game at the grassroot level and this would be expanded when the cricket season restarts later in the year.
Since the election of the Foster-led administration, the BCB has also undertaken the complete restoration of its New Amsterdam-based head office and has obtained items for the smooth operation of its business.
The BCB hopes in the future to purchase its own vehicle, construct a modern indoor cricket facility and to host a Premier Professional League for its cricketers.
The President expressed gratitude to the contributors to the Friends of Berbice Cricket Fund and reassured them that the covers would be taken care of. The first edition of the fund raised G$830,000 in 2018 and it was used to purchase cricket balls for clubs across the county. (BCB)
