The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) last weekend honoured Jerry Karim of Blairmont Village as its Brian Ramphal Father-of-the-Year 2020 as the active cricket board continues to undertake activities off the cricket field in the midst of the coronavirus shutdown of all sporting activities.
Karim is the father of Javed Karim, national youth player and captain of the Blairmont first division team. BCB President Hilbert Foster, MS, handed over the award to the proud father and stated that Karim was a role model parent who should be emulated across Guyana.
Foster stated that every year, the BCB under his leadership honours a special mother and father in recognition of the outstanding work they do in the development of their children’s life.
The programme started when Foster was Chairman of the BCB Special Events Committee under the Presidency of his elder brother, Keith Foster. The Awardee is selected based on personal discipline, role model status as a parent, support of their child’s career and support of Club/BCB activities.
Foster urged Karim to uphold the high standard he has set himself as a parent and to share his experience to the younger generation of parents. Noting that indiscipline and disrespect for authority are major problems in today’s society, the BCB President called on parents to instill the value of discipline into their children.
He also pledged that the BCB would work every day to make a positive difference in the lives of every Berbician, while fulfilling its mandate to uphold the high standard of Berbice Cricket. He expressed frustration that the coronavirus lockdown has stopped numerous developmental programmes that the proactive BCB had in mind for 2020.
These included a professional league tournament, cricket academy, award ceremony, coaching sessions and the construction of an all-weather outdoor pitch. Foster expressed confidence that with everything been equal, Berbice would be back to normal in 2021.
Father-of-the-Year Jerry Karim expressed gratitude to the BCB for honouring him and stated that the board is doing a remarkable job in the administration of the game in the Ancient County.
Javed Karim represented Guyana at the Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels and also plays for West Berbice in the GCB Franchise League. The Father-of-the-Year received a trophy, medal, Certificate of Excellence and a collection of gifts.
