BCB executives, Labour Minister discuss areas of mutual engagement

The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has been busy meeting with senior officials since the newly-elected Government took office.

The BCB, led by Hilbert Foster, has so far held very successful meetings with several Government Ministers, including Minister of Sport Charles Ramson Jr., Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, Attorney General Anil Nandlall and Minister of Natural Resources, Vickram Bharrat.

Last week, Bharrat was inducted as the BCB Patron, donating $1 million and a large quantity of cricket gear to aid in cricket development in the county.

The Minister of Agriculture sponsored a cricket tournament and also provided sponsorship for a University of Guyana one-year scholarship. Commitment of cooperation were also received from the other senior officials.

More recently, Foster led a seven-member delegation to meet with Minister of Labour, Joseph Hamilton, in a one-hour meeting at the St. Francis Community Developers Training Centre, Rose Hall Town.

The two delegations discussed a wide range of topics, including vocational training for youth, leadership seminar for club management, cooperation to tackle child abuse and child labour, along with the hosting of a cricket tournament.

Minister Hamilton indicated that he was really interested in working along with the BCB as he was impressed with its work and linkage with youths.

Head of the Industrial Board, Richard Maughn, spoke broadly on the training programmes associated with the Ministry after the BCB Head indicated an interest in getting young cricketers trained in areas that would allow them to gain meaningful employment.

Noting that not all youths would be able to pass with flying colours at the CSEC level, Foster noted that gaining skills to become a carpenter, mechanic or a tailor can assist them to gain an income and take them away from a life of crime.

Minister Hamilton mandated the BIT Head to have follow-up discussions with the BCB to organise some sessions.

Foster also expressed disappointment at the level of management at the club level in Berbice and the need for the hosting of leadership skill seminars for the younger level. This would also be discussed further with the hope to organise seminars in the near future.

The BCB also sought to obtain the cooperation of the Ministry to work along to stop child abuse and child labour in the county.

Minister Hamilton mandated the Chief Labour Officer Charles Ogle to work along with Foster to have a campaign involving posters and billboards, while he also committed to having discussions with the Minister of Sport concerning the hosting of a cricket tournament by his Ministry to raise awareness on the issue of child abuse.

Foster expressed gratitude to the Minister for taking time out to meet with the Board and stated that the BCB looks forward to a successful relationship.