St. Lawrence Primary crowned ‘Five for Fun’ champions in Guyana

The Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket Programme brought the curtain down on its 2025 season in spectacular style on Saturday, November 15, delivering a finale packed with passion, flair, and fierce competition as St. Lawrence Primary triumphed to claim the national crown in Guyana.

The energy inside the National Gymnasium was electric with music, cheers, bright colours, and the unfiltered joy of youth cricket.

After weeks of zonal and county rivalry across the country, St. Lawrence Primary of Essequibo rose above the rest, edging out a spirited Massiah Primary of Berbice to lift the coveted trophy and cement their place as this year’s national champions.

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Now in its third year in Guyana, the ‘Five for Fun’ Programme continues its impressive growth. What began in 2023 as an exciting new format for introducing cricket to young players has flourished into one of the region’s most impactful grassroots sporting initiatives.

This year’s edition engaged 75 schools across all three counties, exposing hundreds of children to a format built on fun, inclusion, teamwork, and just the right touch of friendly rivalry.

With the rainy season arriving earlier than expected, the national finals moved indoors- yet the intensity, skill, and enthusiasm were undiminished.

Ronald Williams, Secretary of the Guyana Cricket Board, praised the partnership between Cricket West Indies and Republic Bank: “The partnership between CWI and RBL will ensure that our young cricketers have the pathway to develop their skills and to move on progressively from the very tender age into the structured Guyana Cricket from the U-13 level, U-15, U-17, U-19 and onwards.”

Williams also charged the young cricketers with remaining disciplined to make a meaningful contribution: “To be good cricketers you must be disciplined. Your talent must be supplemented by discipline and commitment. Discipline such as discipline to listen to your teachers, discipline in the home, discipline to do homework, discipline to make up your beds, discipline to listen to your parents and discipline to do your errands all inculcate for you to become good cricketers and good people in society.”

Marti De Souza, Deputy Chief Education Officer, applauded Republic Bank for sustaining a programme that aligns closely with President Ali’s vision for well-rounded, active students.

He thanked the organisers and title sponsors, Republic Bank Ltd. for coordinating another successful ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket tournament and congratulated St. Lawrence’s Primary on becoming champions.

He recognised that such a tournament ties in with President Irfaan Ali’s vision of having well rounded pupils and students, who are healthy and active, encouraging the pupils to continue playing cricket, to be focused on their goal, be disciplined and one day, they may represent their county, country or even the West Indies.

He made reference to the Minister Stephen Jacobs, who was a national cricketer himself and who would at some time in his life played cricket at this level, walking the same early-cricket path that many of the children are beginning, eventually going on to represent Guyana.

Jacobs, Minister within the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport, commended Republic Bank for investing deeply in grassroots sport. Firstly, he congratulated Republic Bank Limited for sponsoring sport, especially at the grassroot level.

The former First-Class cricketer also encouraged the pupils to remain disciplined and listen to their coaches to succeed. Minister Jacobs further stated that the Government is implementing policies to have more student athletes developed in both sport and academics.

In closing, Jacobs threw out a challenge to Republic Bank, Cricket West Indies and the Guyana Cricket Board to extend the tournament to capture more than 75 schools and more than 1,500 pupils.

He urged that a structure must be designed that will take tournaments such as the ‘Five for Fun’ deep into the hinterland to discover the talented athletes there and bring them out. He firmly stated, that “Once the pupils get the opportunity, they will excel.”

Jonelle Dummett, Manager Marketing and Communications Republic Bank Guyana Limited expressed:

“This tournament has been a vibrant display of youthful energy and sporting potential. This fast paced, fun, and engaging format of the game has captivated not just the players, but also parents, teachers and coaches.  In the Caribbean and especially in Guyana, cricket is more than just a sport it’s a passion that runs deep in our veins. That’s why Republic Bank is proud to support a programme that does much more than teach cricket. Our goal is to spark curiosity, build confidence and develop skills that can turn today’s young enthusiasts into tomorrow’s cricket legends.

She continued: “Over the past weeks and months, we’ve seen pure dedication and determination from over 500 boys and girls from 75 primary schools across Guyana’s three counties. This speaks volumes about the impact of the ‘Five for Fun’ programme which is built on inclusivity and giving every child a chance to shine. Our success today is due to a regional partnership involving Republic Bank, Cricket West Indies, the Guyana Cricket Board, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sport. Special thanks to the hard-working teams from the Guyana Cricket Board and coaches who have worked tirelessly to train and support these young athletes. The 2025 Guyana edition of the Republic Bank “Five for Fun” programme has been quite spectacular, and I want to reaffirm Republic Bank’s commitment to this venture and our support to the development of the sport.”

KJ Singh, Senior Project Officer- Schools Cricket at Cricket West Indies commented: “The partnership between Cricket West Indies and Republic Bank on the ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket programme is vital. It lays the groundwork for cricket development at both the national and regional levels, allowing hundreds of children in Guyana and other participating Caribbean countries the opportunity to learn and play the game in a fun, engaging way, fostering a lifelong love for the sport.”

He added: “CWI believes that cricket plays a crucial role in promoting early life skills development, empowering youth, and strengthening communities through collaborative efforts and a shared vision. The partnership with Republic Bank through the ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket programme has significantly expanded our reach and participation in all-inclusive cricket. This foundational programme has also provided the cricket community in Guyana and the region with an excellent platform to discover and nurture talented boys and girls, guiding them toward the next level of the national cricket pathway.”

In a commitment to the challenge posed by Minister Steven Jacobs, Singh remarked, “CWI and Republic Bank are dedicated to working together with our stakeholders – the Guyana Cricket Board and the Government of Guyana – to expand our reach to more communities and schools annually, and are committed and excited as we look ahead to the 2026 season of ‘Five for Fun’ Cricket, to continue growing the brand in Guyana.”

Guyana is the fifth and final territory to conclude the Republic Bank ‘Five for Fun’ Programme in 2025, following exciting finales in St. Lucia, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis, and Trinidad and Tobago.

The national showdown featured a round-robin series among the three county champions:

St. Lawrence Primary – East Bank Essequibo (Essequibo)

Massiah Primary – Upper Corentyne (Berbice)

Supply Primary – East Bank Demerara (Demerara)

Outstanding Individual Awards

Best Batter: Tianna Steele – St Lawrence Primary (Essequibo)

Best Bowler: Susanie Turnail – Massiah Primary (Berbice)

Best Fielder: Avidesh Pitam – Massiah Primary (Berbice)

Spirit of the Game: Massiah Primary (Berbice)

Tournament Most Valuable Player: Tianna Steele – St. Lawrence Primary (Essequibo)