The Berbice Cricket Board of Control (BCBC) earlier this week paid tribute to national under-19 coach and former Guyana first class player Hubern Evans for 35 years of service to Berbice cricket.
Evans who is still active in Berbice first division cricket represented both Berbice and Guyana at the first class level and has served the BCBC as a coach, vice president, executive member, representative on the Guyana Cricket Board, liaison officer and selector.
BCBC treasurer Anil Beharry in his address said Evans is an institution in Berbice cricket. He said Evans had given 35 years of unselfish service to the BCBC and praised him for staying the course especially since others had left for greener pastures. Beharry said Evans nurtured numerous cricketing talent over the years including Damodar Dasrath, Gajanand Singh, Richard Ramdeen and Seon Hetmyer. The BCBC bestowed him with a Tribute to Heroes certificate and trophy.
Evans was among several long-serving cricketing officials the board recognised. Fourteen club officials and six former Berbice Test players were also honoured in the Tribute to Heroes Programme. The six players were inducted into the Hall of Fame. Test player Sewnarine Chattergoon was also honoured along with four umpires, as the BCBC recognised service both on and off the field.
Through its Special Events Committee (SEC) the BCBC handed over $140,000 worth of cricket gear to the Police, Whim and Chesney cricket clubs.
The donation comprised cricket bats and pads and was donated to assist the clubs in their youth development programme.
SEC Chairman Hilbert Foster said the clubs in the county received unprecedented assistance in 2008 from the BCBC and the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club. Several clubs received cricketing gear worth close to $500,000. Additionally, over $2.5M worth of educational and hygiene kits were shared out to 30 clubs. Funding for the cricket balls came from the Basil Butcher Trust Fund.
Meanwhile, in the BCBC Educational Awards Scheme under-15 cricketers were awarded scholarships, while six secondary schools received prizes and over $80,000 in cricket balls. Several clubs received prizes worth $100,000 to host fundraising activities and 12 under 15 players drawn from first division clubs across the county received $100,000 each to assist in honing their talent.
