Georgetown Cricket Club (GCC) ground, Bourda will soon be transformed into private booths for various ventures from prospective tenants, according to president of the organization, Lionel Jaikaran.
Jaikaran told Stabroek Sport that the aim of such a move is to ensure that every square inch of the ground “can induce a cash flow.”
This newspaper also understands that the club is in negotiations with a group to have a “fine dining” restaurant established on the top floor of the main pavilion. The future of the historic ground had come under a cloud because Test cricket has shifted to the national stadium at Providence.
Another proposal would be for persons to rent other areas of the ground to conduct computer classes and other feasible ventures. These ideas are still in their embryonic stages but one certainty at this time is that the club’s executive is currently looking at ways to raise funds to have the entire ground floodlit.
This is the most immediate project and it is expected to cost approximately $18M. Jaikaran pointed out that this is projected to be completed by the end of July. A fundraiser in the form of a barbecue and family fun-day will be held on May 1.
Apart from that, the empty lot which once housed the Clive Lloyd stand will have an all-weather facility for cricket, tennis and hockey. This is expected to be completed later in the year, according to Jaikaran’s projection.
Further, Jaikaran revealed that all the stands at the Caribbean’s oldest cricket club will be “spruced up” for the two-day practice match between a President’s XI and the touring Pakistan team from May 8-9. These works are expected to start in a month’s time.
Jaikaran also stated that works were done on the drainage system at the ground and according to him it is fifty percent better now, with water receding faster than before.
These projects are slated go ahead although the Government of Guyana had promised last year to submit a proposal to the executive bodies of the GCC and Georgetown Football Club (GFC) on a possible merger to create a football and athletics facility. When Stabroek Sport enquired whether the GCC had received any word from the government on the status of proposal, Jaikaran said he had gotten no word since last May.
The Bourda ground was opened in 1884. The venue hosted its first Test match in February 1930 between West Indies and England. The Caribbean side won by 289 runs and George Headley scored a century in each innings.
Cricket matches between Trinidad & Tobago and GCC were also played there from as early as 1883, and later between GCC and teams from Britain in 1895 and 1897.
When renewed word of a merger emerged last year many persons lamented the possible destruction of the Mecca of cricket in the Caribbean.
