Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club (RHTY&SC) honoured 40 of its members on the occasion of the institution’s 21st Annual Awards Ceremony at the J.C. Chandisingh Secondary School last Sunday.
Secretary/CEO of the of the RHTY&SC Hilbert Foster and Assistant Secretary Nermala Sewdat, who also chaired the event, described the event as the biggest in the organisation’s history.
Foster, in giving a six-page review of the club’s activities over the past year, disclosed that it had completed a record breaking 121 projects and programmes which were designed to touch and transform the lives of thousands of youths, the elderly and the less fortunate.
Regarding cricket, the long serving Secretary/CEO highlighted that the club had won the Berbice Under-15, Under-17, Under-19, Under-23 titles, along with the national female championships last year February and the Busta Cup. Several of the club’s players also represented Guyana over the last few years.
Under-15 captain Shawn Pereira, Parmanand Narine, Dominic Rikhi, Esuan and Royston Crandon, Assad Fudadin, Shemaine Campbelle, Erva Giddings, Niketa Toney and Melanie Henry were those players.
He also noted the dozens of projects held under its anti-drugs, pro-education, charity, community development, religious and social themes.
These included annual Youth Magazine, television programmes, weekly Feeding of the Poor, Cricket Academy, Educational Summer Camp, Tribute to Senior Citizens, Tribute to Heroes, Tribute to Retired Teachers, Tribute to Teachers, Educational Scholarships, Mothers and Fathers Day Luncheons and Christmas Charity Programmes.
The RHTY&SC, during last September, also observed its 21st anniversary and a total of 26 projects were completed to commemorate the historic achievement. Foster also reported that the institution distributed over $15M worth of educational and hygiene materials and $3M worth of sports gear.
In addition, he also disclosed that the RHTY&SC used its office to raise over $10M for the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) and also co-produced the Board’s annual cricket magazine and DVD production. The outspoken secretary praised the team of youthful executives running the operation of the RHTY&SC since October last year.
He expressed gratitude to the four hundred sponsors and donors to the NGO, especially its official sponsors, Cellink, Bakewell, Gizmos & Gadgets, Farfan & Mendes Ltd, Metro Office Supplies, Universal DVD and Demerara Distributors Limited through its Pepsi brand.
President of the RHTY&SC Keith Foster praised the membership of his organisation for maintaining the high tradition of success and discipline, noting that the RHTY&SC is a household name in Guyana. Foster, who is also the president of the BCB urged his fellow club members to always strive to “raise the bar as success is only achieved via hard work and sacrifice.”
He noted that while most clubs in Guyana are “just holding their heads above water,” the RHTY&SC believes that “failure is not part of its vocabulary.”
Anil Beharry, BCB, and Bissoondyal Singh of the Guyana Cricket Board also spoke briefly.
Guest speaker and CEO of Ansa Mc Al (Guyana) Beverley Harper spoke on the need of maintaining high standards. The veteran businesswoman and sports administrator believes that the RHTY&SC should be emulated and seen as a positive role model not only in Guyana but also the Caribbean.
Harper spoke widely on the importance of vision, education, discipline and team unity. She urged the audience to continue working as a team and to serve those less fortunate than themselves, while pledging her company’s assistance in the programmes of the club.
A total of $2.5M worth of trophies, medals, prizes and gifts were presented to the awardees, special invitees, members of the media and the club’s over-35 group.
Twenty-six-year-old middle order batsman Jason Sinclair carried home the Elite Cricketer of the Year award and took home over $250,000 in prizes including a gold chain and ring, electric fan, cell phone, land phone, pair of shoes, watch set, cosmetics, electric iron and several food hampers.
Each of the awardees received a trophy while some received medals. Among the gifts shared out were educational packages, kitchen utensils, designer clothing, footwear, cell phones, bicycles, household items, electrical appliances, hampers and cosmetics.
Sinclair in a heartfelt vote of thanks expressed profound gratitude to the club and its many sponsors for taking the time to honour the cricketers and making them feel special.
The full list of awardees:
Under-13 Batsman – Brandon Prasad.
Under-13 Bowler/Cricketer – Daniel Lewis.
Farfan & Mendes Under-15 Batsman – Parmanand Narine
Farfan & Mendes Under-15 Bowler/Cricketer – Shawn Pereira
Pepsi Under-19 Batsman – Dominic Rikhi.
Pepsi Under-19 Bowler/Cricketer – Loyydel Lewis
Bakewell Second Division Batsman – Collis Cort.
Bakewell Second Division Bowler/Cricketer – Shawn Pereira
Gizmos & Gadgets First Division Bowler – Erva Giddings.
Gizmos & Gadgets First Division Batter/Cricketer – Shemaine Campbelle.
Most Discipline (Male) – Devin Baldeo.
Most Discipline (Female) – Nermala Sewdat.
Most Committed Cricketer – Dominic Rikhi.
Most Committed Member – Kumar Madray.
Most Improved – Jamal Jarvis.
Promising Player of the Year – Jason Anderson.
Fielder of the Year – Troy Mathieson.
Manager of the Year – Patrick Lewis.
Coach of the Year – Moonish Singh.
Workers of the Year – Moonish Singh, Runners up – Ravi Narine and Nermala Sewdat.
Benefit Year – 2010 – Assad Fudadin.
Benefit Year – 2011 – Delbert Hicks.
Athlete of the Year 2010 – Nermala Sewdat.
Guyana Cricketers (Male) – Esuan Crandon, Royston Crandon and Assad Fudadin.
Guyana Cricketers (Female) – Shemaine Campbelle. Erva Giddings, Nikita Toney and Melanie Henry.
West Indies A Player – Assad Fudadin.
West Indies Female Player – Shemaine Campbelle.
Dedicated Club Membership (Service) – Dawn Hicks, Keith Hicks, Bernadette King, Hermala Sewdat, Kevin Deolall and Joyce Wiggins.
Coaches Promising Players: Kumar Madray, Arif Chan, Javed Seecharran, Deresh Seenarine, Jermaine Anderson, Nazrudeen Bux, Phaffiana Millington, Kevin Deolall and Veramootoo Senwasie.
