Dear Editor
Region 6 – East Berbice – is the cricketing headquarters not only for Guyana, but the entire Caribbean. It is the area that produced several Test cricketers, and in one village as many as three played in Test matches at the same time which no doubt was historic. I refer to Rohan Kanhai, Basil Butcher and Joe Solomon playing for the West Indies at the same time. Ivan Madray also from Port Mourant also played two Test matches and later Alvin Kalicharran, also of Port Mourant joined the ranks. John Trim, who was born at Skeldon, but grew up at Port Mourant was the first Berbician to play Test cricket. Randolph Ramnarace, also of Port Mourant played international cricket and was included in the Rest of the World Squad.
Other cricketers who played Test cricket from the famous Region 6 include Leonard Baichan, Sew Shivnarine, Narsingh Deonarine and a few others, but there are several other outstanding Berbicians who played for Guyana including top-notch swing bowler, ‘Sugar Boy’ Baijnauth, batsman and outstanding fieldsman Sonny Moonsammy, spinner Indal Persaud another Port Mourant player.
The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) is now celebrating its 75th anniversary and the BCB is honouring its Test and national players by naming cricket grounds and pavilions after Trim, Kanhai, Butcher, Solomon, Madray, Kalicharran, Fredericks and Baichan. The Guyana Government, GuySuCo, the Ministries of Sports and Public Service are assisting the BCB in the month long celebration, and Region 6 Chairman David Armogan said that his region with the assistance of the government will go all out to ensure that East Berbice continues to produce international cricketers. He said that his office will work assiduously with the Ministry of Sport and the BCB to encourage youths to be involved in the sport and strive towards reaching national and international level.
Armogan said that efforts will be made to ensure that the region has a cricket coach, there are adequate facilities for the summer game and that there are constant tournaments and competitions at different levels.
President Donald Ramotar will attend the award and presentation ceremony of the BCB on Sunday. Former cricket administrators including myself who served as Secretary during 1965 and 1966 will also be honoured at the function which will be held at Port Mourant.
Yours faithfully,
Oscar Ramjeet
