Dear Editor,
On Sunday last, I felt so proud to be a Berbician when I attended the Annual General Meeting of the Berbice Cricket Board and observed first-hand how the cricket community of Berbice stood up to make sure that the progress that Berbice cricket has enjoyed over the last decade would continue under tested and proven leadership.
Persons who are responsible for the dismal state of Essequibo, Demerara and Guyana cricket tried to install friends of theirs, so that they can have complete power and domination of the whole country.
Millions of dollars were spent all of a sudden, to show that they cared about the clubs in Berbice, while Stanford-style 20/20 showpiece tournaments were organised in an effort to impress voters. The Guyana Cricket Board which had withheld funds from Berbice cricket and which never visited the county was suddenly visible, handing out gear to clubs and individuals as elections were getting near.
With the highly popular President of the Berbice Cricket Board unable to return to office due to the constitution, the destroyers of Guyana’s cricket sensed an opportunity to seize power in the county. Apart from gear and huge funds to clubs, numerous Berbicians were appointed to coaching positions at the Guyana Cricket Board while many were also appointed managers of the Guyana cricket teams. An unsanctioned visit to the Berbice River by a retired cricket coach was also organised and paid for by the Guyana Cricket Board, to garner votes from the Berbice River Cricket Association, while a seventy-three year old umpire who has never umpired at an inter-county level was suddenly honoured. The main reason was because he was a voting delegate.
Clubs like Kildonan, Whim, Chesney, Rose Hall Canje, Police and Upper Corentyne were shocked to know that the Guyana Cricket Board knew they existed when they received gear and funds to assist them. Delegates to the Berbice Cricket Board were even more surprised to receive personnel to a 20/20 tournament organised by the presidential candidate and where they were feted like royalty and were spoken to by senior national cricket officials.
What the planners did not cater for was that Berbicians are not only smart people but very proud of the state of Berbice cricket. Unlike Essequibo and Demerara, Berbice cricket is well organised and Anil Beharry is someone who is well respected for his proven leadership. Beharry, a cricket administrator with over 20 years experience at the Berbice Cricket Board is a highly admired banking executive whose name has never had an adverse mention in the press.
So confident that their list of candidates would have had a landslide victory, two WICB Directors along with a media team were present.
Berbicians, proud as ever, however sent a strong message that while we accepted the contributions towards cricket development, we know who has our cricket at heart and who the best persons are to administer the game.
As someone who has been involved in Berbice cricket for several decades, I am very proud of its development. I am however very disappointed that Mr Hilbert Foster, one of the main reasons for the success of the Berbice Cricket Board announced his retirement from Berbice Cricket as he wants to concentrate on his duties at the Rose Hall Town Youth & Sports Club.
As the Chairman of the Special Events Committee of the Berbice Cricket Board, his achievements are unmatched in Guyana and even the Caribbean, and it is my hope that the new Berbice Cricket Board President would try and get him on board once again. His vast experience and successful record has proved that he is needed in Berbice cricket and every effort must be made to have him available to assist.
Yours faithfully,
(Name and address provided)