Guyana’s leading youth and sports organization, the Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club, will stage a special T20 cricket tournament in honour of its Patron, His Excellency President David Granger’s 72nd birth anniversary.
President Granger will be celebrating his birthday on July 15 and has given his consent to the RHTY&SC to host the tournament under the name “Patron’s Cup – Guyana’s Green Economy.”
Club Secretary/CEO Hilbert Foster said that the management of the club decided to host the tournament in honour of its outstanding Patron and also in support of his efforts to transform Guyana into a Green Economy. A total of eight teams – two from Demerara and six from Berbice will clash in the tournament which will be played on a knockout basis. The final will be held July 15th at the Albion Community Centre under lights. A prize package of $1M is at stake for teams and outstanding performers including the winner’s prize of $500,000 and a trophy.
Foster stated that the tournament will be well organised and all funds raised from the tournament will be used to purchase school bags and bicycles to assist less fortunate students to stay in school. The RHTY&SC, he stated has already requested that the Berbice and Guyana Cricket Board give their blessings to the tournament and is awaiting a response.
The long-serving Secretary/CEO stated that the Georgetown Cricket Club and the Demerara Cricket Club of Georgetown will officially be invited to be part of the tournament. The six teams from Berbice will be selected shortly but Rose Hall Town Gizmos and Gadgets, Blairmont, Young Warriors and Tucker Park are expected to be part of this historic tournament. The organisers will be in charge of covering the cost of umpires, balls, the Demerara team’s transportation, providing meals for the finals and coloured T/Shirts for the four semi-finalists.
The RHTY&SC has established a working committee headed by Foster and Vice President Mark Papannah to organise the tournament. Other members include Assistant Secretary Simon Naidu, Treasurer Shemaine Campbelle, Cricket Coach Delbert Hicks, Club Captain Shawn Perriera, Public Relations Officer Anil Ramnarine and Assistant Organising Secretary Rabindranauth Kissoonlall to organise the tournament.
The committee will also be in charge of publishing a youth information booklet on Climate Change and the Green Economy which will be distributed free of cost to youths across Berbice. The RHTY&SC and its eight cricket teams hope to raise about $1M this year to assist youths with schoolbags and bicycles as part of its `Say Yes to Education Campaign’.
