The Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) has amended its constitution to allow its presidents to remain longer in office.
The BCB had passed a motion under previous president, Keith Foster, to limit the presidency to three, two-year terms.
However Foster’s brother and current president Hilbert, will benefit from the amendment which now allows presidents to serve for five consecutive, two-year terms.
According to a press release from the BCB, member clubs recently passed a motion by 32 votes to nil, during a special meeting at the Port Mourant Cricket Ground, to make the necessary amendment to the constitution.
The change was approved by the representatives of 10 member clubs and three sub-associations.
Five clubs had submitted a motion to BCB secretary, Angela Haniff, seeking a special meeting to amend the constitution as they felt that the county cricket needs continuity of strong and productive leadership, the release stated.
Representatives of the clubs noted that when the current leadership took over, Berbice cricket was on the verge of collapse and they were very satisfied with the unmatched development and progress over the last four years.
Current President Hilbert Foster who enjoys widespread support among clubs in the county is one month into his third term of two years which ends in December, 2023 and could seek an additional two more terms if he so desires.
Foster, stepped down from chairing the meeting when the motion was being considered, allowing vice president of administration, Albert Smith, a former national coach, to guide the motion and conduct the vote.
The clubs which submitted the motion were Mt. Sinai CC, Guymine CC, Rose Hall CCCC, Chesney CC and Kildonan CC.
The five clubs received the support of the West Berbice Cricket Association, Upper Corentyne Cricket Association, Berbice River Cricket Association, Whim CC, Port Mourant CC, Police SC, Mental Hospital and Rose Hall Town Youth and Sports Club.
Two clubs were absent while illness forced representatives of another to leave the meeting before the vote, with the motion needing a minimum of 26 votes to pass the two thirds majority, it was successful with all 32 votes present.
Members also approved the audited financial report of the BCB, the release stated. The report covered the period November 2019 to October 31st 2020. The statement was adopted 32-0 with members hailing the board for its track record of providing audited reports with a clean bill of health since it took office in 2018. The financial report for the period up to October 2021 would be submitted for approval shortly by members.
Delegates also authorized the executives of the BCB to consider an application from the Tucber Park Cricket Club for full membership of the BCB. The executives will set up a five-man committee to look into the request before taking it back to the full membership for final approval.
Meanwhile, the BCB also took the opportunity to hand over pitch covers worth $340,000 to the Upper Corentyne Cricket Association for the clubs in the area.
The board has also paid for another two covers which would be collected shortly, bringing the total to five covers across the county- an investment of close to $1.7 M, the release stated.
Foster expressed thanks to Minister Susan Rodrigues and the management of Vitality Inc., for the investment into Berbice cricket.
The BCB also handed over funds to the Chesney CC after the club had sought sponsorship to purchase two 30 feet by 40 feet tarpaulins that will be used to cover their pitch in the event of rain. Funds were also approved to assist the Whim, Kildonan and Port Mourant Cricket Clubs along with the Berbice Cricket Association with tarpaulins as great effort is made to stop matches been affected by the weather.
