Guyana Chronicle article.
Georgetown, Guyana - Last Sunday, the Developmental Programme of the Guyana Cricket Board (GCB) showed its face in the mining Town of Linden, where members of the GCB met with representatives of East Bank Demerara Cricket Association (EBDCA) and Linden, at the Bayrock ground.
Honorary Secretary of the GCB, Anand Sanasie, and GCB Territorial Developmental Officer (TDO) Colin Stuart were on hand to hold discussions with Regional Chairman of Region 10, Sharma Solomon, president of the EBDCA Rohan Sarjoo, president of the Upper Demerara Cricket Committee (UDCC) Lancelot Easton, with regard to the growth of cricket among other items.
According to Sanasie, Easton continuously petitioned the GCB for help and for the past 15 years, whenever he went to the Bayroc ground, he saw cricket being played or some sort of developmental work ongoing, for which he is happy.
Even during their visit last Sunday, a cricket match was being contested at the venue between the home team and Sandpipers. As a result Sanasie said the GCB finds it necessary to aid in the progress of the sport in the Region.
“As part of the GCB Developmental Programme, we have been going around the country assisting clubs and associations to expand and develop cricket in various ways. Today we are giving $250 000 to Bayrock Club to develop cricket and an additional $250 000 to the regional authority to partner and assist the Cricket Committee with its cricket programmes.
“Additionally, we are now donating six cricket bats and five boxes of cricket balls with more equipment to follow,” said Sanasie, who also pledged four truckloads of special dirt to rebuild the cricket wickets at the Bayrock ground.
In his brief remarks, Solomon thanked the GCB for its move and promised to put the contribution to proper and meaningful use.
“Cricket has always been a feature in sports in Region 10, and this is one of the most impressive moments in cricket in this Region. We are very grateful on behalf of the many cricketers and potential cricketers. Thanks for this gesture. We can assure you that your assistance will be used wisely by the authority for cricket here,” stated Solomon.
Easton said this effort from the GCB is a step towards development, and he is hopeful that more players from Linden will represent Demerara and end up representing Guyana in the near future.
“This is the best we have gotten from any cricket fraternity in Guyana for the 35 years I have been in cricket. We have a lot of good young cricketers but only one (Stephon Browne) managed to make the Demerara Under-19 team this year.
“We are looking to get more young players involved. So we are extremely thankful to the GCB for giving us a push. This is the beginning of better things for cricket in Linden,” assured Easton.
Sarjoo thanked the GCB for assisting Linden, Farm and Providence, with the clubs at Farm and Providence, according to Sarjoo, also receiving tangible donations from the GCB which will be used to improve their facilities.
First Published In The Guyana Chronicle.