The rapid development of cricket in the Ancient county continues to motor along at a fast rate as the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) on Sunday last officially launched the historic Shimron/Nirvani Hetmyer Berbice Cricket Trust Fund at the St Francis Community Developers Training Centre.
Approximately seventy cricket clubs received a box of red cricket balls while nine young cricketers from the New Amsterdam/East Bank Berice and Canje area carried home, an education grant of twenty five thousands dollars to purchase much needed school items. Berbice Under 19 player Gourav Ramesh also pocketed twenty thousand dollars after been named the MVP of the recent Guyana Cricket Board under 19 tournament.
BCB President Hilbert Foster called the launching of the trust fund as another red letter day in the development of Berbice cricket as it represents the largest ever investment by a player into the development of the game. The BCB received one million dollars from the Hetmyers for the fund while the board invested an additional one hundred thousand dollars.
Eight hundred thousands dollars were used to purchased the balls, two hundred and twenty five thousands dollars was shared to the nine students while another one hundred thousand is for the honoring of Berbice inter county Most Valuable Players. Foster hailed the West Indies Player for remembering his roots and disclosed that over the last three years ,he has donated millions of dollars to the development of the game. For 2021 alone,in addition to his million dollar sponsorship of the trust fund, Hetmyer has sponsored three cricket tournaments and has assisted numerous charity programmes including assisting a ninety eight years robbery victim in Rose Hall Town.
Foster urged the young players to make their educational career a top goal in life and also urged the clubs to invest heavily into youth development .In a comprehensive report ,the BCB President informed the attentive gathering of plans for 2021 which includes the hosting of the semi professional league, the visit of two international cricketing superstars, distribution of millions of dollars worth of cricket gears from England and India along with the hosting of at least forty tournaments at all levels.
BCB Patron and Minister of Natural Resources Vickram Bharrat in a well received feature address, spoke broadly of the importance of discipline, proper club management, education and the need to give back to society. The BCB Patron urged the clubs to follow the board guidelines for the Covid 19 pandemic especially the wearing of masks, and allowing no spectators into venues.He specially hailed the contribution of Hetmeyer to Berbice Cricket and pledged that as Patron of the BCB, he would work very hard to make sure that every dream is fulfilled across the county. Hetmyer in brief remarks, stated that he was very delighted with the current development taking place in Berbice cricket and felt privileged to give back.
He noted that he clearly remembers his struggles growing up and as such wanted to assist as much as possible, so that other youths can realised their dreams ,on and off the cricket field. He committed to continue assisting Berbice cricket in the future . Other speakers at the event included BCB Asst Secretary Ameer Rahaman, Mayor of Rose Hall Town Dave Budhu, Region 6 Regional Executive Officer Navindra Persaud and Regional Youth Officer Omeshwar Srikishun .Representatives of the club expressed gratitude to Hetmeyer and his wife for their assistance and committed to use the donation for the intended purpose. Among the clubs who received a box of balls were Port Mourant, Achievers, University of Guyana Elites, Scottsburg, Guymine, Mt Sinai, Edinburgh, Kildonan, Bush Lot United, Achievers, Cotton Tree, Hampshire, Albion, Tain and Whim. (BCB)