BG integrate through youth cricket

BRITISH Gas Trinidad and Tobago, operating here since 1989, have tried to integrate into the fabric of this society through sports, sponsorships of youth cricket and football,  and education. “This is aimed at enhancing the lives of the citizens of this country for generations to come,” said Aleem Hosein, head of Corporate and Extenal Affairs. He made the comment at the formal launch of the 2005 Under-15 Cricket Competition at the National Cricket Centre, Balmain, Couva recently. BG is sponsoring the Under-15 and Under-17 Cricket for the 2005 season with the donation of $125,000 to the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB).

The cheque was presented by Hosein to Rambhai Patel, Adminis-trative Manager of the TTCB. Hosein said that BG had been involved in the promotion of youth cricket for the last ten years. “Despite competing requests for funding it is an easy corporate decision  for us at BG to become involved in programmes such as this,” Hosein said. “Not only do they demonstrate tangible results and are aimed at developing our nation’s youth, but they also demonstrate in a practical manner, the success that can be derived from working in partnerships towards a common goal,” Hosein added. He applauded the programme. “Not only does it ensure the continuity of a sport that is so close to each West Indian heart, but moreso, it focuses  on instilling a value set  within the future generation of this country,” Hosein said.

He said  that well “articulated research has proven the direct relation between sport  and the positive developoment of one’s  psyche.” Through this programme  (Under 15 and Under 17 Cricket)  the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board provides a positive environment where our young people can learn values such as team-work, self-discipline, fair play, respect for authority and the pursuit of excellence... values of true sportsmanship... values that we hope will be applied  outside the cricket pitch as well,” Hosein said.

Arjoon Ramlal, Chairman of the Inter-Zonal Committee, of the TTCB, thanked BG for their involvement in youth cricket and said that their partnership had borne fruit as many players who came out of the Under-15 and Under-17 competition, have won national and Test caps. Among the BG graduates are fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and allrounder Dwayne Bravo. The competition will be played among Five Zones — North (Ian Bishop); Central (Rangy Nanan);  North East (Larry Gomes); South (Augustine Logie) and South East (Rajendra Dhanraj).