Bassarath welcomes Shell Grants to develop cricket
December 3, 2009

AZIM BASSARATH, right, president of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board makes a special presentation to Edmund Pragsingh, principal of St Julien Presbyterian School. The school receives a computer courtesy Shell and All Sport Promotions.

PRESIDENT of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath has welcomed the Shell Cricket Grant Programme saying that it continues to play a significant role in the development of young cricketers and their communities.

Bassarath made the observation yesterday while attending the function to present the 2009 grants to six cricket clubs and one coaches' association. The function was staged at the CLICO Hospitality Suite at the Queen's Park Oval in Port-of-Spain and attended by top Shell Trinidad Limited officials.

They included Gerard Mitchell, Country Chair Representative, Nigel Martin, Financial Comptroller; and Kathy Ragoobarsingh, Human Resource Manager. Also present were Dudnath Ramkessoon, First Vice-President of the TTCB, Bruce Aanensen, president of Queen's Park Cricket Club; and National Selector Rangy Nanan. The proceedings, held over a sumptuous breakfast, were presided over by Tony Harford of All sport Promotions who together with the TTCB came up with the idea of the grant programme funded by Shell.

Bassarath, who confessed to leaving home at 4.30 am to arrive at the early morning function praised Shell for their initiative which he said provides sustenance for the communities which benefit from the $20,000 grant. In office for only 33 days following his upset victory over the incumbent Deryck Murray on October 31, Bassarath said that one of the pillars of the Movement for Change, which he heads, was a pledge to work closely with the cricket clubs throughout the country. He reiterated his commitment yesterday to assisting each and every cricket club to function as a professional unit much in the way that Queen's Park and CLICO Preysal are properly managed.

"I am trying to ensure that this is done with the implementation of a programme from January to assist with club development. We intend to visit as much clubs as possible to assess their capabilities and do what we can to bring them up to par," said Bassarath. He said the TTCB will work with the people in the communities to bring their objective to fruition- to have each and every young person involved in cricket or any other sport of their choosing.

"We see programmes like the Shell Community Grants as a means of taking away the ills of society and providing a better, brighter day for the young people of the country," said Bassarath. He implored the recipients of the grants to use the funds wisely for the benefit of the clubs, the young people and the communities they serve.

Apart from the grants handed out, a special presentation of a laptop computer was made to Edmund Pragsingh, principal of St Julien Presbyterian School. Harford said that during a visit to the school it was discovered that the pupils could not access the internet because of a lack of a computer and together with Shell, All Sport Promotions remedied the deficiency.

The organisations receiving grants yesterday were: Fulham Sports Club of Arima; Invaders Sports Club of Felicity; Clico Preysal; Sancho St Julien; Queen's Park Cricket Club; Rousillac United; North Zone Coaches Association. Harford said for the awards, which is in its third year, clubs are invited to apply and must provide proof of their ongoing outreach programmes. He said subject to verification, clubs are shortlisted and picked to collect the Shell grants of $20,000 each.

In the case of Fulham, they get a renewal for $15,000 awarded because of the size of their community and the expansion of their programme to the village of Lopinot.