Cricket clubs in the jurisdiction of the Couva/Tabaquite/Talparo Regional Corporation have been assured of continued support in the preparation and maintenance of their recreation grounds.
Making this pledge was Henry Awong, chairman of the local government body at the recent prize distribution function of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) National League competitions at the NESC Auditorium at Rivulet Road, Couva.
Awong said that despite the financial challenges the regional corporation faces, he declared success in the innovative partnership programme initiated with cricket clubs who have been handed the responsibility of taking charge of their playing grounds.
He said that during the 2014-2015 cricket season, at least 19 registered sports clubs playing in the TTCB competitions, were given contracts to maintain and prepare their respective grounds to acceptable standards.
“The clubs were given the responsibility to develop and maintain the grounds to their standards. This we hope would have been done in a timely basis to meet their playing schedule. And it also gave them an opportunity to turn a profit as a reward for their financial management and prudence,” said Awong.
He informed the gathering which included officials of the TTCB in president Azim Bassarath, Councillor Nadia Khan-Mohammed, Alderman Ramchand Rajbal, and feature speaker Philo Wallace, a former West Indies and Barbados opening batsman, that the regional corporation was the second largest in the country.
Awong said that the geographical area under their jurisdiction is 720 square km with a population of over 170,000 and 105 recreation grounds, more than half of which is vested in the regional corporation.
He said that responsibility for the grounds was inherited from Caroni (1975) Limited when the Government-owned sugar cane company was closed down and the regional corporation was approached by the various communities and clubs for assistance in developing and maintaining the facilities.
The regional corporation leader said that they immediately realised that many of the clubs were not properly constituted, had no bank accounts, records and minutes of meetings, elected officials or lacking registration.
He said that this posed a serious problem for the regional corporation since only bona fide organisations qualify to receive grants or subventions because standards of accountability and transparency must be upheld.
Awong however said that he has observed that many clubs are conforming to the acceptable standards and that he expects that those who comply will be able to access grants and subventions for the development and maintenance of their grounds.
He recalled that more than 12 years ago, together with former national cricketers Boya Sahadeo and Premnath Ramnath, a cricket coaching caravan was initiated which traversed the rural central Trinidad districts identifying and nurturing talent.
Also as chairman of the borough corporation’s sports committee, he has been able to continue to play a leading role in this regard and pledged continued support to bring the clubs up to standard with the TTCB with whom he has developed a good working relationship.
Awong also called on club members to play an increasingly proactive role in making a meaningful contribution to activities which they can undertake for themselves without resorting to the already hard-pressed regional corporation.