FOOD for the Poor (Guyana) Inc. yesterday handed over $1.95M in cricket gear to various clubs from the East Bank of Demerara and Georgetown districts.

The organisation had previously made a donation to other city clubs earlier in the year and yesterday’s gesture was in keeping with its belief that sports is crucial for the development of young people.

Chairman of Food for the Poor, Paul Chan-A-Sue, in his remarks hoped that the equipment would encourage more young people to play the game.

The equipment is for both senior and junior cricketers.

Sentiments of gratitude and assurances of proper use were echoed by the representatives of the recipient clubs. Robin Kendall of Diplomat Sports Club noted that the donation comes ahead of his club’s sixth anniversary in August.

Transport Sports Club, who will be fielding an Under-15 team for the first time next season, welcomed the donation particularly the gear for the juniors.

Raj Singh of Eccles Sports Club expressed his gratitude on behalf of the East Bank Demerara clubs and noted that the donation was a ’shot in the arm’ for East Bank cricket which has been plagued by various problems of late.

He took the opportunity to inform of an impending Twenty20 competition for East Bank clubs that will carry a first prize of $100 000.

The equipment, manufactured by Robinson Sports of India, includes an assortment of wicketkeepers’ gloves, cricket balls, bails and stumps, bats, helmets and pads.

Among the sports clubs that received equipment are: Eccles Sports Club, Herstelling, Providence, North Soesdyke, Transport Sports Club, Ace Warriors, YMCA and Diplomat Sports Club.

Brian Lara Stadium misses another completion deadline
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad (CMC) – The much-awaited completion of the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba was supposed to be completed at the end of this month, but the blighted project has again hit a snag.

The rising cost of steel on the world market has caused the latest delay, and it is also expected to push up the cost of the project of close to US$85 million.

The Urban Development Corporation, project managers for the stadium, is reportedly negotiating with its steel suppliers in the United States.

The stadium which was supposed to have been completed for the 2007 World Cup is already two years overdue.

Steel prices increased globally over the past few months. The price of medium steel sections rose from US$798 per ton in April last year to US$1 042 per ton in April this year.

Hot-rolled steel plates also increased from US$788 per ton in April last year to US$1 065 per ton in April this year, while steel wire rods rose from US$577 in April last year to US$852 in April this year.

This is expected to have some impact on the overall cost of the stadium.

On April 15, UDECOTT’s chairman Calder Hart said during a tour of the stadium that they were “trying to keep within the budget of five hundred million dollars”.

“We are working seven days a week,” he said. “We have had some challenges in respect to the site work but by July we will tell you exactly how much it cost.”

Hart also said then close to US$35 million had already been spent on the project.

When finally completed the stadium is expected to host a West Indies cricket academy similar to the ICC’s model in Dubai.