February 3rd, 2016 -- At a recently held awards ceremony, Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Programme and Kit Presentation Ceremony revealed its top two performers for 2016. During ceremonies held on Thursday 21st January at the Warner Park Cricket Stadium, and Friday 22nd at the Elquemedo Willett Park (EWP) in Nevis, it was announced that Devondre Edmeade of the St. Pauls Primary School in St. Kitts and Tyrique Smith of the Maude Cross Prep in Nevis were the grand winners of the Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket 15th Anniversary Grant Initiative.
The institution celebrated its 15th Anniversary of sponsoring the program last year; and a special grant initiative was put in place for the most outstanding cricketer in the program. That person not only would have had great cricket success, but would also have had to secure additional achievement of excelingacademically.
The announcement was made by Leeward Islands Territorial Development Officer, Mr. Junie Mitcham. At a brief handing over, both Edmeade and Smith proudly received their awards of US $250.00 from the Bank’s representatives. General Manager Mr. Dave Ramsumair presented Edmeade in St. Kitts while Mr. Calder Warner presented Smith in Nevis.
Devondre Edmeade was voted best performing Wicket Keeper during the 2015 Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket one week Summer Camp and achieved an academic grade of 84.5%, and Tyrique Smith was voted most disciplined player and achieved an academic grade of 89.00%.
During both ceremonies each school was represented by five students and a teacher. In St. Kitts, the participants were addressed by Leeward Islands Territorial Development Officer, Mr. Junie Mitcham, Chief Education Officer, Dr. Tricia Esdaile and General Manager of Scotia Bank, Mr. Dave Ramsumair. Bank of Nova Scotia Client Relationship Manager and Champion of the Kiddy Cricket program Mr. Charles Morton, as well as the parents of both winnerswas present at the ceremony.
While in Nevis the participants were addressed by Leeward Islands Territorial Development Officer, Mr. Junie Mitcham, Nevis Cricket Association President and Leeward Islands Cricket Board Representative to WICB, Mr. Denrick Liburd.
Mitcham in addressing the participants said it is beyond doubt that the Scotia Bank Kiddy Cricket Program continues to play a significant and integral a role in the sustainability and further development of cricket at the age level in St. Kitts & Nevis. He added that it was important to note, since the inception of the program it has yielded good fruits amongst our young people, many of whom have gone on to represent the Federation as well as Leeward Islands Age Group Teams (U15 & U17). Those have included Kyle Louis, Tarique Newton, Cordell Romney, Javral Warde, B’Quan Powell and K’ von Esdaile, from St. Kitts and Vickram Chanand, Tewan Prentice, Kian Pemberton and Shevon Jeffers from Nevis, just to name a few.
Mitcham in his address also presented a message on behalf of newly appointed CEO, Mr. Richard Berridge who was unable to attend due to prior commitments, Mr. Berridge said “Scotia Bank can be assured that the new dispensation of the Leewards Islands Cricket Board will ensure that this program continues to grow with the long term vision of providing more talent for Leeward Islands and West Indies Teams. We look forward to the continued success of this program.”Mitcham also publicized that 80 of the young cricketers in St. Kitts and Nevis would be selected to be part of an on field demonstration during the Tri Series between West Indies, Australia and South Africa in St.Kitts, during June of this year.
Mr. Dave Ramsumair, General Manager of Scotia Bank, said Scotia Bank is pleased to be associated with the program and the development of West Indies Cricket. He said Scotia Bank’s sponsorship to the program is making cricket accessible to over ten thousand children across the Caribbean region. It is believed that this has helped to mold some of our most talented cricketers presently on the world stage, such as Craig Braithwaite of Barbados, Jermaine Blackwood of Jamaica and Alzari Joseph who is presently playing in the ICC Youth World Cup for West Indies.
Dr. Tricia Esdaile, Chief Education Officer, applauded Scotia Bank for rewarding the students for their academic excellence, and told the participants it is important to be able to balance the two and congratulated them for doing so. Dr. Esdaille also pledged the Department of Education continued support to the program.
Mr. Denrick Liburd, President of the Nevis Cricket Association and WICB representative for the Leewards, urged the participants to train hardand have discipline. He assured them, that there is a lot of money in cricket but the focus must not be only on the money but they must also learn their lessons and develop a sound business mind as well.
Seventeen Primary Schools in St. Kitts and nine in Nevis were then presented with their Kiddy Cricket Kits.These will aid to enhance the development of the game at the primary level.
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