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By Clifford Stanley
David Black, who hails from Suddie, Essequibo Coast (Region Two) and has adopted D’Edward Village, West Bank Berbice as his home, has been working with youth in the area of sports since the 1970s.
Black who has been the Chairman of the West Berbice Cricket Association (WBCA) for the past twelve years, is also the Chairman of the Region Five Young Achievers Youth and Sports Club (YAYSC), a position he has held for 23 years since the Club was founded in 1997.
Members of the Club hail from the eastern end of Region Five to as far west as Central Mahaicony.
In a recent interview with Village Voice News, Black said he enjoys helping in the development of youth.
“Most of what I do and have done over the years is mainly voluntary. I derive a satisfaction from doing what I am doing. For me seeing a young person who is associated with my YAYSC or West Berbice cricket, or cricket generally, grow and reach his or her full potential, is my own reward,” he said.
He disclosed: “I am originally from Suddie Essequibo but now live at D’Edward West Bank Berbice having married and settled down with my wife Mrs. Sherron Black nee Richmond of Ithaca, West Bank Berbice”.
But even before he moved to West Bank Berbice, Black said, he was involved in youth development work in the early 1970s while being part of a youth group at Suddie, Essequibo Coast (Region Two).
“There was this youth leader of those days Osafo Odinga who inspired me to work with youths and that inspiration which I got over forty years ago is still strong,” he said reminiscing.
Black joined the Guyana National Service in its heydays in the mid-1970s as a Pioneer at the Center at Kimbia, Berbice River and was hired there after graduating. He was subsequently transferred by the GNS to Region Five as an Instructor for its Young Brigade and National Cadet Corps, then operating in schools within in the Region.
During that period, he was involved in politics serving as both Chairman of the youth arm of the People’s National Congress (PNC) the Young Socialist Movement (YSM) and Chairman of the People’s National Congress in Region Five.
In 1998, due to his involvement in youth work within the Region, he was invited by the late Leslie Amsterdam of the Berbice Cricket Board (BCB) to help resuscitate the then defunct WBCA.
He accepted that invitation and began serving as Secretary for the WBCA- a position he held for ten years while simultaneously becoming a Committee member of the Berbice Cricket Association.
“I have pleasant memories of my work as a manager of the Under 19 team. I was the first manager of a team that won both the one day and three-day tournament of the West Indian Cricket Board Under 19 tournaments,” he said noting that he was also manager when the team won the 2015 tournament in Jamaica.
Black said he is proud of those cricketers who started their careers as members of his YAYSC and who have since achieved national and international recognition for their talent.
Cricketers like Keon Joseph, Keon Fraser, Chrisendat Ramoo and Andrew Dutchin all of whom play at the national and international levels had their beginnings in the YAYSC.
“Those cricketers haven’t forgotten their roots: they would come and play competitions even now as members of the of the YAYSC,” Black told Village Voice News proudly.
His annual work program for YAYSC and the WCBA, has included organizing cricketing competitions for youths of all ages within Region Five, an annual summer camp in August; annual presentation of awards to outstanding club members; training programs on youth issues such as substance abuse, teenage pregnancy, social skills, careers and personal development, with resource personnel drawn from both Georgetown and the Regional Administration of Region Five.
“Sometimes parents would come and sit in when we have the lecture sessions,” he disclosed while noting that “Parental involvement makes me feel encouraged to continue with what I am doing.”
While the activities are done pro bono Black said that from time to time, Corporate Guyana would provide support. He mentioned Republic Bank Limited, and Lalta Business Enterprise of D’ Edward Village as two of the supporters his programmes have.
He told Village Voice News that he has had some tough moments over the years but no obstacle to the extent that he wanted to quit with his personally conceived mission.
“I have stuck with it because it’s just the encouragement I get from the youth; my thing is that I see many youngsters with the talent and some of them have not been getting that push because due to their poor financial background they may feel demotivated. So I tell myself I could be someone who gives them that motivation to achieve, despite their economic circumstances and with a little help from sponsors, as long as they put their best foot forward,” he said.
Black said that there are many talented cricketers in Berbice who need both guidance and support, both of which he provides to the best of his ability. He is hopeful that the Novel Coronavirus 2018 Disease (COVID-19) goes away so that his team of youth would be able to improve their talents.
The 65-year-old man said, “I intend to continue working with the youths for as long as I have the energy to do so”.
He is currently grooming the youth he works with to manage the organisations in his absence. Black noted that while he is due for a vacation, he will postpone it until his group of youth are properly trained to manage.
“I think I will go on vacation at my own time when I make sure that these youths can properly run things when I am not around. Then, when I reach that point, I will take a leave of absence for one whole month and feel easy doing so,” he said.
Photo caption: Black (at extreme left) interacting with members of the YAYSC in a recent field training session in West Coast Berbice.