Claxton Bay, Trinidad:

The TCL Group/Readymix (WI) Ltd Concrete Cricket Pitch Promotion winners were recently selected at a random draw that took place at the Group’s Corporate Suite, Queens Park Oval on Monday 13 August 2008. The TCL Group, in association with member company, Readymix (WI) Limited embarked on this initiative with the aim of building concrete cricket pitches in communities across Trinidad & Tobago. The promotion began on May 12 and lasted for six (6) weeks before it came to an end on June 20 2008.

Objectives of Promotion
• To develop the sport of cricket in communities throughout our nation
• To encourage the youth in these communities to occupy their spare time in a constructive way
• To promote the importance of cricket to the social fabric of the Caribbean
• To promote a passion for the game, thereby ensuring the future of local and by extension, West Indian cricket.

The TCL Group is deeply committed to promoting the sport of cricket throughout the region, as evident by its sponsorship of the WIPA Awards, WIPA 20/20 and the recently concluded regional U19 Cricket Challenge. The concrete cricket pitches promotion is just another way in which the Group is able to contribute to the community and the sport of cricket….the passion of our Caribbean people.

ENTRIES SUMMARY
A total of 145 entries were submitted for consideration. They were sorted according to the TTCB cricket zones of North, South, Central, East, North East, South East, South West and Tobago. For this promotion, no entries were received from Tobago as indicated below. The highest percentage of entries came from the Central and South regions with 35% and 24% respectively. Two (2) communities were selected from each zone; along with one (1) alternate should one of the selected communities not meet the necessary requirements.

At the draw, the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) as well as the West Indies Players’ Association (WIPA) endorsed the promotion and showed their support, with Deryck Murray and Dinanath Ramnarine giving brief remarks.

The winners are detailed below or click here to view the Winners' Ad

EAST
1. Mausica Lands Action Committee
2. Wallerfield Community Welfare Council

NORTH EAST
1. Elanzo Besai.   Community – Cumuto
2. Aphizal Baksh.  Community – Biche

SOUTH EAST
1. Deonarine Bissoon.   Community – Barrackpore
2. Bois Jean Jean Unity Community Organization

SOUTH
1. Olera Heights Interim Committee
2. St. Peter’s Private School

SOUTH WEST
1. Sherwin Mc Swean  Community – Paria Gardens, Aripero
2. Yandesh Parasramsingh.  Community – Siparia Old road, Avocat, Fyzabad

CENTRAL
1. Naranlal Saith.  Community – Carlsen Field
2. Couva North Gardens Community Council

NORTH
1. St. Crispin’s School
2. School for Blind Children, Santa Cruz

MOVING FORWARD
Arrangements will be made these selected communities to ensure that the field/ground is suitable for the concrete pitch and that the necessary approvals have been granted for use of the area. Readymix (WI) Limited will then begin to construct the pitches. Sod turning ceremonies will be held, as well as the official handing over of the pitches to the communities. Most recently, the sod was turned to signal the start of construction for the concrete cricket pitch for the Biche community (see our Media Releases section)

 
 (L-R): Anthony Harford – Master of Ceremonies, Deryck Murray – President of the TTCB, Alan Nobie – Manager, Investor Relations & Corporate Communications, TCL Group, Manan Deo – General Manager, Readymix (WI) Ltd and Michael Tracey – Internal Audit Supervisor IV, TCL seen here drawing the winning communities for the South East Zone.

See our Media Releases section for updates on this promotion