Rally Round Dominica – that is the name of the Celebrity T20 Cricket Match which will be jointly hosted by the West Indies Cricket Board and the University of the West Indies in order to help raise funds to support Dominica after the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika.
According to Professor Eudine Barriteau Pro-Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus, “We were galvanised to pledge whatever assistance we could, not only by the deeply disturbing images of the devastation, dislocation and death which Tropical Storm Erika left behind in Dominica, but also by that firmly embedded, shared sense of kinship which we feel as Caribbean citizens – that intrinsic West Indian trait made manifest whenever any single member of our regional family is hurting, we all feel the pain.”
The Rally Round Dominica Celebrity T20 Cricket Match in Barbados is slated for September 26th at 7 p.m.
With the aim to have a sold out crowd and help raise U$ 1 million, the cost of admission is U$20 for adults and U$10 for children.
Some of the players who will be participating are Brian Lara, Dwight Yorke, Yohan Blake, Dwayne Bravo, Keiron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ian Bradshaw, Jason Holder, Sir Hillary Beckles, West Indies female captain Stafanie Taylor, Deandra Dottin, Courtney Walsh, Kraigg Brathwaite, Calvin Hodge and more.
“T20 cricket game which we are gathered here this morning to announce as a collaborative fund raising effort between the WICB and the UWI is a tangible and most fitting expression of our “oneness” as a region,” said Barriteau.
“We can think of no endeavour more appropriate than cricket to rally the region for this worthy cause for it is cricket historically which has united our region, something to which our Vice Chancellor Sir Hillary eminent historian that he is would surely attest.”
The match will also be doubled with an online Telethon which will be hosted by Mac Fingall.
Sir Hillary said that as “Lovers of Humanity” they are ready to support Dominica who has been crippled by the Tropical Storm and it requires a concretive effort from everyone who would wish to see Dominica back on its feet again.
“The UWI and WICB are the very essence of regionalism in its finest form. These two institutions exemplify the excellence that is attainable through our collective energies and it is fitting that these enduring symbols of regionalism should be united in this effort to help [bring] relief to the People of Dominica.”
But the support of the Cave Hill Campus does not start and end with the cricket match as the Cave hill Campus took an early decision to defer all payments owed by the Dominican students, “until such time as their sponsors – whether their guardians, relatives or the Government of Dominica itself – find their situation at home sufficiently improved to deal with such matters.”
Last Friday, the Cave Hill Medical Student Association handed over several boxes of supplies to the Dominica Student Association and those supplies are destined for Dominica along with other supplies which were sent by the Barbados Coast Guard.
WICB CEO Michael Muirhead said that Barbados was chosen as the location for the match as the entire West Indies cricket team will be in Barbados preparing to go on tour to Sri Lanka and will be on the field for the game.