Tuesday, 3 February 2009 – Road Town, Tortola: Digicel today signed an agreement with the BVI Cricket Association to sponsor the national cricket tournament for the next three years in the first instance.

The contract, valued at close to $40,000, was signed by Digicel’s Chief Executive Officer Alan Bates and President of the BVI Cricket Association A. O. Shirley during a ceremony at the government’s Department of Youth Affairs and Sports conference room this morning.

In announcing the sponsorship, Bates said Digicel, which was launched in Jamaica in 2001 and now has spread to 31 markets throughout the Caribbean and Central America, has an excellent track record in the area of sports, and in particular cricket. He pointed out that Digicel sponsors the West Indies Team and invited everyone to watch live coverage of the upcoming West Indies versus England Digicel Series 2009 on CBN Television Channel 51 starting Wednesday, 4 February, compliments Digicel.

“On the local front, I am extremely delighted to announce that Digicel BVI Ltd. is partnering with the BVI Cricket Association to bring you what is now known as the Digicel Twenty20 Cricket Championship,” Bates stated. “This represents our continued support for cricket in the region, which in turn speaks to our support for the development of youth and in particular our young males, helping them to find an expression for their talents and energies and an opportunity for them to make a living from the sport.”

The CEO said Digicel’s sponsorship of this Twenty20 cricket championship also reinforces his company’s commitment to the development of this community in which it operates, by getting involved in an activity that will draw hundreds of residents to Greenland Field every weekend starting this Sunday and running until 24 May.

In accepting the cheque, BVICA President A. O. Shirley thanked Digicel for its interest in supporting cricket. He said the emphasis of the BVI Cricket Association at this time is to secure its own cricket grounds in order to “really get the sport back on its feet”. He also spoke of the BVICA’s focus on getting the youth involved more in cricket and he said he is sure Digicel will come on board as part of this programme.

Also speaking at the ceremony was Digicel’s Public Relations Manager for the Eastern Caribbean Jerry George and BVICA Vice President Charlie Jackson.

George spoke to the extent of exposure Digicel can bring to the BVI, through its sponsorship of West Indies players, who can assist the local players through the hosting of cricket clinics.

Jackson said the BVICA is now active in 10 schools coaching close to 200 youngsters, therefore, if a cricket clinic can be organized here, this can only add to the local efforts.

In the first games to be played in the Digicel Twenty20 Cricket Championship this Sunday, Cavaliers will come up against Police at 10am, while the second game at 2pm will see TGS Vincy versus BVI Under 19.

Weekly updates on the matches and previews of the fixtures will be carried in the VI StandPoint Newspaper, while JTV Channel 55 will run replays of the games weekly.

ABOUT DIGICEL GROUP

Since its launch in 2001, Digicel has become the largest wireless telecommunications operator in the Caribbean with more than six million customers. After seven years, Digicel is renowned for competitive rates, unbeatable coverage, superior customer care, a wide variety of products and services and state-of-the-art handsets. By offering innovative wireless services and community support, Digicel has become a leading brand in the Caribbean and has placed the region at the cutting-edge of wireless communications – the company is also a new entrant to the Central American market.

Digicel is incorporated in Bermuda and now has operations in 31 markets world-wide. Its Caribbean and Central American markets comprise Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Aruba, Barbados, Bermuda, Bonaire, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Curacao, Dominica, El Salvador, French Guiana, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Martinique, Panama, St Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago and Turks & Caicos. The Caribbean company also has coverage in St. Martin and St. Barths. Digicel Pacific comprises Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Digicel is the lead sponsor of Caribbean and Central American sports teams, including the West Indies Cricket Team and Special Olympics teams throughout the region. Digicel is also title sponsor of the Digicel Caribbean Championships and the Copa de Naciones Digicel, which are the Caribbean and Central American qualifiers to the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

###