Soca Warriors Online Discussion Forum
Sports => Cricket Anyone => Topic started by: Flex on May 26, 2005, 02:38:28 AM
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$850m sports facility for Tarouba.
By Juhel Browne.
Stadium to be named after Brian Lara.
Cabinet yesterday approved an $850 million multi-purpose sports facility to be built on farm lands in Tarouba.
A major feature of the complex is a $275 million cricket stadium named after T&T star batsman world Test record holder Brian Lara.
The project is due to be completed within three to five years.
Sports Minister Roger Boynes announced the allocation during yesterday’s post-Cabinet press conference at Whitehall.
The facility will be located on 180 acres of agricultural lands once held by Caroni (1975) Ltd in Tarouba, south Trinidad.
Tarouba borders the Pointe-a-Pierre and San Fernando East constituencies which are controlled by the UNC and PNM respectively.
The original construction site was Union Park, Marabella, but because of inadequate space it has been shifted to Tarouba.
The Lara stadium, which will include four training pitches, is scheduled to be completed in time for the International Cricket Council World Cup 2007, with the field to be ready by 2006.
“We have in fact got the confirmation that we will have (World Cup) warm-up matches at that facility,” Boynes said.
And he has assured taxpayers this project will not be a repeat of the Piarco International Airport terminal building project which was originally priced at $600 million but eventually cost taxpayers $1.6 billion.
Government has appointed the Urban Development Co of T&T Ltd to manage the project.
Udecott previously had the mandate to oversee the design and construction of the facility.
“Certainly, from the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, we have hired Udecott and that we are keeping a keen eye on the cost,” Boynes said.
“We are definitely from our perspective, you know, are working hand in hand with Udecott to ensure that we protect the taxpayers’ money.
“As well as Udecott has had a good history...as not having too much cost overruns.”
Udecott’s chairman Calder Hart and chief construction engineer Ian Telfer gave a presentation to Cabinet on the completed design yesterday.
Minister in the Ministry of Finance Christine Sahadeo, who joined Boynes at yesterday’s press conference, said the proper tender procedures were being followed and “the terms of reference is clearly and properly outlined.”
She said the Government was very optimistic that the whole process would be transparent and had high levels of accountability.
“And I think Udecott has also given us the commitment they also made a presentation to Cabinet where they have agreed that really any variation at all would have to certainly be discussed and brought back to us,” Sahadeo said.
Hart said Udecott had decided to use fixed-priced contracts in its public tendering procedures even though “there has been some resistance from the industry to that.”
He said from time to time variations with the architects concerning the original design and must be dealt with, but there was no deviation in the contractor’s tender.
Hart said the facility was designed by the United States architectural firm Hellmuth, Obalat & Kassabum, which had designed similar facilities around the world.
He said the other components of the stadium were set to begin “showing up” about 18 months after the Lara stadium was completed.
What are we getting for $850m?
An aquatic centre.
Olympic-sized cycling velodrome.
Indoor gymnasium.
School for training of athletes.
A large car park, new roads and other infrastructural works.
The Brian Lara stadium and cricket academy.
This stadium will serve as a training facility for cricket players.
It will feature four indoor cricket training pitches with computerised biometric technology to measure an athlete’s performance, including two full-length run-up pitches for fast-bowlers.
Patrons at the stadium will have an unhindered view from every area of the facility, including the concessionaires area.
It also has areas specifically designed for the print, radio and television media, respectively.
The facility may also see the construction of a hotel in the future.
Private sector slams $850M sports complex.
T&T Newsday Reports.
The private sector is shocked that $850 million is to be spent on a sports complex at Tarouba, as announced by Minister of Sports Roger Boynes Wednesday at a post- Cabinet media conference. Some 17 top business associations calling themselves, “Organisations representative of the private sector of Trinidad and Tobago,” expressed their “shock and concern,” in a statement yesterday. They said the proposed expenditure would be made at a time when kidnappings and homicides are out of control and innocent children are being sprayed with bullets in their own homes.
While the group is sensitive to the need for social programmes, long-term planning, and the potential of sport to transform young lives, it said the country had other priorities. “In our view there is an immediate and urgent need for adequate resources to be allocated to the Police Service, Anti Kidnapping Squad, Judiciary, witness protection plan, and the nation’s jails, to deal with the clear and present danger that confronts us now,” the statement said. Moreso, they pointed out, the country already has four new stadia built in the past four years plus the National Stadium, all of which remain under-utilised.
“The population is living in fear and the country is beginning to experience a brain drain, and capital flight. “The time for appropriately prioritising the allocation of resources by the Government must be made now.” Previously, the group called on Members of Parliament to support laws to tackle the country’s rising crime rate.
The group consists of the American Chamber of Com-merce, Arima Business Associa-tion, Association of Trinidad and Tobago Insurance Companies, Bankers Association, Couva/ Point Lisas Chamber of Com-merce, Downtown Owners and Merchants Association, Em-ployers Consultative Associa-tion, Greater Chaguanas Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Greater Tunapuna Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Penal/Debe Cham-ber of Commerce, Point Fortin Chamber of Commerce, San Juan Business Association, Sangre Grande Chamber of Commerce, South Trinidad Chamber of Industry and Com-merce, Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Com-merce, Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association, and Trinidad Hotels, Restaurants and Tourism Association.
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Tarouba complex not needed for T&T World Cup package
Kern De Freitas
Thursday, June 16th 2005
The Tarouba sporting complex which will house the Brian Lara Stadium, to be built in time for the 2007 Cricket World Cup (CWC), was not a specific requirement for Trinidad and Tobago's World Cup bid package, but rather a development initiative by the Government.
That was the consensus of the Local Organising Commitee (LOC) for the 2007 CWC.
Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (T&TCB) president Ellis Lewis, a member of the committee, explained that the requirement for the matches to be played in T&T was for a ground with sufficient facilities to host warm-up matches.
"What is necessary is a venue for warm-up matches," Lewis stated. "For warm-up matches per se you can find a venue, but it appears that the Government is taking a broader developmental approach in terms of sport.
"Other grounds could have been chosen for warm-up matches. But what seems to be happening is the Government is taking a wider developmental approach at the Tarouba venue," Lewis added.
"The other venues may not have been able to hold other sports and if you're going to be developing beyond cricket, then another venue would be needed."
LOC president Ian Welch disclosed that warm-up matches were not a mandate in the Brown Package T&T were awarded for the World Cup, but were allocated because of the proposal to build a new cricket ground, while former T&T and West Indies wicket-keeper Deryck Murray, also a member of the committee, said the Stadium had been prompted by Brian Lara's world record Test innings of 400 not out last May in Antigua.
"My understanding of the Stadium was that it came out of the world record Lara got, as well as the needs of the country of having a sports institution," Murray told the Express.
But amidst heated public disapproval over the amount of money to be spent on the multi-million-dollar project, Alloy Lequay, outgoing chief executive officer of the T&TCB, agreed it was necessary for the development of sport in Trinidad and Tobago.
"It is clear that the complex for cricket, hockey, athletics, cycling, swimming and many other sports that can be accomodated is not a cricket stadium. Common sense should also tell us that the $850 million will not be spent in one year, but over a period of about four years," Lequay said last week in a news release concerning the issue.
Lequay explained that the cost of the project would be spread over four years, as individual ministries had a set budget they could not exceed.
"To suggest that an expenditure of $210 million per year on a sports complex will impact negatively on the development budget of other ministries shows a lack of appreciation of the distribution of the national development budget and the inability of any one ministry to spend beyond an approved limit in any year," Lequay said.
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All the proponents of this thing quick to say the money will be spent over a period of four years.
Now just supposing......and it really doe look like it will happen, but Just suppose the PNM lorse the next election. Will the 1/2 way completed project remain as is or would the new party. Waste more funds and finish it.
They only have 3 people who want this project.......Lequay, Boynes and sidekick on all the TV shows Ken Butcher.
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Touches u read my mind. What happens if PNM loses teh next election? The complex might remain unfinished and turn out to be a bigger waste of money.
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That interchange by Nestle come to mind as an abandoned project due to an election.
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Lara Stadium dismissed for 2007 World Cup.
By: Naz Yacoob (Guardian).
The Brian Lara Stadium, now under construction at Tarouba in South Trinidad, has been replaced as a venue for World Cup warm-up matches in March next year.
This was revealed by the CEO of Cricket World Cup 2007, Chris Dehring, at a media conference yesterday at the offices of the Ministry of Sports in Port-of-Spain.
Four warm-up matches involving South Africa, Canada, Pakistan and Ireland (March 5-9) were scheduled for the Stadium.
Following a venue tour where all facilities were examined, it was agreed by the ICC and CWC 2007, that the Brian Lara Stadium would not meet the required warm-up venue standard in the timeframe allotted. CWC 2007 Inc has viewed the proposal and is comfortable with either of the proposed venues. On receiving the final recommendation from the T&T LOC, CWC 2007 will take the request to the International Cricket Council and ask them to consider granting approval for the new venue, Dehring stated.
Guaracara Park in Pointe-a-Pierre and the Sir Frank Worrell Grounds in St Augustine are the venues that have been identified to replace the Tarouba facility.
Dehring said that with less than six months to the start of the tournament, ICC Cricket World Cup is very satisfied that the matter has been deliberated thoroughly, and a final decision for the good of the tournament has been taken.
Dehring said that through ongoing monitoring and open communication channels, there is a full buy in from all the stakeholders involved with the tournament, and a one-hundred-per-cent awareness that they must deliver a world class event.
It is in this climate that the T&T LOC put forward the request for a change of venue from the Brian Lara Stadium, which may not be completed to the required standard within the previously agreed timeframe, Dehring added.
He stated that CWC 2007 and the T&T LOC are decisive organisations and that the tournament remains on track. Dehring said that failure was not an option and said the move shows they are prepared and have the necessary contingency plans, in conjunction with the LOCs, to make crucial decisions.
Also speaking was Sports Minister Roger Boynes, who said Cabinet would make the decision on the new venues.
Boynes said that he expected that everything would be formalised by early next month and forwarded to the LOC. The LOC will then take the proposal to CWC 2007 and the ICC.
Don Lockerbie, Cricket World Cup 2007 Incs venue development director, said that his team viewed both venues recently and both were First-Class facilities.
He said when the final choice was made, GL Events was ready to move in to do refurbishing and overlay works.
Lockerbie said that February 19 was the deadline date set to hand over the warm-up venues to ICC and that construction and refurbishing works would be stated at Pointe-a-Pierre or St Augustine as soon as a final decision is made.
The fact of the matter is Chris Dehring has already said that CWC is comfortable with either of the venues. We just have to look at the grand stand seating, and the facilities for players and the press, Lockerbie said.
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now can we say"I told you so' to the govt that declared:'no Tom,Jack or businessman will stop the Stadium from being built"?
now extra money has to be spent to refurbish the UWI and Couva centres. :-\
Couldn't we have done that before?
But no ! that would imply common sense. >:(
seems to be in short supply in our land.. ::)
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(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2008-07-09-5-1a_Toruba_stadium_8-7-08.jpg)
Brian Lara Stadium.
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Dat like it cyah finish build loud steups
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pnm waiting till the next world cup in the caribbean to complete it :devil:
God is de BOSS...
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all yuh jus bad... the stadium part- towatch games is the first part to be completed. If the academy part doesn't get started it will still exist as a venue for games. ;D
that part isn't even tendered out as yet. the cost for the balance of the complex is only an estimate. If I'm wrong please correct me. ;D
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Yuh tink it go b ready for 2010 ICC Championship in d WI?
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Yeah I think so- at least as a playing venue...
fingers and toes crossed!! ;D
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Ann u have more faith than me
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yeah, if you take a drive down the highway you'll see the roofs/covers are going up. The problem will be in the rainy season when the 'bowl' fills up. we won't be able to play anything there during hre rainy season. :'(
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Hunt can't say when 'Tarouba' will be ready.
-AR
Saturday, September 5th 2009 - Sport Minister Gary Hunt revealed yesterday that close to a billion dollars has been spent on preparing the site for the Tarouba Sporting Complex.
However, he could not say, when pressured by the Opposition, when the project, which has been clouded in controversy, would be completed nor how much would be the final cost.
In response to a question on the Order Paper from Opposition MP Hamza Rafeeq, Hunt began by clarifying that the multi-billion dollar project is not called the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium but the Tarouba Sporting Complex.
He said the Tarouba Sporting Complex would comprise of a number of sporting buildings, namely, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Brian Lara Cricket Stadium (15,000 seating capacity), an elite centre of excellence for sports science, sports medicine, bio mechanic lab, testing and conditioning, an aquatic centre, a cycling velodrome, a centre for field house sports (eg basketball, volleyball, netball and badminton), a boxing and martial arts centre, a running track and field, a gymnastic centre, a tennis centre, an administrative centre and hotel accommodation.
Hunt said the Tarouba Sporting Complex was located on a site of 281 acres, which forms part of a larger estate of 627 acres. He said UDeCOTT has advised that the sum expended in the development of the entire 627 acre site, which will accommodate the Brian Lara Cricket stadium and other planned infrastructure, amounted to $631,921,862. He said site works, drainage, roads and utilities cost $108,697,537 (Vat exclusive). The stadium structure cost $419,536,998 (Vat exclusive) and project design, project management, consultants, OSHA, security and site office totalled $103,687,327, he added.
In response to Rafeeq's request for the cost of the entire project, Hunt said, "It is not feasible to give a projected cost for the entire sporting complex and all the planned infrastructure, as the under briefs for all sporting infrastructure are not yet complete."
In response to his question on the expected date of completion, Hunt said, "It is not feasible to give the completion date of the entire sporting complex."
In response to the projected annual cost of maintenance of the complex after completion, Hunt said, "It is not feasible to give a projected maintenance cost of the entire sporting complex as the user brief for each component of the planned complex is not yet complete."
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That is the biggest trap in T&T. The amount of nonsense they did is remarkable. Nobody but the taxpayers will pay for what happened.
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That is the biggest trap in T&T. The amount of nonsense they did is remarkable. Nobody but the taxpayers will pay for what happened.
dat is feasible :devil:
wha really goin on
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I hope the press writes and calypsonians singing about this corruption to.. like they did with the Piarco Airport under Panday.
$450M more for Lara stadium.
By Newsday Reporter.
It will cost a further $450,969,000 for the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium (BLCS) in Tarouba to be completed. The stadium is one facility at the Tarouba Sporting Complex.
Figures in the 2010 Supplementary Public Sector Investment Programme state that $685.1 million had been spent on the stadium and $31.8 million will be spent to continue construction in this fiscal year.
Providing information yesterday to the Joint Select Committee of Parliament headed by Deputy Speaker Pennelope Beckles, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs Margaret Farray said the $450.9 million estimate was given to the ministry by the Urban Development Corporation of TT (Udecott).
She said the first phase of the project involved basic infrastructure and utilities being installed on 627 acres for the Tarouba Sporting Complex. She said this would serve not only the cricket stadium but the entire complex. Farray said apart from the BLCS, 264 acres will be used for a sporting centre of excellence which will have facilities for boxing, martial arts, a cycling velodrome.
Farray provided a breakdown of some of the infrastructure costs for the entire Tarouba complex as follows: site works/drainage/road works and utilities, $108,697,000; project design/project management/construction management, consultants, OSHA requirements, security and site visits, $103,687,000. But she also added, The figure we were given was $632,921,000 VAT exclusive.
She said Udecott gave an estimated delivery date of three months so the stadium should be completed by February 2010. Farray said the infrastructure, utility work on the complex was always part of the plan.
We always said the stadium had a particular cost but to put a stadium down you need to put infrastructure and this impacts on the entire development.
The date of completion and cost for the project have changed over the years.
In May 2005, former Sports Minister Roger Boynes announced that the Tarouba complex was originally projected to cost $850 million with the BLCS costing $275 million. The stadium was to be completed by April 2006 in time for the 2007 World Cup Cricket. In October 2006, Boynes said the project would be completed at the end of 2007.
At a post-Cabinet media briefing in May 2007, the cost of the BLCS increased to $558 million. Boynes told the Parliament in June 2007, the facility would be ready in 2008. Cost estimates for earthworks and utilities were revised upward and additional costs added for security, fencing, landscaping.
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Can someone please comment?
Through time... there's ever been a project initiated by a TnT gov't that stayed on schedule and within budget?
This is absolutely sickening.
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I hope the press writes and calypsoians sing about this corruption to.. like they did with the Piarco Airport under Panday.
..........like Sugar Aloes and Cro Cro....those masters of the artform??... ::) ::)
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Its happening under PNM so don't expect much here to comment Jumbie.
Even though I would vote for PNM I just wouldn't support them biasley. I will support them because the other parties are probably worst especially UNC.
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Where d news Stevie Wonder saw dat was d case.
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de boynes school of accounting.
but what de auditor general (http://www.auditorgeneral.gov.tt) have to say about this? ???
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It go be wicked doh ,Brian building a really proper place men like Brath and lil Bravo and the young kids coming up will love it ,academy everything .Where gonna produce superstars baby .
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This is why today in T&T we have workers from China because T&T contractors is a bunch of con men.
Sadly all this money wasting and when the oil runs out we have no plan B.
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This is why today in T&T we have workers from China because T&T contractors is a bunch of con men.
Sadly all this money wasting and when the oil runs out we have no plan B.
boss, plan B already in effect. plan B is to ride out. t&t have negative population growth rate - nearly as many people leave as dead. is only a few (harden ;D) patriots like organic swimming against de current.
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This is why today in T&T we have workers from China because T&T contractors is a bunch of con men.
Sadly all this money wasting and when the oil runs out we have no plan B.
The Performing Arts Centre over budget....and that built by Chinese under the design, build concept. The concept was supposed to save we money ??? :-\.....it have a next project that over budget too....cyar remember which one though...
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Allyuh save allyuh breath...
Manning and he HARTS make Panday and he boyz look like moo moo men.....
Real money passing and wasting to d extent future generations will have to pay for all of these white elephants...
I just reading today...dat d govt borrowing money....in d BILLIONS...yes thats right...I thought we had Oil Money....what fu*kery real going on......
Things not right...d man using d Danish PM and French PM to justify how much he doin...u are such a FAKE
Its shameful.....all yuh talk iz talk....
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I hope the press writes and calypsoians sing about this corruption to.. like they did with the Piarco Airport under Panday.
..........like Sugar Aloes and Cro Cro....those masters of the artform??... ::) ::)
Their best work are political songs during non-PNM years.
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I hope the press writes and calypsoians sing about this corruption to.. like they did with the Piarco Airport under Panday.
..........like Sugar Aloes and Cro Cro....those masters of the artform??... ::) ::)
Their best work are political songs during non-PNM years.
ENTTTTTTTTTTT
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A bit disturbing that we are hearing about all this borrowing after the fact.
You would think it would be a burning issue BEFORE the decision was made.
Here it was people thought we just wasting extra money we currently have from Gas revenue. The debt we hearing about was already presented in the last budget?
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He have a facility in his name in Santa Cruz, the Brian Lara promenade and the Brian Lara Stadium. He more improtant than de PM....
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He have a facility in his name in Santa Cruz, the Brian Lara promenade and the Brian Lara Stadium. He more improtant than de PM....
You got dat right! ;D
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He have a facility in his name in Santa Cruz, the Brian Lara promenade and the Brian Lara Stadium. He more improtant than de PM....
nothing aint going on in santa cruz except for the project/facility that they rebuilding for bout 5 years now,he should give something back to santa cruz that facility is NOT for the santa cruz people.
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nothing aint going on in santa cruz except for the project/facility that they rebuilding for bout 5 years now,he should give something back to santa cruz that facility is NOT for the santa cruz people.
[/quote]
Who is the facility for?
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He have a facility in his name in Santa Cruz, the Brian Lara promenade and the Brian Lara Stadium. He more improtant than de PM....
nothing aint going on in santa cruz except for the project/facility that they rebuilding for bout 5 years now,he should give something back to santa cruz that facility is NOT for the santa cruz people.
for who have money,all the little football in the evening done,the night cricket/football/basketball the people will have to pay to use & attend this facility,but we love Lara still so when ever it get done we will fine money :beermug: :beermug:
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He have a facility in his name in Santa Cruz, the Brian Lara promenade and the Brian Lara Stadium. He more improtant than de PM....
We always go overboard with this stupidness. A man run one good race he get the highest award, name a plane after him, a stadium, every damn thing. Then when the next man come.. what? We go erase he name?
Steuups!
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UDECOTT IN 'DOGFIGHT'
By NALINEE SEELAL Thursday, June 10 2010
Udecott is demanding that contractor Hafeez Karamath Ltd (HKL) remove ferocious pitbulls from the $885 million Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba where they stand guard round-the-clock, along with their handlers, blocking sub-contractors and Udecott employees from completing construction and outfitting work at the overdue sports facility.
Sources revealed HKL had the unmuzzled dogs placed at the stadium on May 21, following a fallout with Udecott over final payment for work on the project, which includes a cricket academy named after retired star batsman Brian Lara.
HKL was awarded the contract to build the stadium, which was originally scheduled to be completed by 2007 in time for the ICC Cricket World Cup. Its cost estimates have ballooned and the final figure may be an estimated $1 billion.
In his Report of the Commission of Inquiry into Udecott and the construction sector, commission chairman John Uff recommended that HKL be fired and that there be a full review of all contracts for the Tarouba stadium. Uff labelled the behind-scheduled project as nothing short of scandalous, a national disaster, a national disgrace, and said it raised serious alarm.
Just two months after Uff handed over his report to President George Maxwell Richards, which was tabled in Parliament on April 6, Udecott is now in a dogfight with HKL over access to the site and disputed payments.
In a strongly worded letter sent yesterday to Udecott chief legal officer Brandon Primus, project manager for the Tarouba stadium Gerard Niles complained about the presence of the pitbulls, as wells as German mastiffs, which he said were hampering progress at the site.
In his letter he said, I take this opportunity to alert you to recent events that may have financial and legal repercussions to Udecott. Last Friday, at 10 am, Mervyn Tyrel, a worker employed with McEnearney Business Machines, was startled by one of the dogs on the main level while walking toward the southern side of the stadium.
On Sunday, at 7.30 am, WSO Williams, an officer employed with Safety and Security Limited, while on foot-patrol was attacked by one of the dogs on the southern side of the main level. The dog jumped on the security officers chest before being called off by its handler.
Niles called on Primus to address this urgent situation.
In response to Niles claims, HKL managing director Ellis Karamath yesterday said he had a security-dog detail assigned to the site to protect expensive equipment at the site.
What we have been doing is securing what we have put into the stadium to ensure there is no pilfering or theft. That is the main reason because everything that Udecotts consultants specified on that stadium had to be imported, so if I have to replace anything, it requires me going abroad which will be an added cost to me and the employer, which I am trying to avoid, Karamath said. He denied Niles had been denied access to the facility but said there are some restrictions to some levels because of an electronic security system which he assured would be disclosed to the client, the Sportts Company of Trinidad and Tobago.
I am categorically denying the project manager is being denied access to any part of the stadium. What we indicated to Udecott was that the doors carry a special security system which could only be handed over to the end-user, which is the Sportts Company, so therefore nobody has access to it.
Karamath confirmed HKL did still have outstanding payments due to it by Udecott.
We have been requesting final accounts from Udecott for the past year, and up to today this matter has not been resolved, he said.
The dispute between Udecott and HKL over access to the sports facility is detailed in other correspondence between Niles and Primus. The bone of contention may stem from Udecotts delay in paying HKL, as Karamath indicates. On April 29, Niles informed Primus that he had received a letter from HKL about the final payment. He disclosed that HKL had stopped work at the stadium on April 26.
HKLs action is not in accordance with the contract. This work stoppage is contractually premature and debatably without cause, Niles wrote in a letter to Primus.
Then on April 30, Niles, wrote to Primus again indicating his employees were being refused access to the suite level of the stadium. Niles said he called HKLs project director Raouf Ali but got no response. He said he went to the suite level where he met one of HKLs supervisors, accompanied by a member of the security detail.
I asked him to open the doors. He told me that Mr Raouf Ali instructed him...to close all doors and not allow anyone into the facility, Niles wrote. He recommended to Primus that four baton security personnel be added to Safety and Security Limiteds present contingent, and also said these officers should be placed on the club, suite, service levels and the media tower.
If contention with HKL escalates, we may need a further six security officers. The charge-out rate for these officers is $25 plus VAT per hour, Niles told Primus.
Newsday learnt that on that same day (April 30), HKL was ordered to hand over a copy of all keys, with a tag indicating door or gate assignment, to Udecott by 9 am on May 3.
Sources said HKL was instructed that it would not be permitted to have canine patrols on the facility at any time, but may have a security presence to protect its works if so desired. Udecotts chief construction engineer Hayden Paul gave the order that Udecott would employ security personnel to provide access to the building structure to any of its contractors, including HKL, as directed by Niles.
Minister of Planning, Economic, Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs Mary King, the line minister for Udecott, said she was unaware of the development since she was overseas since Saturday on a previously-arranged engagement. She would not disclose where she was and what was the event but said it had been arranged before she was asked by Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar to serve as a government minister and senator.
King was due to return last night and assured she would look into the matter.
I will be asking for a full report on the incident, she told Newsday.
King said she had been examining Udecotts records and projects, including the Tarouba stadium. Commenting briefly on the presence of pitbulls and German mastiffs at the site, King said the country has good dog handlers, and she believed the security and access issue can be resolved.
Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Anil Roberts, who the Tarouba stadium is expected to be handed over to, yesterday said he too did not know about the problems Udecott has been having to access facility but said he will be visiting the site soon.
We are in the process of selecting engineers to give us a complete report on the status of the Tarouba stadium with regards to safety, quality of work, and possible timeframe and cost for completion, Roberts said.
When we get that report, we will then be able to make informed decisions on the Tarouba stadium.
Udecotts public relations co-ordinator Roxanne Stapleton-Whyms, when contacted, said a Udecott team was sent to the stadium yesterday to get to the bottom of this matter.
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I sure Lara must be fedup of hearing he name associated to this stadium
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I sure Lara must be fedup of hearing he name associated to this stadium
Some UNC did say he should have ask 4 he name 2 b remove. He eh go do dat dey should do it 4 him. While dey at it d 1 in S/Cruz as well.
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I sure Lara must be fedup of hearing he name associated to this stadium
I was thinking the same blasted thing.
And is not the BL Stadium, it is the Tarouba Sports complex. The BL stadium is only the cricket stadium (if I am not mistaken).
VB
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I sure Lara must be fedup of hearing he name associated to this stadium
I was thinking the same blasted thing.
And is not the BL Stadium, it is the Tarouba Sports complex. The BL stadium is only the cricket stadium (if I am not mistaken).
VB
Move 2 d head of d class
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Lara Stadium now budgeted at $1.07b
T&T Guardian Reports.
The controversial Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba which is yet to be completed has now reached a budget of $1.07 billion. This was disclosed by Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs, Anil Roberts at a media conference held at his head office, Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain, yesterday. Roberts first noted that the Brian Lara Stadium, in Tarouba is under Udecott which is under the Ministry of Planning so the Ministry of Sports and its Minister have no standing on that project whatsoever .
But information is that the cost has reached $1.07 billion and its still not outfitted. There are also still questions about the steel work and the wells and so on so if you want more details you have to contact the Udecott board and the Ministry of Planning. However, the sad thing is the former Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs in his wisdom on November 19, 2009 he and the Cabinet of T&T under the Prime Minister Patrick Manning took out a loan from First Citizens Bank for $497 million at 6.5 per cent interest for the completion of the Brian Lara Stadium.
There are reports from Hafeez Karamath Limited that they have not been paid so we don't know where that money went, or if it was paid or not. What is known is that in the last seven months this Ministry which has no control over that project has had to pay loan repayments of $64 million. Asked if he was concerned about the situation Roberts said it concerned him even before they made the first payment.
He added, If you can remember I was an advisor in the Sports Ministry back in 2002 until January under Minister Boynes. I sat with him, I advised him and went with details to tell him dont do it. I said it was madness it was ridiculous and was not the way to go. This was being done all at a cost of $850 million but now it has reached $1.8 billion and the cricket stadium is not finish.
On completion of the venue, Roberts said Udecott and the Ministry of Planning will hand it over to the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. We will have the impossible task of trying to make it financially viable which it will never be. I dont see cricket generating that much kind of revenue. When you look at the QP Oval and T&T not even hosting a Test Match this year or over the next two years you ask how are we going to do it.
We can hardly even fill Guaracara Park so we will be taking ideas from the population. We have in the new structure in the Sport Company of T&T an executive manager of business implementation of business management who will have to try sports tourism and develop a plan to try and mitigate the loss. But once again it will be an impossible task. The stadiums we have already cost about 1.8 million to maintain a month. So maintenance alone may be close to $400,000 a month. To generate that revenue is going to be a burden on the tax payers.
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To generate that revenue is going to be a burden on the tax payers.
Then sell it to a private club.
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This stadium was to be done in time for the World Cup 2007 . Now World Cup 2011 reach and the stadium eh finish yet ??? This is real :bs:
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Patos let the ball drop on he foot for this one.
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Patos let the ball drop on he foot for this one.
He head u mean knock of d 1% of brain power he had.
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nah is pp fault!!
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To generate that revenue is going to be a burden on the tax payers.
Then sell it to a private club.
I wonder which private club in T&T could purchase it?
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To generate that revenue is going to be a burden on the tax payers.
Then sell it to a private club.
I wonder which private club in T&T could purchase it?
Patrick's!!!!!!
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This project was a failure from the start when you consider we cant even fill Gauracara Park,it was too grand a project for such a small country.
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This project was a failure from the start when you consider we cant even fill Gauracara Park,it was too grand a project for such a small country.
I don't think it was a necessity, but South do not have an international cricket stadium and Patos wanted to build one for South. North has the Oval, why can't South have something comparable. but Patos things always have to be over the top. This stadium was not going to tbe bigger than the oval in terms of seating capacity. Why all the problems and delays. What was so grand about the project. Well maybe the kickbacks was the problem. The contractor has to answer also. Patos never put his foot down to resolve this fiasco. Especially since it was supposed to be used for the WC warm-up matches. That is his problem.
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To generate that revenue is going to be a burden on the tax payers.
Then sell it to a private club.
I wonder which private club in T&T could purchase it?
what's that big conglomerate again ??? ...oh yes ...Warner Bros !! :rotfl:
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Tarouba stadium falling apart
...Udecott starts remedial works today
Published: Mon, 2011-02-07 18:29
Radhica Sookraj (Guardian).
As a matter of priority, newly-installed chairman of the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) Jearlean John is planning to investigate whether contractors are still liable to repair infrastructural defects in the construction of the $1 billion Brian Lara stadium. Sources who spoke with the Guardian yesterday revealed that parts of the stadium, which had not been officially handed over to the Government as yet were falling apart. The media tower was leaking badly and some the seats in the pavilion were broken.
An insider source who works at the site said water was gathering in the gym and the VIP lounge and the roof covering the multi-purpose building was built so high that it could not provide shelter for the 15,000 people who are expected to be accommodated. The seat infrastructure was supposed to be imported, but they built it here and now it is falling apart...The grounds of the stadium are in good condition but the actual building is getting dilapidated, the source said. Residents of Tarouba, who live on the outskirts of the stadium, said it was frustrating to see the massive cost overruns at the facility, which is located on 180 acres of land.
Gasparillo resident John Charles said: It is time that the stadium be put to use...It supposed to be open already but if the place falling apart, the contractor has to be held liable. The stadium was designed by Hellmuth, Obalat & Kassabum, a US architectural firm. The complex was designed to include an aquatic centre, Olympic-size cycling velodrome, indoor gymnasium, school for training of athletes, a large car park, new roads, the Brian Lara Stadium and a cricket academy.
Yesterday, only a few security guards hired by contractor Hafeez Karamath and Company, as well as Udecott security personnel, were seen milling about on the compound. Media workers were not allowed on the premises but evidence of the stained, mossy roof could be spotted from the highway. Last Thursday, Minister of Planning, Economic, Social Restructuring and Gender Affairs Mary King said the final cost for the stadium was put at more than $1 billion, and due to errors on the structure of the stadium that needed to be fixed, the stadium could not be handed over to the Ministry of Sport.
She indicated that the new Udecott board, headed by John, which was approved by Cabinet last Thursday, would soon be addressing final structural repairs to the controversial Tarouba stadium as a matter of priority. Contacted yesterday, John said she would be looking at the existing contracts to determine whether contractors were still liable for defects at the building. I expect to start work today...The board was appointed on Friday and next Friday, we will attend a board meeting, she said.
The issues at the stadium will be the first thing on the agenda, John said. We are doing our investigations to determine the scope of the remedial works. There is a liability period and most likely there will be provisions for defects. I am hoping that we are still in the warranty period, but if that liability period is over we will have to go out and tender. Asked whether the contractors will face any penalties for poor work, John said she would have to investigate before determining whether the contractor could be held accountable for defects. She said although she was chairman of Udecott for eight months under the PNM, she did not have all the facts.
When I go to work tomorrow, I will sit down and deal with all the hard issues, which I am familiar with, and we are going to move swiftly to take all the action that is required to get the stadium open, John said.
The stadium was expected to be completed since 2007 to host matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup. Sources said several contractors who carried out work at the Tarouba Stadium were still owed lucrative sums of money, including Hafeez Karamath and Company.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/event/Media%20center.png?1297041358)
The stained, leaking roof of the Brian Lara Stadium. PHOTOS: RISHI RAGOONATH
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$1.1B to finish Lara Stadium
By RICHARDSON DHALAI Wednesday, June 8 2011
HOUSING and the Environment Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday described as a headache the incomplete Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, construction of which started under the last PNM government, and to date has cost taxpayers a massive $900 million, with final cost to complete put at $1.1 billion.
He led a delegation comprising his ministrys technocrats and engineers, officials from the projects facilitator the Urban Development Corporation (Udecott) led by its chairman Jearlean John, officials from the Shanghai Construction Group which is building the stadium and a team of journalists, to the stadium site.
As Moonilal and the team went to the dressing room, they were greeted by the stench of wet carpet as rainwater had soaked the flooring.
Moonilal said the tour revealed a number of problems and issues with the stadiums infrastructure including inadequate pavilion shelter, flooded drains and unkept grounds. He said a note will be taken to Cabinet to determine the way forward for the stalled facility.
This (project) began at $357 million and now it is over $900 million dollars. From what we saw this morning, it would take some significant resources to continue this project, Moonilal said.
The Brian Lara stadium is a headache at this time because to go forward, we will have to expend enormous resources, if you park it up, you have wasted enormous resources. So that is the decision we have to make, Moonilal said.
On the tour, reporters witnessed clogged drains, moss and mildew-covered stairs and weeds overtaking the play field and surrounding area. Loose electrical wiring hung from the ceiling while there were several major cracks in the glass window panes ringing the VIP section.
Moonilal pointed out that the stadium had been the subject of the Professor John Uff-led Commission of Inquiry and noted that one of the reasons for the escalating cost was the, over design, of the facility.
We will have to make a report from today and take to Cabinet for a decision on what we do with this and whether or not we move to the completion of this, he said, adding, There are some significant resources, it might be over $100 million or more...the final cost at this stage is about $1.1 billion.
Asked whether this or successive governments would be able to recoup the $1.1 billion it will cost to complete this stadium, Moonilal said, I dont think in my lifetime it will.
Asked whether anyone is going to be held accountable for this massive expenditure of State funds on a project that cannot seem to be completed, Moonilal said Attorney General Anand Ramlogan is looking into the matter. We have further investigations based on the Uff Commission of Inquiry...so one never knows how that would go.
The big question for us now is, do we park it up and leave it as an eyesore for all to see in Tarouba? Or do we try and finish it and have some type of utility value regarding the staging of international sporting events? The expenditure of a major amount of money to complete this project is something Cabinet has to consider, Moonilal said.
This stadium, the brain child of former prime minister and now suspended San Fernando East MP Patrick Manning, was conceptualised as part of a larger sporting facility with construction starting in 2006. Five years and close to $1 billion later, the stadium is nowhere near completion.
It was projected that construction would have been completed in time to hold a an international Twenty20 cricket match in the run up to the ICC 2006 Cricket World Cup staged in the Caribbean.
On an April 15, 2008 tour of the stadium, then Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart confidently predicted that this stadium would be completed by July 2008. Hart who oversaw the expenditure of billions of taxpayers dollars while in charge of Udecott, subsequently resigned and later fled the country in the run up to the May 24, 2010 General Election.
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smh. Monumental waste .
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Any thoughts from Lara about the Stadium that bears his name...?
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Any thoughts from Lara about the Stadium that bears his name...?
Lara is 2much of a diplomat 2 comment about this disaster that carries his name.
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I hope the press writes and calypsoians sing about this corruption to.. like they did with the Piarco Airport under Panday.
..........like Sugar Aloes and Cro Cro....those masters of the artform??... ::) ::)
Their best work are political songs during non-PNM years.
Joh Gol, that's not true. PNM got it good when they were in power. Go and research all them kaiso from Sparrow, Chalkie, Valentino, Stalin, Shorty, Luta and many more. Aloes and Cro-Cro are very partisan. But that is their choice. You don't have to support them.
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Getting back to the stadium. Patos has no legs to stand on this one. This was a good project. South people deserved a first class cricket stadium for international games. He alowed Udecott and Karamath to scew up this project.
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People should make ah jail.
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People should make ah jail.
HA!.....yeah right......in this jokey 2 x 4 country....never!!!....
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I hope the press writes and calypsoians sing about this corruption to.. like they did with the Piarco Airport under Panday.
..........like Sugar Aloes and Cro Cro....those masters of the artform??... ::) ::)
Their best work are political songs during non-PNM years.
Joh Gol, that's not true. PNM got it good when they were in power. Go and research all them kaiso from Sparrow, Chalkie, Valentino, Stalin, Shorty, Luta and many more. Aloes and Cro-Cro are very partisan. But that is their choice. You don't have to support them.
Yeah I was referring to those two guys in particular. Not lashing them eh , Ish and Dole Chadee Say are 2 of the greatest songs in the artform. But I was disappointed with them.
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People should make ah jail.
ditto
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worst thing is it doh even look nice. It already looking outdated with that square building in the middle.
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(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2011-06-08-FRONT-2_Tarouba_Incomplete.jpg)
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dat photo looking like d starship enterprise...
Beam me up Scotty!!
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Colossal waste of $$
By CAROL MATROO (Newsday)
Sunday, June 19 2011
The Brian Lara Cricket Stadium was the first phase of what was supposed to serve as a billion-dollar multi-purpose complex in Tarouba, South Trinidad.
When it was conceptualised in 2003 by the former Peoples National Movement regime under Prime Minister Patrick Manning, it was originally budgeted at $272 million.
To date, and after $1.1 billion in expenditure, the stadium has not been completed, and it is uncertain whether it will, or can reach the finished stage to accommodate spectators and cricketers alike.
Describing the construction of the seemingly ill-fated project as a travesty and disgrace, Sports and Youth Affairs Minister, Anil Roberts, a former sports co-ordinator/adviser to former Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Roger Boynes, told the Sunday Newsday that his Government has no idea whatsoever when or if the stadium will be completed.
It all depends on the experts, after theyre finished with that analysis of the readiness, the safety, the structural content, they will dictate. If they say it could be finished in two months, well, all right, but we have to wait for that report. Based on the (John) Uff inquiry, report and analysis of forensic engineer Mr (Gerry) McCaffrey, I would say there is a possibility that it cannot be finished at all, Roberts said.
There is one possibility that it could be finished at X amount and there is another possibility, based on the poor workmanship, the poor design, the poor steel work, the poor wells, there is a distinct possibility that it may never be able to be made safe for people to utilise it. And if it is completed at over $1.3 billion, you, your grandchildren, my great grandchildren, would be dead and gone and you could never generate the revenue to pay back for that facility.
He added, Remember, its peoples lives were talking about. When people go to watch a cricket match, 12,000 people jumping and screaming, you have to ensure that the facility that they are in is structurally secure. No responsible government would put people in jeopardy like that.
Roberts added that even if the stadium was completed there was no way that anybody could make it worth the while, as a stadium of that size would require some $500,000 to $900,000 a month to maintain. He claimed this was the reason he burned his PNM party card in 2005.
Professor John Uff, QC, from the United Kingdom, who was appointed chairman of the Commission of Inquiry that was set up to investigate the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (Udecott) and the construction sector, described the project as nothing short of scandalous, a disaster, a national disgrace and raised serious alarm during the inquiry proceedings.
McCaffrey was the Scottish construction expert hired to give evidence during the inquiry.
Hafeez Karamath Limited (HKL) meanwhile was at the centre of the questionable payment of millions worth of advances on the project, especially after issues of poor workmanship on the project arose.
In his final report handed in to President George Maxwell Richards, Uff detailed a litany of problems at the project, including the decision of Udecott: to award contracts to and pay HKL millions for the mobilisation of materials without checks as to the materials existence, to overpay HKL and the failure of Udecott to adequately explain discrepancies to the tens of millions in Udecotts payment certificates unearthed by Mc Caffrey during his probe.
Uffs was a scathing report, and after detailed information was supplied by forensics engineer McCaffrey, he was not rehired by the then PNM government. Former Planning Minister Colm Imbert was on record as saying then that it was too expensive.
The Uff report described the Tarouba Stadium as an absolute disgrace from start to finish and the worst example of procurement, project management and conceptual design that they had ever seen.
In addition to recommending a full investigation by law enforcement authorities into former Udecott executive chairman Calder Hart and the entire Udecott board in relation to the project, Uff called for the contractor, HKL, to be fired immediately.
Udecott, a special purpose company set up by the Manning regime to oversee major government projects, is again under scrutiny, this time by Canadian forensic expert Bob Lindquist, who arrived in Trinidad on Tuesday.
Lindquist was contracted by the Peoples Partnership Government to conduct a two-week forensic probe into the misappropriation of billions of funds from the State-owned Udecott.
Lindquist, a forensic accountant who investigates multi-million dollar white-collar crimes, has visited this country on several occasions to conduct forensic audits. This will be his second investigation of Udecott, as he had been hired by the previous PNM administration in 2009, a fact that was only made public in 2010 by former Attorney General John Jeremie.
Roberts claimed that the order for the construction of the stadium came from on high, and that his advice to Boynes that the concept could not work was ignored back then before work started. However, the project fell under the Ministry of Planning, which was headed by former Planning Minister Camille Robinson-Regis.
I immediately advised Boynes that this was a concept that could not work. It was wrong, it was a waste of money and we should not go ahead with it. It was not only a cricket stadium, it was budgeted originally at $272 million. It included an aquatic centre, astro-turf hockey pitches, 400-metre running track, dormitories and a cycling track for a total budget of $850 million
I advised him then that that was a waste of money. If you wanted to spend $850 million in sport we should do it in each and every community across Trinidad and Tobago. He could not listen because it (instruction to construct facility) came from well above, Roberts said.
He added that his advice to Manning and former Public Administration minister Dr Lenny Saith, against forging ahead with the project, was also ignored back then.
They concocted several different reasons why it must go ahead. You will then remember Patrick Manning saying first and foremost, the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium was a requirement for the Brown Package for Cricket World Cup 2007. The World Cup has come and gone, we hosted it so that was totally untrue, Roberts said.
He said there were over 370 stop work orders on the project because of poor wells, poor steel, poor infrastructure and poor foundation, because the type of soil the stadium was built on was not suitable for a project of that size, adding that a feasibility study and soil survey were never done before the start of construction.
The minister said with peoples safety in mind, a full analysis and study of every piece of structure and steel had to be done, costing even more millions of dollars.
The stadium was supposed to be constructed in order for TT to acquire the Brown Package for the Cricket World Cup 2007. That package would have seen TT hosting at the Tarouba venue. However, due to the contractors failure to complete the venue on time, TT eventually hosted its Group B matches at the Queens Park Oval and University of the West Indies ground in St Augustine. Across the Caribbean, however, many Caricom governments Guyana, Grenada, Antigua, St Kitts built stadia where the average cost per seat was TT$5,000.
Roberts said at present, the cost per seat of the cricket stadium in Tarouba stood at a whopping $106,000 per seat, an average of $100,000 more than any where else in the Caribbean.
Furthermore, as we are talking about seats, many people may or may not remember, a few years ago when I interviewed Calder Hart I asked him about the $31 million extra dollars that were requested for seats that had been purchased before. He promised to answer in 48 hours and it has now been three years.
The people of TT paid, according to the PNM and Calder Hart, $31 million for seats. The Jamaicans were having problems with their stadium in preparation for 2007. Calder Hart admitted that our seats that we purchased were sent across to Jamaica. Nothing is wrong with that, we help out our Caribbean neighbours
However, what happened after, former Minister of Sport Roger Boynes, in answering a question and accounting to the Parliament about the overruns at that time, said that an extra $31 million was needed to purchase seats, he said.
Roberts said, however, that Hart had said then the same supplier for the seats had replaced them, and questioned why an extra $31 million was required.
I would like to know into whose pocket that money went? It is quite a shame and I hope that at some point the people of TT can at least get some benefits from that stadium, because with $1.3 billion we could have built a full aquatic centre with three 50-metre pools, 25-metre pool, diving well and fun pool for kids
Also we could have built the cycling velodrome the 250-metre indoor wooden track. We could have built the tennis centre. We could have built 12 community sporting indoor regional centres for netball, volleyball, basketball and other sports. We could have fixed also within that $1.3 billion 164 recreation grounds with lighting pavilion, jogging track, play park and exercise equipment for the people of TT and still have $300 million change. There is absolutely no way we can recoup this money, none whatsoever, no way. Not even with all the blessings of the Supreme Being, Roberts charged.
He said to try to recoup some of the monies spent on the stadium, Government would have to host other activities, including concerts, cultural and religious events, as well as develop a multi- purpose facility underneath the main stand with a gym, waiting rooms and gymnastics.
You could try all of that and if you use all of that, a 100 years will pass and we will never be able to recoup that money. It is the most ridiculous investment in the history of TT. People want to talk about the airport, at least we could go in and out, he claimed.
Roberts said he did not blame Boynes, as he was not on the hierarchy of things. He said Manning had, on seven different occasions, defended the project, saying that any Tom, Dick or Harrilal could say what they want, the Tarouba Stadium will be built. Manning had also suggested that the stadium would be used as a tsunami shelter.
The other one, the all powerful one, the one who acted as prime minister, Lenny Saith, also defended it, saying that it was a requirement of the Brown Package and that it will be built. So I cannot in good conscience blame Roger Boynes. He was but a small fry, he had no choice when the big boys dictate ... so I cannot blame him at all. He was low on the pecking order.
When a prime minister and an acting prime minister say that it must be built, a mere minister of sport has no choice, so it is not Roger Boynes fault in any way, although I would have suggested that he resign at that time before they got rid of him. When he agreed with me he should have packed up his bags and walked. He decided to stay quiet and later the two big men who made the terrible decision ended up getting rid of him and his political career was over, Roberts said.
The minister also claimed the tendering process for the stadium was flawed from the start, alleging that former Udecott executive chairman Hart, who has since left the country, usurped the authority of the Tenders Committee.
He did what he wanted. He fired the project engineers, then hired others to do it. They did not. They approved $124 million initial pay out. You give a mobilisation fee when a project is started. Maybe ten percent, at the highest 15 percent, so for that project at $272 million, maybe a mobilisation fee would have been $27 million.
Udecott, under Calder Hart, before a tractor even moved, paid out $124 million to the contractor. Never in the history of any project in the world has that happened. So a company has done nothing and they pocket $124 million?
And then they try to expedite because they said it was for World Cup 2007 and they put extra costs on in order to try and make the deadline. They did not make the deadline yet they continued to work at the accelerated extra cost pace.
It is a travesty, it is a disgrace. That is why when I tell you forget politics and anything named PNM should never raise its head in this country whether to walk, to talk or to squawk. They have no shame, Roberts declared.
Contacted on the issue, Boynes said if the Brian Lara Stadium had indeed incurred such high costs, then a forensic report should be done on the entire Tarouba project.
I do not know that this is the actual figure because I dont have a breakdown, and as former minister I wouldnt like to comment on something from a factual perspective that may not be correct. What I have to say is that it is a project that I would like to see completed, but I am, however, concerned at the cost because I find that Udecott should have managed that project better so that cost would not have been where it is today.
He added, What has to be done is a forensic analysis into that entire project in the interest of the nation. All of us who are paying taxes and the entire country, thats our money and we have to find out why it is that the cost has gone to that amount. After the analysis, deal with it and let the chips fall where they may.
Whoever is culpable for wasting taxpayers money, let them be dealt with. The law is the law. This has always been my position on that.
The former minister also denied that Roberts had advised him against building the stadium, saying if he (Roberts) did so, then it would be in writing and filed at the ministry.
How would he have advised the prime minister? In what capacity? How would he have advised Dr Saith? I wont know if he met with the then prime minister and Dr Saith and advised them about the stadium. I cant remember if he had said anything negative about it. I remember in the beginning Anil was supporting the whole venture.
Then after a while he started to complain about it. At one point the idea was good to have an academy relating to different sporting facilities and training and that sort of thing. I also recall some time on the media he (Roberts) was in fact talking against it, saying it was costing too much money and that we should focus on proper coaching and so on. I dont know if it was in that regard he was talking about, Boynes recalled.
He said he and Roberts did speak about coaching, which was why, during his (Boynes) tenure, his ministry focused on bringing in coaches from different sporting disciplines.
That is the one thing Anil and I had in common, so in a sense we did talk about Tarouba, but I dont know if he had written to me, I cannot recall. I do recall Anil was supportive in the initial stages because the idea was a good one, he said.
Boynes said during an interview on a radio talk show, on which he was one of the guests, he had indicated that he did not believe the stadium would be ready in time for the World Cup, which was why his ministry had a Plan Bin place. That was to use the University of the West Indies, St Augustine as the warm up ground and the Queens Park Oval for World Cup Cricket.
Boynes was also quick to stress that the Tarouba Project fell under the direction of the Ministry of Planning
I simply advised that from my ministrys perspective, that it would not be ready in time for World Cup. Everything that fell under the Ministry of Sport to do, it did. I would not have any information about anything under the Ministry of Planning because the project was never really under Sport and Youth Affairs.
Ask me anything else under sport and Ill tell you exactly where it stood, where it is. It was under Udecott, the company that was chosen by the Parliament to construct the Brian Lara Stadium, he said
Boynes added, I think the concept is a very good one and I think at the time when the project started, we all bought into the project. The project was one of having a sporting academy that would service several sporting disciplines. In terms of where it is at this stage, I dont know where it is at this stage.
Several attempts to contact Saith were unsuccessful.
(http://www.newsday.co.tt/galeria/2011-06-19-8-4_A_incomplete_brian_lara_1-07.jpg)
The "tracks" at the incomplete Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba are now overgrown with grass.
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This project is a disgrace. People should be prosecuted for what happened here. I will support a move to complete the project nonetheless.
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when this stadium completed...who will be responsible for upkeeping it...??
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Brian Lara Stadium
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Brian Lara Stadium
Ground information
Location
Trinidad
Establishment
2008
Capacity
15,000
As of 21 February 2009
Source: Brian Lara Stadium, Cricinfo
Brian Lara Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago that is currently under construction. When completed in 2007, it will be used mostly for cricket matches and was supposed to host matches during the 2007 Cricket World Cup, however ongoing delays in construction have forced its exclusion. It will hold 15,000 people. It is named for Brian Lara, who until 17 October 2008 was the all-time leading run scorer in Test cricket, when he was surpassed by Sachin Tendulkar.
Development of the Stadium
The Brian Lara Stadium is one of the most controversial stadia built in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the fact that it is under the state company UDeCOTT, does not help the situation. The initial cost (2006) of the stadium was $500 million TT dollars however, with the cost overruns and the increase in prices of materials, this amount has increased significantly. The Chairman of UDECOTT, as of June 2008 placed the approximate completion date at July 2008, some 2 years after the initial estimated handover.
Tarouba Complex
The Brian Lara Stadium is part of a large complex situated on 180 acres (0.73 km2) of farm lands in Tarouba, Trinidad with a cost of $850 million TT dollars. It was designed by Hellmuth, Obalat & Kassabum, a US architectural firm. An aquatic centre. Olympic-sized cycling velodrome. Indoor gymnasium. School for training of athletes. A large car park, new roads and other infrastructural works. The Brian Lara stadium and cricket academy.
View across the stands in the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba
This stadium will serve as a training facility for cricket players. It will feature four indoor cricket training pitches with computerised biometric technology to measure an athletes performance, including two full-length run-up pitches for fast-bowlers. Patrons at the stadium will have an unhindered view from every area of the facility, including the concessionaires area. It also has areas specifically designed for the print, radio and television media, respectively. The facility may also see the construction of a hotel in the future.
If only politics did not get in the way we might of been producing better athletes by now .
Andre Errol Baptiste please make your information about this place public so Trinbago would know the truth .
20yrs of planning going to waste ask Brina Lara ,Ken Butcher,Baker .
Mods i know this thread is somewhere in here please fit this in .
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Change the name to the "Pull Stones Stadium."
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Moonilal eager to finish Tarouba stadium - $185m to fix issues
By Kevon Felmine
Thursday, September 12, 2013.
Years after the Brian Lara Stadium failed to make its original construction deadline, a further $185 million is still needed to fix the stadium before it can be opened to the public.
The stadium was originally intended to be used for the 2007 ICC World Cup and a whopping $1.1 billion has already been spent on it. But even after it is eventually completed, it is unlikely that international or regional matches will be played there, as Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday said it might be used instead for school cricket.
Speaking at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, yesterday, Moonilal said Cabinet had finally approved the resumption of work at the controversial stadium, which was started in 2005 with a projected cost of $500 million. We went to Cabinet a few months ago with a proposal concerning the Brian Lara Stadium, and the Cabinet had given the okay to continue the work, he said.
There are some remedial works there to be done, as well as some re-engineering of the facility. I think the amount of money is in the vicinity of $185 million to continue that work. We are hoping to at least continue that work. We are very keen to finish the project because of the amount of money already spent$1.1 billionand it needs another $185 million, in a facility that at the end of the day we may hand it over to the Secondary Schools Cricket League.
Despite Cabinets approval, no funding has yet been allocated to continue the project, which Moonilal said would be finished before the Peoples Partnership term ends in 2015. We are looking for a source of funding to complete it...I believe that by 2015 or thereabouts, we should be in a position to complete and have the facility and at least have some type of games taking place, he said.
Although the project started under the Peoples National Movement (PNM) government, the Peoples Partnership (PP) has been subjected to heavy criticism for the delays in completing the stadium, initially intended to be a state-of-the-art facility for the countrys athletes. The Urban Development Corporation (Udecott), which is overseeing the project, was also criticised for sanctioning the hosting of Carnival parties and sporting events in the car park earlier this year and late 2012.
However, Moonilal yesterday defended the delays, saying a proper survey of the stadium had to be done before work continued. We could not have gone full speed ahead and do anything, because we had to do a comprehensive assessment, he said. If we did not do the comprehensive assessment, the very media would have asked for the technical reports. So we had to do all our assessments and get international consultants, which we did.
That also cost money. So in doing the assessment, it cost money as well. Now we are in a position where Cabinet has approved a plan. Upon picking up duties at Udecott in 2011, chairman Jearlean John announced that an investigation would be launched to determine whether contractors were still liable to repair infrastructural defects at the stadium. Among the issues were a leaking media tower, broken pavilion seats, a flooded gym and an improperly constructed VIP lounge.
The stadium, started in 2005, was designed as part of the proposed $850 million Tarouba Complex on 180 acres of farm land. It was to include an aquatic centre, Olympic-sized cycling velodrome, indoor gymnasium, academy for athletes and a spacious car park along with the Brian Lara Stadium and cricket academy. In April 2011, however, Sports Minister Anil Roberts announced that those plans had been scrapped and only cricket would be played at the stadium.
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Moonilal eager to finish Tarouba stadium - $185m to fix issues
http://www.guardian.co.tt/news/2013-09-11/moonilal-eager-finish-tarouba-stadium-185m-fix-issues
Years after the Brian Lara Stadium failed to make its original construction deadline, a further $185 million is still needed to fix the stadium before it can be opened to the public.
The stadium was originally intended to be used for the 2007 ICC World Cup and a whopping $1.1 billion has already been spent on it. But even after it is eventually completed, it is unlikely that international or regional matches will be played there, as Housing and Urban Development Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal yesterday said it might be used instead for school cricket.
Speaking at the Naparima Bowl, San Fernando, yesterday, Moonilal said Cabinet had finally approved the resumption of work at the controversial stadium, which was started in 2005 with a projected cost of $500 million. We went to Cabinet a few months ago with a proposal concerning the Brian Lara Stadium, and the Cabinet had given the okay to continue the work, he said.
There are some remedial works there to be done, as well as some re-engineering of the facility. I think the amount of money is in the vicinity of $185 million to continue that work. We are hoping to at least continue that work. We are very keen to finish the project because of the amount of money already spent$1.1 billionand it needs another $185 million, in a facility that at the end of the day we may hand it over to the Secondary Schools Cricket League.
Despite Cabinets approval, no funding has yet been allocated to continue the project, which Moonilal said would be finished before the Peoples Partnership term ends in 2015. We are looking for a source of funding to complete it...I believe that by 2015 or thereabouts, we should be in a position to complete and have the facility and at least have some type of games taking place, he said.
Although the project started under the Peoples National Movement (PNM) government, the Peoples Partnership (PP) has been subjected to heavy criticism for the delays in completing the stadium, initially intended to be a state-of-the-art facility for the countrys athletes. The Urban Development Corporation (Udecott), which is overseeing the project, was also criticised for sanctioning the hosting of Carnival parties and sporting events in the car park earlier this year and late 2012.
However, Moonilal yesterday defended the delays, saying a proper survey of the stadium had to be done before work continued. We could not have gone full speed ahead and do anything, because we had to do a comprehensive assessment, he said. If we did not do the comprehensive assessment, the very media would have asked for the technical reports. So we had to do all our assessments and get international consultants, which we did.
That also cost money. So in doing the assessment, it cost money as well. Now we are in a position where Cabinet has approved a plan. Upon picking up duties at Udecott in 2011, chairman Jearlean John announced that an investigation would be launched to determine whether contractors were still liable to repair infrastructural defects at the stadium. Among the issues were a leaking media tower, broken pavilion seats, a flooded gym and an improperly constructed VIP lounge.
The stadium, started in 2005, was designed as part of the proposed $850 million Tarouba Complex on 180 acres of farm land. It was to include an aquatic centre, Olympic-sized cycling velodrome, indoor gymnasium, academy for athletes and a spacious car park along with the Brian Lara Stadium and cricket academy. In April 2011, however, Sports Minister Anil Roberts announced that those plans had been scrapped and only cricket would be played at the stadium
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Arguably the best cricket stadium in the C'bbn and it's being given to play only school's cricket.
Obviously there is an error in the reporting.
Over a billion dollars spent and no hosting of international matches to rake some serious cash and pay or heavily subsidize costs.
No! Not even this PP Govt. that schupid.
VB
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Wrong forum... only cricket playing in this stadium
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Wrong forum... only cricket playing in this stadium
I dont think they actually said. It was built primarily for the Cricket world cup......but no reason football cant play there also. Grounds in excellent condition last i saw
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Wrong forum... only cricket playing in this stadium
Forgive me Anil
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Uncertainty over Lara stadium; claims of pilferage
By Carolyn Kissoon carolyn.kissoon@trinidadexpress.com
Story Created: May 11, 2014 at 9:37 PM ECT
As Government contemplates whether the mothballed Brian Lara Cricket Academy will be completed, thieves have reportedly moved into the facility and dismantled the electrical system and infrastructural works.
The Express was informed that several seats were also removed from the compound and windows were broken.
The rusting facility along the Solomon Hochoy Highway has caused concern among citizens and questions were raised on whether the complex would ever be completed.
Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) communications manager Roxanne Stapleton-Whyms, however, denied that items were being removed from the facility.
She said consultants have conducted a complete conditions survey which included architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical and civil surveys.
A report on the findings of these surveys and the construction cost to complete the facility, with supporting documentation were submitted to UDeCOTT. The UDeCOTT board reviewed the report and made recommendations on the way forward, she said.
Stapleton-Whyms said a timeline to completion has not yet been identified. The cost to completion will be dependent on the scope of works and any remedial works deemed necessary, she said.
Housing Minister Roodal Moonilal has stated that the Government had projected to complete the cricket academy and have some games taking place at the facility by 2015.
But for that to happen, Moonilal said, another $190 million would be required for the completion of the multi-purpose stadium.
In the meantime, the parking lot of the facility has been the venue of several fetes during the Carnival season. Responding to questions raised by a San Fernando City Corporation councillor, Stapleton-Whyms had stated that no rental fees were being collected by UDeCOTT.
UDeCOTT had been allowing events to be take place only in the car park area, with the rest of the facility being off-limits.
The stadium, which forms part of a multi-sporting complex consisting of aquatic facilities and an indoor basketball court, was initially estimated to cost some $850 million.
It is named after retired cricketing great Brian Charles Lara, a former captain of the West Indies cricket team.
The Express was told that a proposal was submitted and Cabinet had agreed to continue the work.
Moonilal acknowledged that there were still some remedial work there to do, as well as some re-engineering of the facility.
The project became the subject of a Commission of Enquiry and claims of corruption were cited in a lawsuit filed against former executive chairman of UDeCOTT, Calder Hart.
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A monument to Manning astute leadership ...
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A monument to Manning astute leadership ...
True, but this gov't should make an astute decision. Tear it down or finish it.
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A monument to Manning astute leadership ...
True, but this gov't should make an astute decision. Tear it down or finish it.
why tear it down .when you can steal and thief money that is allocated to finishing it.....under the guise of..trying to finish it......
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$190M to complete Lara Stadium
By Richardson Dhalai Wednesday, May 14 2014
Newsday
Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, yesterday assured that Government was committed to completing the Brian Lara stadium. To complete the stadium he said, would need an additional $190 million.
Speaking to reporters following the official opening of the Hermitage/Debe road, Hermitage village yesterday, Moonilal, commenting on the additional costing required to complete the Brian Lara Stadium, Tarouba, also recalled that Rowley had been part of the previous Manning Cabinet which had approved a number of cost overruns on several government projects, one of which included the controversial stadium.
Moonilal said an estimated $190 million would be required to complete the stadium following an independent assessment of the facility.
We have done an assessment, an independent assessment and we estimate it will take another $190 million dollars to conclude that project, Moonilal said, adding, it is something we will have to budget for now to conclude it but we are committed to concluding it.
Dr Rowley was in the Cabinet when they approved several cost overruns and variations on it and he would like to reflect on the waste of taxpayers money under the former administration of which he was an integral part.
And asked whether the works would be completed by 2015, Moonilal said, we will have to find the sources of funds for that.
We expect to begin the work shortly, but some of the work, its a lot of work to be done, we expect to begin before, he added.
Originally scheduled to be opened in time to host matches in the 2007 ICC World Cup which was staged in the Caribbean, the Brian Lara Stadium was budgeted to cost approximately $275 million dollars.
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A monument to Manning astute leadership ...
True, but this gov't should make an astute decision. Tear it down or finish it.
why tear it down .when you can steal and thief money that is allocated to finishing it.....under the guise of..trying to finish it......
All o' allyuh damn right.
VB
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190 million to complete. 90 million in kick backs? Look, tear it down or finish it!!!
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190 million to complete. 90 million in kick backs? Look, tear it down or finish it!!!
What! Deeks! whey you hiding? Ganja legal now, Breds!!!!
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Brian Lara: Why I'm helping build a cricket stadium in Rwanda
Cricket has provided education and direction in the lives of thousands
13 September 2014
(http://s27.postimg.org/gi4de9a3n/451729630.jpg)
Twenty years ago, in 1994, I had a golden summer. I scored 375 against England in Antigua, a Test record that stood for nine years, and two months later I posted 501 against Durham, which remains today the world record in first-class cricket, as my team Warwickshire achieved an unprecedented domestic treble. I was in my mid-twenties, and of course I was very happy, but I was also very aware that in another part of the world, a great tragedy was unfolding.
Every evening when I turned on the TV there were images of the genocide in Rwanda, and the contrast with my own feelings of euphoria haunted me.
It wasnt until 2009 that I actually visited Rwanda, but when I did I knew I had to help in some way, and hearing the story of a young cricketer called Audifax Byiringiro helped me start to realise what I should do.
In April 1994, as I was gearing up for my golden summer, Audifax Byiringiro was a six-month-old baby in Rwanda. Audifax and his family his mother, father and three siblings sought refuge from the violence as nearly a million Tutsis were killed by their Hutu countrymen. For more than a month they faced death daily at rebel road blocks as they fled from the brutality, but by June his father and three siblings had been murdered and only he and his mother remained.
One day in the same month, on a field in a school in Kigali, 2,500 Rwandans were abandoned by UN peacekeepers and attacked by local militia with machetes, grenades and guns. The massacre took just a few hours, and by nightfall all but 50 were dead. The events were later depicted in the film Shooting Dogs. The title was intended to symbolise the madness of the situation: UN troops firing at dogs scavenging bodies of the dead, but not allowed to shoot at the human perpetrators because their orders prevented them from doing so.
Eight years later, by some strange turn of fate, that same field became Rwandas first cricket pitch. Many Rwandans had lived in exile in nearby countries like Kenya and Uganda, where cricket was played as a result of a British colonial past. When the exiles returned to their homeland following the end of the genocide, they brought the game back with them and a Rwanda Cricket Association was formed. The idea was that Rwandans of all backgrounds could try to forget their past by playing together but sometimes it was hard to forget. Before a pitch could be prepared, the two-metre grass was cut, revealing the remains of many victims of the massacre. In the early games it wasn't unusual for a fielder, when chasing after a ball, to find a human bone.
This is where Audifax story begins again because in 2007, as a 14-year-old, he played his first game of cricket on that field, and it was there, two years later, that I met him during my trip. I was struck then by the way that cricket had changed Audifax life. He spent hours honing his skills with bat and ball before and after school, and it gave him focus and discipline. Over the next few years, he became a fixture in the national team, and in 2011 he was even asked by a cricket club in Cornwall to be their overseas professional for the season, although his visa request was turned down. He now coaches in schools, orphanages and universities across the country, sharing his love of cricket with Rwandan boys and girls from all different backgrounds while excelling in his own studies (his most recent exam results were the highest in the country).
Audifax story is just one of many. Since cricket first arrived in Rwanda, it has provided education and direction in the lives of thousands of young people and in some places has helped break down previously entrenched tribal and ethnic differences. An overachieving national team has even helped foster a sense of national pride.
So Rwandan boys love cricket, theres no doubt about that, but the trouble is that there is still only one cricket ground: that small field in Kicukiro, the site of the massacre.
Here at last, was something I could do for Rwanda. In 2011, I and a group of cricketing evangelists from England formed the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (www.rcsf.org.uk), in partnership with the MCC Foundation, to build a high-quality permanent home for Rwandan cricket.
The policy of international aid organisations has quite rightly been to develop basic infrastructure, to lower child mortality and to reduce poverty, but cultural development is also crucial to help Rwanda become a developed nation.
Once built, the new ground will provide a place for the national team to train, for schoolchildren to be coached, for people who have never seen the game before to become hooked, the same way both Audifax and I did. There will be accommodation for visitors from around Rwanda and touring teams from abroad to stay.
RCSF is more than halfway towards the target of 600,000 to lay two wickets and build a small pavilion. And on Sunday 14 September at Wormsley in the Chilterns, I will lead out an invitational XI against a Warwickshire CCC 1990s XI, led by our captain from that era, Tim Munton, as we seek to raise more money for this fantastic cause.
The international communitys failure to act against the 1994 genocide will remain on our consciences forever. But 20 years on, cricket is helping the country to move forward, and I am proud to be able to help.
Tickets to watch Brian Laras international XI this weekend can be purchased via the RCSF website: www.rcsf.org.uk. Brian Lara is a former captain of the West Indies cricket team. Among other achievements, he set a record for a first-class innings 501 not out which has stood for 20 years.
This article first appeared in the print edition of The Spectator magazine, dated 13 September 2014
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BRIAN LARA INVITATIONAL XI VS WARWICKSHIRE 1990S XI
VENUE: Wormsley Cricket Ground, Getty Family Estate, Buckinghamshire
DATE: 14th September
TIME: Gates open @ 11 am. Play starts @ 2:00 pm
THE MATCH
A team of cricketing stars will come together under the leadership of Brian Lara, one of the greatest batsmen the game has ever seen. He will captain a select XI which includes Ashes winning former England captain Andrew Strauss, former England wicket keeper Paul Nixon and the former England women's captain and now head of women's cricket at the ECB, Clare Connor. They will play against Brians old Warwickshire team mates from the 1990s including Ashley Giles and Gladstone Small with whom he won three out of four domestic trophies and shared a number of his many records including the highest ever first class score of 501 in 1994.
The match will take place at Wormsley Cricket Ground, one of the most beautiful grounds in the country, with all proceeds going towards making our vision of a new home for Rwandan cricket a reality.
Ive seen the enthusiasm for the game in Rwanda, and there is plenty of natural talent. Its vital that we support the Rwandan Cricket Association in harnessing that talent as we believe sport can help build the incredible progress the country has made in the last twenty years. The stadium will create a lasting legacy for the game in this wonderful country. Brian Lara, RCSF Patron
TICKETS
VIP Hospitality
Match ticket, dine and network with the players, VIP Parking, tea and coffee on arrival, Louis Roederer Champagne reception, three course lunch with fine Sumaridge wines, traditional afternoon tea and access to the hospitality bar for the whole day. All enjoyed from the best seat in the house in the Wormsley marquees.
1500 per table of 10
175 for individual tickets
Hospitality
Match ticket, VIP Parking, tea and coffee on arrival, Louis Roederer Champagne reception, three course lunch with fine Sumaridge wines, traditional afternoon tea and access to the hospitality bar for the whole day. All enjoyed from the best seat in the house in the Wormsley marquees.
1000 per table of 10
125 for individual tickets
Ground tickets
Match ticket and onsite parking.
Come and enjoy these greats of the game close up, from one of the most beautiful cricketing settings in the world.
Adult 15
Concessions (OAPs and Students) 10
Children (under 16) 1
THE TEAMS
#TEAMLARA
BRIAN LARA (*)
ANDREW STRAUSS
PAUL NIXON ()
STEVE ELWORTHY
NIGEL ADAMS MP
HEATHER KNIGHT
MICHAEL BROWN
DEVON MALCOLM
RICHARD PYRAH
MATTHEW HOGGARD
JAMES TRUELL *
JAMIE GNODDE *
#TEAMBEARS
ASHLEY GILES
GLADSTONE SMALL
NEIL SMITH
WASIM KHAN
JASON RATCLIFFE
TIM MUNTON
PAUL SMITH
DOMINIC OSTLER
GRAEME WELCH
ANDY MOLES
DOUGGIE BROWN
ASIF DIN
KEITH PIPER
MICHAEL POWELL
MICHAEL BELL
These are the confirmed players, but we have more stars in the pipeline.
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Comments
Ismael Mukiza a day ago
Very interesting engagement, I, as Rwandan, really thank your for
supporting my country to move forward, God bless you and all RCSF's
members!
Avatar
Adam KM an hour ago
fine cause and a fine player
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Keep up the great work Mr Lara ... :applause: :applause: :applause:
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Well done to the Prince of Port Of Spain
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Stive on Fatima Boy
Stive on.
VB
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Lara assists Rwandan cricket
West Indies legend helping to build cricket ground
Story Created: Sep 15, 2014 at 9:20 PM ECT
Express
(http://s2.postimg.org/7l0gxorq1/sp5179.jpg)
West Indies batting legend Brian Lara is now helping to develop cricket in Rwanda.
This year marked not only the 20th year since Lara first held the Test match batting world record after scoring 375, but it is also two decades since the Rwandan genocide, and Lara is now assisting in developing a ground for budding cricketers in that African country.
The former West Indies captain explained his involvement in the project in a column in Britains Spectator newspaper.
He wrote: Every evening when I turned on the TV (in 1994) there were images of the genocide in Rwanda, and the contrast with my own feelings of euphoria haunted me.
It wasnt until 2009 that I actually visited Rwanda, but when I did I knew I had to help in some way, and hearing the story of a young cricketer called Audifax Byiringiro helped me start to realise what I should do.
He wrote of Byiringiro: In April 1994, as I was gearing up for my golden summer, Audifax Byiringiro was a six-month-old baby in Rwanda. Audifax and his familyhis mother, father and three siblingssought refuge from the violence as nearly a million Tutsis were killed by their Hutu countrymen. For more than a month they faced death daily at rebel road blocks as they fled from the brutality, but by June his father and three siblings had been murdered and only he and his mother remained.
One day in the same month, on a field in a school in Kigali, 2,500 Rwandans were abandoned by UN peacekeepers and attacked by local militia with machetes, grenades and guns. The massacre took just a few hours, and by nightfall all but 50 were dead.
Today, the scene of that bloodshed is the site where a 14-year-old Audifax played his first cricket game. The sport had been brought to the country by Rwandans returning from exile in Kenya and Uganda.
Lara first met the young Rwandan there on his first to the country in 2009.
I was struck then by the way that cricket had changed Audifaxs life, Lara wrote in his piece. He spent hours honing his skills with bat and ball before and after school, and it gave him focus and discipline. Over the next few years, he became a fixture in the national team, and in 2011 he was even asked by a cricket club in Cornwall to be their overseas professional for the season, although his visa request was turned down. He now coaches in schools, orphanages and universities across the country, sharing his love of cricket with Rwandan boys and girls from all different backgrounds while excelling in his own studies (his most recent exam results were the highest in the country).
Lara added that, in 2011, I and a group of cricketing evangelists from England formed the Rwanda Cricket Stadium Foundation (www.rcsf.org.uk), in partnership with the MCC Foundation, to build a high-quality permanent home for Rwandan cricket....Once built, the new ground will provide a place for the national team to train, for schoolchildren to be coached, for people who have never seen the game before to become hooked, the same way both Audifax and I did. There will be accommodation for visitors from around Rwanda and touring teams from abroad to stay.
According to the piece, the Foundation is more than halfway towards its target of raising 600,000 to lay two wickets and build a small pavilion.
Yesterday, to aid with fundraising, Lara was due to lead an Invitational XI against a Warwickshire CCC 1990s XI, led by former skipper Tim Munton at Wormsley,
England.
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Nice to see , news about Lara :applause: :applause: :applause:
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The Brian Lara Stadium can be useful!
Alvin Corneal
Published: Guardian
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
(http://s13.postimg.org/qeqd166g7/download_2_0.jpg)
Let me begin by saying that building a cricket stadium with the magnitude of the one which is present, but unfinished, is not a project that I would have endorsed at any time. An International cricket stadium is not needed in T&T, regardless of where it is built. Maybe twenty years ago, the project may have sounded like a great idea as many exciting cricket matches were played locally and fans gave excellent support to these matches.
We also had the opportunity to host two Test matches annually, plus some high profile regional matches where the great West Indian Cricketers represented their countries with pride and an absolute desire to show the world that they are the best in the region. Foreign teams also played against the national teams in every country and sometimes two four day matches against T&T.
The main venue for our International cricket was and still is the Queens Park Oval and despite the absence of Test matches here in the recent past, the choice for any other match will be the Oval. Because it is in the Centre of the Capital city, it has adequate transport system to travel in and out of the city, where the major hotels for tourists who visit to attend matches, are mostly walking distance from the Oval.
So regardless of what the venue cost the people of this country in my opinion, was a decision which was not given sufficient thought. This huge edifice was given the name Brian Lara Stadium, the ideal tribute to the worlds record holder with highest scores in Test cricket and first class cricket. But the debate which seem to occupy the attention of almost every one for different reasons, remains an image of a wanton waste of money, which could have been used for sport in a much methodical manner.
It makes no sense looking back at the financial investment gone bad, does not change the abysmal state of affairs where the ground which was supposed to be completed some years ago, is now the subject of criticism from, both sides of the parliamentary benches. I have even heard that the local cricket authority would like to have the North/South Classic match played at the incomplete venue when the Queens Park and Guaracara Park are ready for play, with only pitch preparation needing a few days before the competition starts.
What about T&Ts Sports Academy?
With all this emphasis placed upon the funding of our Elite athletes annually so that they can achieve their goals when the big international events come around. Preparing athletes for the future does not necessarily mean placing money in their hands without knowing their needs in terms of all aspects of their development and progress. I strongly recommend to the persons responsible for making these decisions, that this venue be turned into the countrys oven for bringing our promising athletes from the various sporting disciplines into a high performance center for the major sports of Football, cricket, Track and field, Swimming, Netball, Cycling, Field hockey, Volleyball, Basketball, Table tennis and Tennis just to name a few.
The clientele for entry into this pristine institution must be carefully screened in their early teens, where coaches of quality can observe potential in their early stages. They must also be made to understand that their education is an integral part of their preparation, hence the reason why they should be attending academic classes for a portion of the time of day, with the same seriousness which they will approach their sporting discipline. There is sufficient space for the addition of a few tennis courts, a volleyball centre which can serve for basketball, netball and other indoor sports, while the practical venues for Track and field can be held at the nearby Manny Ramjohn Stadium.
Our new cycling track and swimming pool can serve its purpose, while the top portion of the stadium can be changed into classrooms where these potential stars can make academic intelligence be a part of their success. So please desist from the negatives and criticism from the politicians and for one moment in time, get your act together and let us give Brian Lara a venue for which he can be proud.
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T&T to pay off stadium loan in 2019
...as Govt looks to pursue claims against contractors of $497m Lara Stadium
By in parliament \\\\\ Ria Taitt Political Editor
Story Created: Sep 25, 2014 at 10:24 PM ECT
Express
The Trinidad and Tobago taxpayer has to pay $67 million annually until September 2019 to repay the $497.3 million loan taken in 2009 to construct the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
This was revealed by Minister of Sport Rupert Griffith as he responded to questions from Housing Minister Dr Roodal Moonilal, during yesterdays meeting of the Standing Finance Committee at Tower D, International Waterfront Centre, Port of Spain.
Moonilal later revealed, in response to questions from Opposition Leader Dr Keith Rowley, Government was keeping its eye on the legal clock, with respect to pursuing claims against contractors who are liable for some of the construction defects at the facility, which is still to be opened.
Saying he was under the impression the money for the Brian Lara Stadium had come from the Consolidated Fund (directly from the Treasury), Moonilal stated: I am seeing a massive loan here (in the Draft Estimates of Expenditure 2015) of $67 million to be spent every year.... My ten-week-old child have to pay a loan for the Brian Lara Stadium? he asked.
The questions provoked an uproar from the Opposition bench and committee chairman Wade Mark had to threaten to invoke the Standing Orders to keep members in line.
You may not like what is being asked, but each member has a right to ask a question.... When you ask questions on the Opposition bench, the Government does not like it; and when the Government asks, the Opposition doesnt like it.... But I have to protect everyone, Mark said as he appealed to Opposition members to allow Griffith to answer the question.
Rowley later asked whether the ministry had paid attention to the liability of contractors for the litany of shortcomings outlined by Moonilal outlined and whether Government was keeping its eye on the matter being statute-barred.
Moonilal said he wanted to assure Rowley UDeCOTTs technical people were working side by side with its legal team on the issue of contract administration and liability.
We also have the issue of arbitration and the possibility that we may have to arbitrate over some of
those matters, he said. We are keeping our eyes on the legal clock ...on the issues of liability (of contractors), and we are working with contractors so that we can come to a legal solution, he said.
Moonilal: $189m more to complete facility
Story Created: Sep 25, 2014 at 10:23 PM ECT
Express
Rowley later asked Moonilal whether any technical assessment was done to bring the stadium to a state of completion and what date was it likely to be brought into use.
Moonilal, who said the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), which falls under his portfolio, had responsibility for the stadium, added the Government had engaged professional people to do an assessment of the facility and what was required to complete it.
Moonilal said the report, which was done a year ago, estimated it would cost $189 million to complete the facility, which requires roofing work, massive infrastructure work because the stadium was built in the canefield and extensive drainage work.
He said he was quite prepared to share the professional report on the stadium with Rowley, as well as the report on Las Alturas.
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TTCB encouraged by Moonilal comments
Story Created: Sep 27, 2014 at 9:35 PM ECT
Express
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board is heartened by recent statements concerning the Brian Lara Stadium at Toruba by Minister of Housing Dr Roodal Moonilal.
Originally scheduled to be completed in time for the ICC World Cricket Cup in 2007 when it was staged for the first time in the Caribbean, the stadium was originally estimated to cost $500 million but which has now escalated to over one billion.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCB), Azim Bassarath, said on Thursday that Moonilal should be complimented for his brave and courageous statements.
Speaking to the Chaguanas Chamber of Commerce recently, the minister spoke of the intention to have the facility completed and that it could cost in the vicinity of another $130 million before the first ball is bowled.
The statement of intent by Dr Moonilal is sweet music to our ears. We have been clamouring for the completion of the Brian Lara Stadium for many years, so we are quite happy to hear that it could soon be opened to the public of Trinidad and Tobago, said Bassarath.
The Brian Lara Stadium was conceptualised as a state of the art cricket facility which will be used for both training purposes for elite cricketers and also to stage matches. However the project has been stymied over the years as the existing infrastructure has been left to the mercy of the elements.
Bassarath and the TTCB has been a keen advocate for the completion of the stadium because he believes that cricket seriously needs an international standard venue in the south of the country.
Currently all regional and international matches must be played at the famed Queens Park Oval in Port of Spain which is privately owned by the Queens Park Cricket Club and represents a huge cost factor for the TTCB and the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) every cricket season.
Bassarath said on Thursday that he hopes that a request by the TTCB for a tour of the facility with UDecott, the state company tasked with its construction, will be possible in the near future.
We are optimistic that we can go on a tour of the stadium to assess what needs to be done and identify possible problems going forward. We can also provide whatever technical advice is needed, said Bassarath.
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Sancho visits site for Lara recreation ground.
T&T Guardian Reports.
Minister of Sport Brent Sancho visited the Brian Lara Recreation Ground yesterday in an effort to understand the scope of construction being undertaken by the Sports Company of T&T.
Accompanied by West Indies legend Brian Lara, Minister Sancho viewed drawings and was updated by contractors on the progress at the Ground, which when completed will feature a 500-seat pavilion with change rooms and storage areas, car park, cricket nets, an outdoor basketball court and a children's play park.
Lara concurred with Minister Sancho about the facility's potential to earn revenue with the installation of concession stands and advertising boards.
The Sport Minister is very keen on exploring income-generating opportunities for regional recreation grounds across the country, which will serve as a boost to the community's business prospects as well as contribute to the country's sport tourism product.
Minister Sancho indicated that he was grateful to have input from Lara and is of the view that elite athletes should be consulted when facilities are being built, as their experiences of competing at international venues was invaluable to the development of the local sporting infrastructure.
As such, the former West Indies captain pointed out that in his view, the outfield and pitch at the Ground were of a high enough quality to permit warm-up, practice and training sessions for visiting regional and international teams as well as community level interventions for football and cricket.
The contractor on the project CG Construction estimated a 14-week timeline for completion of the Ground.
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Just for clarity... that article have to do with the grounds in santa cruz... I'm not even sure Lara still lending his name to the tarouba fiasco.
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I think this is the ground in Santa Cruz. Anytime I hear, read or see anything about the Lara in Torouba, I does feel sick.
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I think this is the ground in Santa Cruz. Anytime I hear, read or see anything about the Lara in Torouba, I does feel sick.
As Weary would say: Co sign.
Lara Recreation Ground and BL Stadium different entities.
VB
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Sancho laments state of Lara stadium
Sport Minister endorses Prince of Port of Spain to head WICB
By Sue-Ann Wayow (Express)
Sport Minister Brent Sancho said although the controversial stadium in Tarouba was not yet under his ministry it was disappointing to know it has not yet been completed and in use.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, during a tour of the National Cycling Velodrome in Couva, Sancho said: It is a disappointment when you look at the amount of money spent and it is just sitting there. I would hope that at some point some sort of salvaging can be done.
I want to see proper usage. I want to see it become an income generator for the country... I want to see less taxpayers dollars being spent and even if it is spent it is an investment and this investment can grow into monies being earned, he added.
The stadium, which began under the previous government, is now under the purview of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (UDeCOTT). Sancho also noted that sport was tarnished and the best people to have administrative roles would be ex-players because they understood the system.
Sports has such a tainted name to it now because when you look at all the infighting that is happening in administration and all the different bacchanal it leaves a tainted name and people sometimes wonder why corporate Trinidad (and Tobago) does not want to get involved. When you open the back pages, it is always some sort of controversy and we need to move away from that, continued Sancho.
He said cricket icon Brian Lara would be best suited to lead the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB).
Asked if he would be supportive of Lara, should he be given the responsibility of leading the regional board, Sancho said: I would definitely support him. Brian would have played all over the world... he would understand what an athlete needs and I think this is a lot of what we have been missing, contends Sancho.
We need people at the helm that understand what athletes need and administrators are just a supplement or medium to get the best out of our athletes. We have to step aside and do what is necessary for them to continue to move forward, he added.
And Sancho says he continues to support the West Indies cricket team although he admitted at not being happy with the teams selection for the match against India, which the Caribbean side lost yesterday.
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Smith promises decision on Brian Lara Stadium
T&T Guardian Reports.
Minister of Sports and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith is enthusiastic about T&Ts chances at the coming Olympic Games in Rio de Janiero, Brazil next year as well as having the Soca Warriors qualify for the World Cup in 2018.
Contacted yesterday, Smith said he was really pleased with the work of national football coach Stephen Hart and felt that the country has a great chance of qualifying for the World Cup for yet another time. He is also eyeing a number of medals at the Olympics and is as optimistic as T&T Olympic Committee (TTOC) president Brian Lewis, who expressed the belief that T&T will win ten or more Olympic gold medals.
Smith, who is known for his hard working nature at the Diego Martin Regional Corporation, has promised that a decision will be made on the incomplete Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba before his term of office came to an end.
He did not visit the Brian Lara Stadium during his tour of the sporting facilities but said he will have to do so very soon.
I have never been to the Brian Lara Stadium and it is only when I go there then I will know what has to be done. I will have to get the engineers and all the necessary people with me before that visit, Smith said.
Smith said life at his ministry was now returning to a state of normalcy following the stint of the previous government and said all will be done to ensure that athletes get the required assistance they need to perform at the top level.
He told the Guardian his aim now was to clean up sports in T&T and get corporate citizens to support it once again.
Only recently Smith made a tour of the new Aquatic Centre and Tennis Facility in Tacarigua and the Cycledrome in Couva to determine their state of readiness for competition ahead of the Olympics. However he said a lot still needed to be done before the facilities can be opened officially for action.
I really need to get the athletes inside those facilities as soon as possible so work will continue at a pace to try and achieve this, Smith said. He added that tenders for a maintenance contractor will be sent out soon before the completion of the facilities as it was equally important to keep them well kept.
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(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20151031/LOCAL/151039888/AR/0/AR-151039888.jpg&MaxW=730&imageversion=Article)
LIFE FOR TAROUBA*
Rowley vows cricket will be played at Brian Lara Stadium
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20151031/news/life-for-tarouba
THE mothballed Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba will be completed and cricket will be played there.
This was the dramatic assurance given by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley at Piggott's Corner, Belmont, during a post-budget national public meeting on Friday night.
The Tarouba facility, named in honour of the historic achievements of cricketing icon Brian Charles Lara and which has long been mired in controversy, will be brought to fruition.
The stadium was to be one of the venues for the Cricket World Cup 2007 but was plagued by delays and cost overruns and became one of the main projects probed by the Uff Commission of Enquiry into the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT), first called for by Rowley, then a PNM back-bencher.
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I know Deeks will be happy after reading the above article. Brian Lara stadium will be completed
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I know Deeks will be happy after reading the above article. Brian Lara stadium will be completed
Yes, finally South will have a stadium of international standard where test matches can be played. Take the Rapid Rail to Sando for a test match for once in your life.
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I know Deeks will be happy after reading the above article. Brian Lara stadium will be completed
Yes, finally South will have a stadium of international standard where test matches can be played. Take the Rapid Rail to Sando for a test match for once in your life.
Well I consider Torouba in Central and not South but I understand your point. Also the rapid rail should have a trini-train stop at the Lara stadium because the Sando stop will not be close to Torouba.
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I know Deeks will be happy after reading the above article. Brian Lara stadium will be completed
Yes, finally South will have a stadium of international standard where test matches can be played. Take the Rapid Rail to Sando for a test match for once in your life.
Sando why you consider Tarouba as being in Central. On the map is just a few miles northeast of Sando.
Well I consider Torouba in Central and not South but I understand your point. Also the rapid rail should have a trini-train stop at the Lara stadium because the Sando stop will not be close to Torouba.
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Deeks Torouba like Gasparillo and Claxton Bay is part of the Pointe-a-Pierre voting constituency which is considered one of the Central constituencies in Trini
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Work finally re-starts at Tarouba Stadium.
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
Sports in Southern Trinidad got a shot in the arm on Sunday when work re-started at the Tarouba Stadium. Whilst officials of UDeCOTT were visiting the controversial venue, clean up exercises were on the way at what was supposed to be the pride of South in terms of Sporting arenas.
The facility which started in 2002 was shelved by the Peoples Partnership Government, as they spoke of poor construction and movement of the land that the Stadium was constructed on.
The facility which was to bear the name of the legendary Brian Lara, was supposed to be finished in time for the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean. There were three warm-up matches carded for the venue and at the time the six cricket pitches were constructed but the stands and players area were not ready.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley recently announced that TT$90M will be spent in an effort to refurbish the venue to have it ready for sports soon. On Sunday officials heard from media personalities on what is required to get the facility up to world standard in terms of communications. Guardian Medias Vinode Mamchan and a host of visitors from ESPN on the invitation of Baldath Mahabir of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) visited the venue and held discussions with UDeCOTT officials.
According to Mahabir, if the ground is completed it will put T&T in a better position to bid for internationals matches. When this facility is finished, it will put us in a better position to bid for international matches because the facility will be owned by the government and we would not have to fork out the amount of money that has to be paid to Queens Park for renting the venue. When you put it in this context it makes it easier for the country to bid for matches when the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) hosts international teams.
Mahabir also added that cricket fans in South Trinidad has been denied top level cricket because no matches can be hosted at Guaracara Park anymore. Due to health and safety concerns we are not able to host matches at Guaracara Park and fans from the vast southern area has suffered the consequences. Once this facility is up and running, they will be able to get top level cricket played in their backyard.
SSCL opens onThursday
The Secondary Schools Cricket League opening ceremony and Super Sixes tournament takes place this Thursday at the Fatima College grounds, Mucurapo Road, Port of Spain starting at 8.30 am.
The format for the days proceedings is a walk pass followed by a cheerleading competition and Super Sixes tournament. This year marks a special occasion as the Secondary Schools Cricket League and PowerGen celebrate this milestone in the annals of cricket history with the theme, The Power of 20 Celebrating 20 years of promoting youth development through sports and education.
This year marks 20 years of Sponsorship by the Power Generation Company of Trinidad and Tobago (PowerGen). The cheerleading Competition is expected to be keenly contested between teams from the East, South and Central Zones of the SSCL. There would also be moko jumbies and a dance item by students of the Barataria South Secondary School to commemorate this special occasion.
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For all that money spent, allyuh don't think that could have been a better looking stadium?
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Work starts at Brian Lara Stadium*
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160119/news/work-starts-at-brian-lara-stadium
CLEAN-UP work has begun on the controversial, moth-balled Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
And refurbishment work, expected to cost $90 million, is to begin next month, says Noel Garcia, chairman of the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT).
Garcia told the Express on Monday that the clean-up work started last week.
We have finalised all of the planning work. We have divided the work into packages. That is one of the objectives, asking small contractors to tender. All the packaging works are going out to tender, it starts sometime soon, by next week.
He said no one contractor will be given the award to repair the entire stadium. Small contractors would focus on areas including electrical, landscaping, fencing, plumbing, air-conditioning, and elevators.
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Deadline set*
Regional cricket at Lara Stadium by years end
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160219/sports/deadline-set
THE BRIAN Lara Stadium in Tarouba is set to host opening round matches in the West Indies Premier Cricket League (PCL) Four-Day Tournament in the 2016-2017 season which gets under way in November-December. And the Minister of Sport, Darryl Smith, says this gives his ministry a target to have the stadium completed and ready by that time.
President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath, made the announcement as he spoke on Thursday at a function, organised jointly by the TTCB and the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs, to honour Jyd Goolie and Kirstan Kallicharan, members of the ICC Under-19 World Cup-winning West Indies team in Bangladesh.
Bassarath made the declaration just 24 hours after the TTCB executive heard an encouraging presentation from the ministrys team tasked with having the facility ready, nearly a decade after it had been started and originally intended to host matches in the 2007 World Cup.
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Clean-up at Tarouba stadium almost complete*
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20160406/news/clean-up-at-tarouba-stadium-almost-complete
TAROUBA
WHILE Trinidad and Tobago celebrated the arrival of the women West Indies cricket players yesterday, Sport Minister Darryl Smith said the country had another reason to celebrate.
That reason is the progression of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba.
Smith told the Express yesterday clean-up operations which began in February were almost completed and soon tenders would be sent out for repairs and refurbishment.
The clean-up works would have included removing water-logged carpets, clearing of bush and old material and equipment, and moving electrical wires.
Smith said since the mothballed stadium that began under the Patrick Manning-led administration was so deteriorated, extensive clean-up operations needed to be done.
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Lara to feature at Tarouba Stadium opening
By CLINT CHAN TACK (NEWSDAY).
FORMER West Indies captain Brian Lara and other international cricketers could grace the opening of the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba. Sports Minister Daryl Smith dropped this hint when he spoke at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns yesterday.
Smith reiterated the Governments and his personal commitment to Trinidad and Tobagos elite athletes and announced the staging of two major sporting events in the twin-island republic later this year.
Smith said work on the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba is continuing apace and Lara has been, very, very happy with the work so far. As someone who has played in some of the worlds greatest cricket arenas, Smith said Lara has been bringing new ideas for the Stadium which was conceptualised over a decade ago.
He said there is an opening date for the Stadium and Lara is interested in having certain persons, including his international icons from around the world attending the opening. Smith said this would have to be approved by Cabinet.
Indicating that the outfield at the Stadium is beautiful and work is taking place on the pitch, Smith said in the coming weeks, Brian and a couple other high schools and UWI will be testing the pitch. He added everyone is excited that T&T will soon have a world class cricket facility. Indicating the Elite Athlete Programme is a key part of the National Sporting Policy which is being fleshed out, Smith said the Ministry recently issued a statement in which it spoke about $24 million being allocated to this programme.
NAAA (National Association of Athletics Administrations of TT) athletes got over 70 percent of that money, he stated. Smith said he has an open door policy and works closely with all athletes.
He reiterated that he and the Government are, all about the athletes first and the young people of T&T. He added, What we have been doing is tightening up as regards to the loopholes that occurred in the last four five years. Smith announced that on March 26, the TT Hockey Federation will host the International Hockey Federation World League Round Two. He said this tournament will bring between 500 and 700 athletes and fans to this country. Smith listed Chile, Japan, Switzerland, Russia, USA and Barbados as some of the countries that will be competing alongside hosts T&T.
He said the astro turf at the National Hockey Centre in Tacarigua will be upgraded for the tournament. Smith also said the existing turf, which has about two years life left in it, will be given to the Petrotrin Sports Club in Pointe-a-Pierre. Smith announced that in June and July, this country will host the Central American and Caribbean Swimming Championships (CCCAN) for the first time.
Indicating this tournament will involve approximately 1,000 athletes, Smith said for the first time there will be swimming, diving, water polo and synchronised swimming taking place in one competition in T&T.
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No disrespect to Ato, Brian, Crawfie, Larry, Manny, York, Jean and soon to be Keshorn. But I think the Govt should try to sell naming rights of all the major sporting facilities in the country. Put statutes and memorial plaques in front of the stadiums. But try to make more money for these stadiums. Carnival fetes go a long way. Football don't draw big crowds as it used too do. We have 9 major sporting facilities to maintain. Naming rights could go a long way to help defray the costs.
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Lara is happy with his Tarouba stadium
...he is involved in its completion, says Sports Minister
By Ria Taitt Multimedia Desk
Brian Lara is happy with the work being done on the Brian Lara Tarouba Stadium.
The cricketing legend had once stated that he regretted having his name attached to the Stadium which had been mired previously in controversy and plagued by delays and cost overturns under the Manning administration.
UDeCOTT's original management of the project had been scrutinised and criticised by the Uff Commission of Enquiry in 2009-2010.
The project was untouched during the five years of the People's Partnership, but Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, noting that hundreds of millions had already been spent on it, committed his Government to completing the project.
Yesterday speaking at yesterday's post Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre, Smith gave an update on the project which began in 2006.
You may be seeing soon, in the next few weeks Brian himself and a couple of high schools and UWI just testing the pitch, he said.
Work is continuing...they are working on the pitch now,.. Mr Lara has been very very happy with the work so far and we have involved him in the whole process for the first time...Because I don't think there is anybody in the region and probably the world, who has played in the best facilities across the globe so he is bringing new ideas because the design dated back a few years.
The Minister said Government was also talking to Lara about the opening of the Stadium as well. He has some ideas for the opening and a date that we can have the opening where him could have certain persons, international icons, who can come, he said.
We in the Government are excited along with the public at having for the first time a world class cricket facility, Smith said.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20170210/LOCAL/170219996/AR/0/AR-170219996.jpg)
Some of the chairs at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba that have since been replaced. Photo: DEXTER PHILIP
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Spanking new Lara stadium to open in May.
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
The impressive Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba is set to officially open in May of this year, according to Minister of Sport Darryl Smith.
Smith led the media on a tour of the facility yesterday and the stadium looks in tip top condition. The impressive facility which has been used as a political tool for many years is finally going to open for business in May and this prompted Smith to remark: Was this so difficult? In obvious reference to the 10-year delay in opening the facility.
Originally this facility was due to be completed in 2007 to host warm-up games for the World Cup that was staged in the Caribbean. The construction was stopped by the Patrick Manning administration after it was clear it would not have been ready for the 2007 event.
Manning lost the subsequent general elections and the facility was ignored under the Peoples Partnership government.
Smith said: We have lost a generation because of the politics that has been played out with this stadium. Today we all feel a sense of pride as we see clips of Brian Lara breaking the world record, imagine how many records and special moments we could have had at this venue in the last 10 years.
When the PNM came into power we promised to get this facility completed and under my watch, I have done that and well within budget. We set aside $90M for the renovation and completion and we have delivered at a cost of $86, 356,723,08. This stadium was 90 per cent complete but after being ignored it deteriorated and we had to spend the sum I called to finish it.
Smith said this was phase one of the project and he was meeting with cabinet to get approval to finish the next phase which was the Brian Lara Academy.
Remember initially this was to be called the Brian Lara Academy however we have had a slight change with the Stadium being completed first and now we move on to the Academy. Brian Lara has been integrally involved in advising what is best and we were looking to house young cricketers here in camps from UTT but he wanted that changed, as he wanted primary schools cricketers involved and this is what we are going to do, he said.
The T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) has been working closely with the government on this project and very soon consultant Manohar Ramsaran the former minister of Sport, will communicate with the International Cricket Council (ICC) to get their approval for the venue.
Then and only then, the facility will be able to host international matches.
As far as the popular Caribbean Premier League (CPL) was concerned, minister Smith said: We would love to have the CPL here but it is all up to the ground be totally ready for that level of cricket. Everything is up to world standard here, the only thing is that the pitch needs some work and this will be done right away to get it up to the standard where we want it to be.
Up until the wee hours of the morning yesterday Pooran and Amzad Ogeer Maintenance was working to make the site top notch and they came in for high praise from Udecott officials.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/Smith%20at%20lara.jpg)
Sports Minister Darryl Smith looks at the view from the Minister Box at the Brian Lara Stadium,Torouba during the tour yesterday. PHOTO: RISHI RAGOONATH
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CPL matches unsure for new Lara Stadium
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
While the government of T&T would love to stage matches in the 2017 Caribbean Premier League at the Brian Lara Stadium, no one can say if that will be the case.
Minister of Sport Darryl Smith speaking to the media on Wednesday at the Tarouba facility said: At this point in time we dont have a pitch that is ready for action.
We have everything else but the pitch has to get some work and until we can get that in top shape, we cant say for sure if the CPL matches will be played here.
We would love to stage the CPL matches here because we have a world class venue.
Ian Telfer from Udecott said that officials of CPL had visited the venue earlier and they are very impressed with what they have seen.
The CPL officials have been here and they like what they see and in fact they said to us that this is the best venue they have seen in the Caribbean.
Guardian Media spoke to Damien ODonohue the CEO of CPL, Damien ODonohue and he confirmed that they visited the venue two weeks ago.
We were there on the weekend and while we like the venue and would love to play cricket there, we are not sure if it will be ready for action in time for us to consider using it for the CPL.
The venue looks really good, there is ample parking space and fans I think would love it there but we need to have it 100 per cent ready to even think of getting the games there.
However, we are in talks with the government and we are looking to play matches there once it is ready for cricket.
The Irishman added that they are also in contact with Queens Park Cricket Club (QPCC), where they normally stage the matches.
We are also in contact with Queens Park, so we will see how it go but I can tell you that there is no better place than Trinidad to play cricket and we are happy to have options down there.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/Lara_stadium_at_night.png)
Brian Lara Stadium at night
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If it eh ready, doh use it.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/4KUl6DG4rTM&feature=youtu.be
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Lara pitch gets early pass mark.
By Garth Wattley (Express).
Monroe Road were the first winners of a cricket match at the recently-completed Brian Lara Stadium at Tarouba. But the bigger winner appeared to be the pitch itself.
For the record, Monroe Road beat Cosmos by one wicket in the Twenty20 match played under lights. It was the first of what is expected to be a series of games at the facility initially scheduled to be opened in 2007 for that years ICC World Cup which was held in the Caribbean--but the completion of which has taken a further 10 years.
The scores were low, Cosmos were dismissed for 85 batting first, while Monroe Road lost nine wickets in getting to their target of 86, in 18.5 overs. However, the low totals are not being blamed on the new surface.
It was a brand new pitch and it had some bounce and as the game went on the ball started to come through much quicker, noted former minister of sport Manohar Ramsaran, who is the adviser on pitch and ground preparation for the Urban Development Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago (UDeCOTT) project.
He added: It had some pace on it and the spinners were turning the ball quickly. The quicker spinners were very effective on both sides...For a first day pitch that was never used, the fast bowlers enjoyed it.
Monroe Road medium pacer Tishawn Castro got three wickets. Ramsaran also said there was no unusual behaviour from the pitch used, and that there was general acceptance of how it played from the players involved. They accepted it was a new pitch but they were comfortable and at the end they were satisfied with what happened.
Asked about the low totals, Ramsaran pointed to the slow outfield. We didnt cut the grass (deliberately) so the grass on the outfield was very thick, he said. The surface used Tuesday is one of five on the square and Ramsaran said, we want to use as many as possible.
In that regard, he said further games are planned including some day matches. And he also ventured this opinion about the ground: My prediction is that we are going to see a good pitch, he said.
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final f--king ly! Long overdue!
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A reliable source tell mih that hardly any international matches will be played here because it not going to pass ICC standards.
The thing to costly to maintain for dat.
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Batting legends to open Lara Academy
By CLINT CHAN TACK (NEWSDAY)
SPORTS Minister Daryl Smith yesterday announced that the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba will be formally opened on May 13. The facility was initially scheduled to be completed in 2007 for the ICC World Cup but lengthy delays, change of contractors, and concerns over the suitability of the soil for its construction saw costs sky-rocket and a decade elapse.
In making the announcement at the post-Cabinet news conference at the Diplomatic Centre in St Anns, Smith declared, After ten long years, we have finally completed the Brian Lara Academy. Stating that the former West Indies cricket captain is intimately involved with plans for the opening, Smith disclosed that Lara has persuaded former Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar to be part of the opening.
He said a key feature of the opening will be, a Brian vs Sachin XI T20 game. The minister indicated that, a number of other star icons from the West Indies and across the globe will be participating in that game. He said the opening will be televised worldwide and tickets for the event will soon be on sale to the public.
Smith said the stadium will be handed over to the Ministry of Sport by the Urban Development Corporation of TT (Udecott) by the end of this month. He explained in preparation for the facilitys opening, we have been utilising the pitch with several test events to get the pitch going. Smith added the ministry has been, working with TT Cricket Board to have an overall test of the facility as we have done with all our national centres. Going forward, Smith said the facility will be an academy that will target,secondary school students from the age of ten, 11, actually living there with the best cricket coaches and other qualified personnel. The Minister said the academy will not be restricted to students from TT but will be open to students from the region and internationally.
Education Minister Anthony Garcia, who was also at the conference, welcomed this initiative and said he has been having discussions with Smith about it.
The Sports Minister divulged that discussions are ongoing regarding the hosting the semi-finals and final of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) 2017 here. He also gave the assurance that the opening of the Brian Lara Academy does not mean a shift of cricket away from the Queens Park Oval.
Saying he is a member of the Oval, Smith said, The Oval is a private entity and we are thankful for the Oval for being an iconic venue for the world. He explained that the Oval is a private entity while the Academy will be a government entity.
Smith was confident that the Oval and the Academy, could live and work hand in hand in the future. Describing competition as good and healthy, Smith said, We have no animosity with anybody. He said the objective is to ensure that fans get the best value for their dollar in going to watch cricket.
After lamenting that a generation of cricketers was lost, Smith was confident the stadium would get a clean bill of health went it is handed over by Udecott. On previous concerns about tendering issues regarding the stadiums construction, Smith said 19 contractors were hired to complete work on the facility. The budget was $90 million, I think they came in under, he said.
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I can understand the way QPCC feels, but is time we have another world class cricket ground in the country. I am glad it was built in the South-Central area. QPCC really can't complain because the public support that facility to the max.in the past. All those great football matches(North-South, Inter-Col, WC and Olympic football matches) to name a few.
All them rich Trinis should form a Trini only franchise in the CPL. They should play at Lara. Bring back the RED STEEL. What allyuh think about that.
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(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20170420/SPORTS/170429967/AR/0/AR-170429967.jpg&MaxW=730&imageversion=Article)
T20 Festival to be 1st at 'Lara'
The Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) NGC Twenty20 Festival will be the first major tournament to be played at the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
This was confirmed by chairman of the TTCB National League Patrick Rampersad yesterday following the announcement by Minister of Sport Darryl Smith that the long-awaited venue was finally completed and that it would be handed over to the Ministry of Sport in the next few weeks.
The T20 Festival, which is the climax of the domestic TTCB season and features the top clubs from the Premier Division One and Two and will be played from April 29 to May 5.
Queen's Park Cricket Club are the defending Premiership T20 champions and will start their T20 campaign today against their Premier Division Two counterparts QPCC II in Group 1 action.
The Premiership T20 bowled off yesterday with 2015 champions Merry Boys whipping HKL Aranjuez Sports by nine wickets in Santa Cruz and 2013 winners PowerGen Penal Sports defeating Caldrac Club by seven runs in Penal.
Aranjuez made 111 for two in their 20 overs with Kadeem Williams hitting 50 not out.
Merry Boys replied with 112 for one off 9.3 overs with Rishaad Harris hitting an unbeaten 69 off 35 balls. Harris smacked four sixes and nine fours.
At Syne Village in Penal, PowerGen batted first and made 189 for seven and Caldrac came close, replying with 182 for eight when the overs ran out.
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20170420/sports/t20-festival-to-be-1st-at-lara
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Tendulkar gets stand at Lara Stadium
T&T Guardian Reports.
Curtis Williams The North West Stand of the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium will be named after Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar. But the move is not sitting well with the president of the T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) Azim Bassarath, who is asking what has Tendulkar ever done for T&T or West Indies cricket.
Chairman of the Sports Company of T&T Michael Phillips confirmed to Guardian Media Limited that the stand would be named after Tendulkar when the facility is officially opened next month and insisted that the decision was one that was made after consultation with Brian Lara.
Our decision to name the stand after Mr Tendulkar was done on the advice of Mr Brian Lara. We have included Mr Lara in our decision making process in terms of how we roll out the launch and management of both the stadium and the academy, Phillips said.
Phillips said it was also one of the reasons that they were able to convince Tendulkar to attend the opening and play in the match carded for the opening.
But Bassarath said he felt it would have been more appropriate to name the stands after T&T players who have excelled for the West Indies or T&T.
He said, India have so many stadia and I dont know any of them have stands named after any of our West Indian greats so why must we name a stand after Tendulkar. I thought there would be stands named after Ian Bishop, or Larry Gomes or Gus Logie or even the late Rangie Nanan. Not Tendulkar.
Tendulkar is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the game. He played 200 Test matches, the most by any player in the history of the game, he scored 15,921 Test runs, at an average of 53.78. He holds the record for the most number of runs in Test cricket and the most number of centuries. For most of his career he was in competition with Lara for the accolade of the best batsman in the world. Lara is the holder for the most runs in a single Test Innings 400 not out and the highest individual score in cricket of 501 not out.
Bassarath said he was concerned that the TTCB had not been consulted on the operations of the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium and said it was passing strange since the racket centre, the cycling and aquatic centres were all opened in the last 12 months and all with input from the representative governing bodies.
He was also surprised to learn that a separate board would be established to run the Brian Lara Cricket Academy and not the TTCB.
Phillips said the decision was in no way political interference in the operations of cricket in T&T but SPORTT had a responsibility to ensure that it encouraged the development of talent throughout the country.
He said, We have no intentions of running cricket. The fact is any organisation can set up a cricket academy or provide training for cricketers so we are not usurping the functions of the TTCB.
What I will also say is if you look at many of the sporting bodies in T&To you realise there is a need for greater balance and there are times when they are accused of having a vested interest in certain athletes and not others. We want to ensure all talent rises to the top.
Phillips also told GML that consideration is being given to the construction of living quarters in the vicinity of the stadium.
He said, The idea is being considered. It will not be as grand as say the hotel at the National Academy for the performing arts but it will be more like dorms.
He said the academy will be marketed both locally and internationally with both academic and cricketing programmes.
(http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/field/image/SACHIN_STAND.png)
The north west pavilion of the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba which will be dedicated Indian Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. A match between a Brian Lara eleven and a Sachin Tendulkar eleven will open the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba on Saturday May 13th.
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I dont get this.... Tendulkar isnt a man of the soil.
This really ...nice..
Phillips said it was also one of the reasons that they were able to convince Tendulkar to attend the opening and play in the match carded for the opening.
I suggest Mr. Phillips stick to cycling...
I can even understand if you placed a distinguised politician name like the Honourable PM Keith Rowley or the late PM Manning....but Tendulkar doesn't deserve any of these accolades since it was these gentlemen that got the stadium completed from the beginning to the end under there leadership and that speaks VOLUMES!
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Why Tendulkar name for a stand in Brian Lara stadium? Where in T&T is Tendulkar from? Once again the old men who are corrupt inept leaders making decisions that does not reflect public opinion
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I dont get this.... Tendulkar isnt a man of the soil.
This really ...nice..
Phillips said it was also one of the reasons that they were able to convince Tendulkar to attend the opening and play in the match carded for the opening.
I suggest Mr. Phillips stick to cycling...
I can even understand if you placed a distinguised politician name like the Honourable PM Keith Rowley or the late PM Manning....but Tendulkar doesn't deserve any of these accolades since it was these gentlemen that got the stadium completed from the beginning to the end under there leadership and that speaks VOLUMES!
This is a bad idea. Nothing good would become of further politicizing the issue.
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Why Tendulkar name for a stand in Brian Lara stadium? Where in T&T is Tendulkar from? Once again the old men who are corrupt inept leaders making decisions that does not reflect public opinion
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This is a nonsense position. What does that have to do with anything? Get a grip. Where in T&T is Nelson Mandela from? You know how many places across the planet are named after Martin Luther King or Arthur Ashe? There's not merely a singular criterion for coming to decisions of this nature. More than that, why are you so disturbed by it when Lara is at ease with it? One great honouring the other doesn't sit well?
When UWI decided to name the sporting facility in Barbados the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, there were many voices in opposition on grounds similar to yours. Most with emotive and seemingly compelling arguments all rooted in insularity and close-mindedness. Some very easy to buy-in to without scrutiny.
These positions hit home as comparatively utter nonsense when at the German federation they cyah stop referencing Usain Bolt when discussing a range of items related to football. You know what using Bolt as a benchmark gets them? Steps towards excellence.
Lehwe deal with that.
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https://www.youtube.com/v/ExzzfLflxlw
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The MoS is a poser. Always posing. Nice stadium. Of course most new stadium are nice. It reminds me a bit of the cricket stadium in Fort Lauderdale. Only the covered stands are designed different. Allyuh don't think we should have an all TT team in the CPL. Red Steel, in addition to KRs?
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Why Tendulkar name for a stand in Brian Lara stadium? Where in T&T is Tendulkar from? Once again the old men who are corrupt inept leaders making decisions that does not reflect public opinion
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This is a nonsense position. What does that have to do with anything? Get a grip. Where in T&T is Nelson Mandela from? You know how many places across the planet are named after Martin Luther King or Arthur Ashe? There's not merely a singular criterion for coming to decisions of this nature. More than that, why are you so disturbed by it when Lara is at ease with it? One great honouring the other doesn't sit well?
When UWI decided to name the sporting facility in Barbados the Usain Bolt Sports Complex, there were many voices in opposition on grounds similar to yours. Most with emotive and seemingly compelling arguments all rooted in insularity and close-mindedness. Some very easy to buy-in to without scrutiny.
These positions hit home as comparatively utter nonsense when at the German federation they cyah stop referencing Usain Bolt when discussing a range of items related to football. You know what using Bolt as a benchmark gets them? Steps towards excellence.
Lehwe deal with that.
I've tried to come up with a valid reason for this Tendulkar thing and I can't.
I did think of Nelosn Mandela and Ghandi but these men literally changed the process of human thought, they influenced millions around the world. Ah sorry but 15 000 Test runs don't BEGIN to equate to that.
You just don't compare Tendulkar to Mandela, Ghandi or Martin Luther King.
The fact that Lara supports this (or so we are told) can only be reflective of their friendship.
ST is a legend but this is wrong.
It should have been used to reference TT legends and one or two from South especially.
This leaves a bad taste in my mouth, to the point where when I visit the BLS for the first time, I will try not to sit in that particular stand.
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vb, like yuh eh understand de Mandela reference at all. It's in no way a comparison of accomplishments.
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Man, nothing in TT can ever get done if there is no controversey. This facility has been mired in friggin delays and bakanal, and right before it open is a next set of bakanal. Lawd, Socorro!
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15,000 LIVES AT RISK
By SEAN DOUGLAS (NEWSDAY).
PRINCES Town MP Barry Padarath yesterday warned that as many as 15,000 lives could be at risk at a star-studded T20 match on May 13, to formally open the billion-dollar Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba.
Padarath said major questions remain outstanding on the safety of the structure, a decade after its original planned completion date.
On May 13, retired TT and West Indies batting star Brian Lara himself will lead a team against an invitational side led by retired Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar, in a T20 match, to formally open the stadium. Minister Smith announced the sale of tickets for this match during last Thursdays post-Cabinet news conference.
Several efforts to reach Smith for comment yesterday proved futile.
Opposition MP Padarath questioned the structural integrity of the stadium saying a full assessment, under the former Peoples Partnership government, identified significant structural, drainage and design flaws.
He called on Government to, make public, all relevant documentation that the stadium and grounds were assessed and deemed safe and fit for public use. Padarath asked whether or not the stadium met international safety standards, claiming Government was silent on what was done to address significant and hazardous structural defects identified by construction expert Gerry McCaffrey in 2009.
Mc Caffrey indicated that on two separate occasions, independent testing was done to the welds on the stadium and (they) failed the required standard, Padarath said.
In addition, the structural steelwork was, effectively condemned, in the Uff Commission of Inquiry report yet Government has not stated what remedies were effected. In yet another attempt to distract from the important issue of safety, Government announces a celebrity match to mark the opening of the refurbished stadium. But citizens remain in the dark as to whether the venue has met internationally accepted standards for public safety, Padarath said.
The findings of construction expert Gerald Mc Caffrey of the British firm Acutus was reported in Newsday on March 22, 2009, in a story headlined, Tarouba Stadium Steel Condemned.
State enterprise Udecott (Urban Development Company of TT), which oversaw refurbishment of the stadium, yesterday indicated in a press release that a news conference will be held today at 11 am the TT Cricket Board office in Balmain, Couva to, inform of the rigorous preparation and ongoing testing of the pitches and players facilities at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Tarouba, in accordance with requirements set by the WIBC (West Indies Cricket Board) and the ICC (International Cricket Council). UDECOTT: STADIUM SAFE Udecott chairman Noel Garcia, in a second press release issued just before 6 pm yesterday, attacked comments which questioned the safety and structural integrity of the stadium.
And while not calling any names, Garcia demanded individuals making these statements withdraw them and apologise to the nation.
Udecott categorically refutes statements that the Brian Lara Cricket Academy is not safe and fit for use, the release stated. Garcia, in the release, said it was passing strange that individuals would make irresponsible statements after extensive remedial work was undertaken at the Academy over the past nine months to deal with issues outlined in the Uff report. Garcia said that the comments were mischievous and designed to create fear and panic especially since Udecott conducted all remedial work to ensure the facility conforms to current international codes governing sporting facilities. In addition, the release stated, Udecott commissioned a number of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical and civil surveys.
And the findings, as tabled in these reports with supporting documentation, found the Academy to be safe for use, the release added. I call on the irresponsible individuals to withdraw such statements and apologise to the people of Trinidad and Tobago, Garcia said in the release.
In a separate statement, Naparima MP Rodney Charles questioned governments priorities hitting the planned opening of the stadium when students of the Reform Hindu School remain neglected by Government and are housed in the worst conditions, while the over 90 percent complete new school languishes, unopened due to a, lack of funding. Charles said the Prime Minister and his Cabinet should be ashamed to come to the opening ceremony of the stadium with the unopened Reform Hindu School mere metres away.
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Smith clears air on Lara Stadium
T&T Guardian Reports.
Sports Minister Darryl Smith yesterday cleared the air on several issues relating to the Brian Lara Cricket Stadium and Academy, among them the fact the the T&T Cricket Board of Control will not be left out of its development plans going ahead.
In terms of the construction and completion, for the very first time the TTCB was finally part of that process. Even though the facility has not been handed over to us yet, we have allowed the TTCB to host the very first event therea T20 event on the 4th and 5th of May, Smith said at a press conference called to address, among other things, the TTCBs concern about being snubbed during the decision-making process for the setting up and running the Brian Lara Academy.
Whereas we have housed cycling, swimming and tennis at their respective facilities, the Brian Lara Academy is different. Brians vision for it to be a school not just for persons from Trinidad and Tobago but also the region and internationally, to come there and live there as we develop not only players but umpires, coaches and other professionals.
Smith also addressed the issue of a stand at the stadium being named after Indian batting star Sachin Tendulkar. He called the matter a total misunderstanding which has been blown out of proportion and somewhat premature, as the matter was still being discussed. He added that any area named after Tendukar was likely to be one of many named after different sporting personalities at the venue, but it was not a done deal yet because the details were still being finalised.
For the first time in the history of T&T, we are going to have naming rights. However, it is not a part of our legislation so we are taking a note to Cabinet to address that.
There will be corporate boxes, conference rooms, classrooms, gyms, training rooms; all that we do plan to cut up and sell and or honour Trinidadians, Tobagonians, regional and international icons.
This will be done for two reasons to honour and respect (these icons) but moreso to bring in income.
However, Smith said he wanted to wipe the slate clean as his aim was to ensure sport in this country moves forward.
Im not holding any animosity. Lets work together with Mr Lara to ensure that cricket reaches the pinnacle that it once was.
Also at the press conference was chairman of the Urban Development Company of T&T Noel Garcia, who fended off claims by Princes Town MP Barry Padarath that the facility was unfit for usage.
In a release on Tuesday, Padarath questioned the safety and readiness of the stadium ahead of the proposed May 13 gala opening featuring teams captained by Brian Lara and Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar.
Yesterday, however, Garcia said: I find the statement made by Mr Padarath to be reckless and irresponsible and I say this based on the Arun Buch report of a structural survey and assessment which was commissioned in 2012 on the Brian Lara Stadium.
Garcia said the Arun Buch report was in fact commissioned by the previous Peoples Partnership government and resulted in a document 19 volumes long giving the controversial venue a stamp of approval.
He said he expects the International Cricket Council will also approve the venue for international use by July 2017.
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Minister: Sachin Stand not confirmed
By Mark Pouchet (Express)
Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith said the naming of all areas of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy is still under discussion.
The Minister would neither confirm nor deny whether the North West Stand would be named after legendary Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar as had been identified by Sport Company of Trinidad and Tobago chairman Michael Phillips on Sunday. Also on Sunday Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath had questioned the choice of Tendulkar, stating that other local cricketers were more deserving.
However, the Express yesterday confirmed that TTCB representatives Baldath Mahabir and Sukesh Maniam attended Fridays local organising committee (LOC) meeting at which the naming of the stand after Tendulkar was discussed.
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Central Sports humble Parkites at Lara Stadium
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
Defending champion team Queens Park Cricket club has been knocked out of the 2017 T&T Cricket Board (T&TCB) T20 tournament at the hands of Central Sports at the quarter final stage.
Queens Park fell to Richard Ramkissoons men by two wickets at the Brian Lara Stadium in South Trinidad, which hosted its first official match.
Batting first, the champion posted 156 for seven in their 20 overs with Tion Webster getting a typically hard hit 64 and Akeal Hosein 34. Rakesh Maharaj continued his good bowling form this season with 3/25 for Central Sports.
The veteran Shazan Babwah who has been a real standout in domestic cricket this season then scored 25 and together with Kamil Pooran 23 and contributions down the order from other batsmen pushed the unfancied Central Sports team to victory at 157 for eight with two balls to spare.
In the earlier game, Merryboys cricket club moved easily into the semi-finals with a 48-run victory over Cane Farm.
Batting first on a slow pitch, Merryboys got to 148 for eight in their allotted 20 overs. Leading the way with the bat were Mario Belcon and the veteran Lincoln Roberts. Belcon belted 40 of 40 balls with five fours, while Roberts made 32 of 29 balls with a four and two sixes.
Anthony Simmons grabbed two wickets for nine runs, while Devon Clement scalped two but was costly at 41 runs. In reply, Cane Farm struggled and lost early wickets, which affected them from mounting a meaningful challenge.
A lot was expected of former Barbados player Alcindo Holder who ironically played for Merryboys up to a couple season ago but all he got was a single. Cane Farm was restricted to 100 for seven of their 20 overs. Top scorer was Shakeel Allick who made 33 not out of 31 balls with four fours. There were two wickets apiece for Marlon Richards, Keon Isaac and Rishard Harris.
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SACHIN OUT
Indian cricket legend not coming for friendly match with Lara at Tarouba
By Asha Javeed (Express).
India's batting legend Sachin Tendulkar will not be attending or playing a friendly match at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy when it opens on May 13.
The Express understands that Tendulkar never confirmed his attendance at the event before it was announced by Sport Minister Darryl Smith at the post-Cabinet media briefing on April 20.
The Express was told that it was former West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara who had invited Tendulkar and Australian Shane Warne to be part of the opening and it was Lara's request to have the North West Stand at the stadium named after Tendulkar.
At the post-Cabinet briefing after Cabinet approved the request, Smith told media that Lara had persuaded Tendulkar to be part of the opening.
He had said a key feature of the opening would be a T20 match with Lara expected to lead a team against a team led by Tendulkar.
Smith had said a number of other star icons from the West Indies and across the globe will be participating in that game and the opening will be televised worldwide. He also said tickets for the event would have been available soon for sale to the public.
Informed sources yesterday confirmed that Tendulkar would not be part of the opening.
(http://www.trinidadexpress.com/storyimage/TT/20170502/LOCAL/170509899/AR/0/AR-170509899.jpg)
ONE OF MY dearest FRIENDS: An undated image of Sachin Tendulkar and Brian Lara which was posted on Tendulkar's Twitter account yesterday with the words One of my dearest friends celebrates his birthday today. Not just a great friend but one of the greatest cricketers too. Happy birthday @BrianLara. The retired star West Indies batsman turned 48 yesterday.
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Phillips quits SPORTT; chairman walks in wake of Tendulkar Stand furore
By Lasana Liburd (Wired868).
The Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago (SPORTT) will soon be in the market for a new chairman after former Trinidad and Tobago international cyclist Michael Phillips quit the post yesterday afternoon.
In a public statement todaysent out via emailPhillips, who runs his own bike store, conceptualises and manages various sport events and is a professional artist, said his duties as SPORTT chairman had affected his business outside of government service and severely taxed his time.
Regrettably, I have found the requirements and time needed to effectively remain as Chairman is more than I am able to extend at this time, stated Phillips. [] Presently, there are items that I need to dedicate my attention to which do not permit the additional responsibility of SPORTT.
I have given an undertaking to the Minister of Sport and to the sporting fraternity that I will make myself available where possible in the interests of creating a vibrant sporting industry for Trinidad and Tobago
The timing of Phillips departure means he will not be present when the Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba is unveiled on 13 May 2017.
According to sources, this might not be by accident.
Just over a week ago, Phillips confirmed to the Trinidad Guardian that a stand at the Tarouba venue would be named after iconic former India batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who is also a friend of former West Indies cricket great and Trinidad and Tobago legend Brian Lara.
Our decision to name the stand after Mr Tendulkar was done on the advice of Mr Brian Lara, said Phillips. We have included Mr Lara in our decision making process in terms of how we roll out the launch and management of both the stadium and the academy.
The story and subsequent public backlash allegedly provoked a furious reaction from Sport Minister Darryl Smith, who is said to have blamed the SPORTT chairman for the furore.
In correspondence copied to the Phillips colleagues and subordinates, Smith allegedly told him that only he, as Sport Minister, would be allowed to comment on the Tarouba stadium from then on.
Sources say that the strained relationship between the two men was already strained for several reasons and the Tendulkar stand incident was the last straw.
First, the Brian Lara Stadium fell under SPORTT and Phillips felt that, as chairman, he was well placed to discuss the project publicly. However, the different way in which each of the two men responded to the furore further widened an ideological gap between the pair.
According to sources, Laras proposal for a Tendulkar stand was felt to be a sound sport tourism initiative. Lara hoped to involve Tendulkar directly in the staging of eventslike a cricket masters competitionat the venue and the naming of the stand was felt to be a gesture that could further solidify the co-operation.
India is a cricket-mad nation with over 1.3 billion people and getting Tendulkar on board was seen to be a good business strategy, as SPORTT considered ways to make the Tarouba venue self-sufficient.
However, Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath described the idea as an insult to the former cricket stars of the two- island republic and the nation responded in accordance with that stance.
Phillips allegedly felt SPORTT should explain the thinking behind the Tendulkar stand to the public. But Smith, as he is prone to do, insisted on total silence or diversions from the main talking point instead with the aim of merely riding out the storm.
We had a reaction [to the Tendulkar stand proposal] that was territorial due to patriotism, said a source. You can understand the base response but we needed to explain it from a business perspective. Sachin has 28 million followers on Twitter. The actor Tom Cruise has 10 million. So anything that involves Tendulkar immediately gets more eyeballs than the number of people who have ever lived in Trinidad and Tobago
Lara is our most recognisable brand export to India while we send cricketers to the IPL every year to become millionaires. So we should be looking at things to strengthen ties between the two nations.
[] So while there may not be a stand in India named after Lara, why not be the first [between the two nations] to make the gesture?
Wired868 asked Smith to respond to rumours of tension between him and his former chairman, who was allegedly considered for the Sport Minister portfolio before the last Cabinet reshuffle. However, up to the time of publication, Smith had not replied.
Phillips exit continues a striking spell of instability at SPORTT, which has had 11 different CEOs in the past decade and three chairmen in the last two and a half years.
Wired868 understands, although the post of SPORTT chairman is not full-time and only comes with a stipend, Phillips duties increasingly encroached upon his business hours to the extent that sport stakeholders began to turn up at his business with the hope of discussing government business.
The strained working relationship with his line minister allegedly did not help matters.
Now, it will be someone elses mountain to climb.
(Michael Phillips statement on his SPORTT exit)
I would like to take the opportunity to notify the public that I have tendered my resignation as Chairman of SPORTT. I am proud to have been able to make a contribution to the development of sport in Trinidad and Tobago in this capacity.
I thank the Prime Minister, Corporation Sole and the Minister of Sport for having the confidence in me, to lead this organisation.
Regrettably, I have found the requirements and time needed to effectively remain as Chairman is more than I am able to extend at this time. However, I will continue to engage in the community programmes and activities that I have established in my personal capacity.
Presently, there are items that I need to dedicate my attention to which do not permit the additional responsibility of SPORTT. I have given an undertaking to the Minister of Sport and to the sporting fraternity that I will make myself available where possible in the interests of creating a vibrant sporting industry for Trinidad and Tobago.
A great deal of positive in sport has occurred over the last year and a half and I am confident that the trend will continue. There are many people working in the best interest of sport and SPORTT and it was a pleasure to have the chance to lend some of my personal experience to its growth.
I wish the Ministry of Sport, SPORTT and the Board of Directors continued success as they move forward.
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Does anyone know how to secure tickets for the opening game?
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Lara explains Sachins no show.
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
West Indies legend Brian Lara cleared the air yesterday as to why his great friend Sachin Tendulkar was not able to make the trip for the opening of his Stadium this evening at Tarouba.
Initially it was announced that the Indian master was coming to T&T for the opening of the Brian Lara Academy which will have a stand named in his honour.
Recently, it was reported that the batting maestro will not be here and Lara at a press briefing at his Lady Chancellor home explained: After 13 years the structure has been handed back to the government of the day and I was contacted to be involved in the opening ceremony and a date for it. January was talked about, then April and May.
I suggested my birthday May 2nd, which with preliminary inquiry sat well with a number of international players including Sachin Tendulkar my very good friend. May 2nd was a Tuesday and it stood for a while as the date until I was asked to consider a Friday, Saturday or Sunday.
First, I contacted Sachin and he was okay with the date but could only squeeze in one day on his busy schedule. The numbers decreased with the other players for various reasons, main one being Mothers day and plans already made.
Unfortunately, after further inspection of his schedule Sachin messaged me to say he couldnt come as his schedule was too tight and he wants to come and spend more time in T&T.
He said, lets work on dates that he is free and he will be there. I felt that proceedings were well on the way and with my schedule restrictions as well that it was best to stick to the date and arrange something with Sachin and other contemporaries of mine at a later date.
This evening at 6pm the Stadium will be officially opened by the Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, and at 7pm, there will be a clash featuring a Brian Lara XI against a World XI. Some of the foreign players coming are Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan World Cup winning captain of 1996. Herschelle Gibbs, a former South African batsman, Curtly Ambrose, Courtney Browne, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Corey Collymore, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher and Ricardo Powell.
Lara, who holds the Test batting record of 400 runs will lead a team packed with local stars like Dwayne Bravo back from injury, Denesh Ramdin, Rayad Emrit, Kevon Cooper, Evin Lewis, Tion Webster and veterans Mervyn Dillon and newly appointed SPORTT chairman Dinanath Ramnarine.
Also in there is young West Indies Under-19 batsman Kirstan Kallicharran.
On the point of the controversy surrounding the construction of the facility Lara said: This morning I woke up to the usual beautiful noise of the yellow winged parrots as they head on their daily routine in search of food. As that noise subsided my mind and heart returned to that other noise that has had me perplexed, disappointed not in anyone but myself.
And, of course a little embarrassed. I believe it unnecessary for me to address the furore over the construction of the Tarouba facility and the integrity of the same because I am not in any way qualified to speak on such topics.
We heard from professionals and I am satisfied. What I can say though is that I visited the venue on many occasions and made suggestions which I have seen been implemented. This can be confirmed by the Project Managers on site.
Lara, a former West Indies and T&T captain, added that he dug deep to come up a unique plan to make this facility one of the kind in the region.
He pointed out: This country has given me too much already, the love and support, the tangibles and intangibles I am truly grateful for and still am. I felt that young cricketers in the Caribbean needed better facilities and a place where they could advance their skills both sporting and academically in the right environment. Today we are on our way to completing that dream, that discussion. Cricket is a platform for statesmanship.
He continued, I therefore humbly suggest we as a people can lift the bar. Not only for ourselves, but for our children and the greatness they can all aspire too! This is not only a dream, this is a possibility that can inspire us to be better. I dug deep and wondered what would make this facility different to other facilities in T&T?
What can make this facility a truly international facility to the envy of the world? What can make this facility self-sufficient and less dependent on government funds for upkeep and operational cost.
Lara, who hold the highest first class score of 501 runs in an inning added, It doesnt belong to me but it bears my name like quite a few things.
But this is maybe the most significant thing or piece of real estate and I want my legacy to speak about this in a positive way.
A legend of West Indies cricket Lara said, Today I can safely say no one knows who I am, no one has asked the important questions to truly understand me and what woke me up on my darkest days to fight looking for that tiny ray of light to soldier on towards it. I felt through this Stadium/Academy I could express those things in a way you may not understand and appreciate today but our children, grandchildren and their children will understand in years to come.
Teams for tonights clash
Trinidad & Tobago Brian Lara XI
Brian Lara, Mervyn Dillon, Denesh Ramdin, Dwayne Bravo, Rayad Emrit, Evin Lewis, Kirstan Kallicharan, Tion Webster, Dinanath Ramnarine, Kevon Cooper, Jason Mohammed, Navin Stewart, Lyndon Lara.
International XI
Herschelle Gibbs, Devon Malcolm, Gladstone Small, Arjuna Ranatunga, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Terryne Sunil Fray, Imran Khan, Curtly Ambrose, Ricardo Powell, Courtney Browne, Kirk Edwards, Corey Collymore Ian Bradshaw.
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Any local pix or video of the pregame and game sessions?
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Lara entertains at his academy
T&T Guardian Reports.
He would have played at most of the international cricket venues across the world but on Friday night at 9.57pm, Brian Charles Lara, the Test batting champion, walked out to bat for the first time at his stadium, the Brian Lara Cricket Academy at Tarouba and as usual he did not disappoint.
Dancing down the pitch to loft the spinners into the stands he brought back fond memories of his sterling career, as he made 44 retired to take his team to an eight-wicket win over an International XI.
The match was held as a celebration of the opening of the much awaited stadium.
Curtly Ambose won the toss and decided to take first strike.
His team carried on to score 143 for five of their 20 overs. Barbadian Kirk Edwards scored 30, Ricardo Powell made 16 and South African Hershelle Gibbs scored a rapid 56 not out, as the International XI posted what they thought was a competitive score.
West Indies batsman Evin Lewis came out all guns blazing and took advantage of the veteran bowlers on the International XI, smacking 62 before retiring to give Dwayne Bravo a knock. Lewis slammed five sixes and four fours in his epic knock that thrilled the fans.
When Lewis left, Lara, who celebrated his 48 birthday 12 days ago, took over and had the crowd jumping with some splendid batting.
Just before the victory target was realised, he decided to come off.
As he walked off, the dapper left-hander got a standing ovation from the estimated 11,000 fans not only for his wonderful knock on the night but the entertainment he provided throughout his career.
Lara, the former West Indies and T&T captain, faced 33 balls, hitting two fours and four sixes to the delight of the fans who came out to stand witness to the historic event.
Earlier, Kevon Cooper grabbed two wickets to stifle the International XI but Edwards and Gibbs played boldly. The international team also included the likes of the English pair of Gladstone Small and Devon Malcolm.
SCORES
International XI 143/5 (20ovs) (Hershelle Gibbs 56no, Kirk Edwards 30, Kevon Cooper 2/10) vs BCL XI 146/2 (16ovs) (Brian Lara 44rt, Evin Lewis 63rt) - BCL XI won by 8wkts.
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RACIAL DOTISHNESS
By KWAME WEEKES (NEWSDAY).
PRIME Minister Dr Keith Rowley went on the war-path yesterday, training his guns on people who staged a protest last Friday outside the Couva Childrens Hospital which led to miles of traffic at the same time the grand opening of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba was taking place with a T20 invitational cricket match.
He also slammed as racial dotishness, those who raised their voices in opposition to calls by retired West Indies and T&T batting star Brian Lara to have one of the stands in the Academy named in honour of his (Lara) personal friend, Indias retired batting icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Speaking at the re-commissioning of the Pt Fortin Highway yesterday, Rowley thanked everyone who attended the long-awaited opening of the academy, praising them for not being ridiculous and foolish, as the protestors who he claimed, tried to sabotage that opening by staging their protest along the Solomon Hochoy Highway outside the Childrens Hospital.
Last week we opened the Brian Lara Stadium and Academy and there were persons who took it upon themselves to do everything possible to ensure that event was a failure, said Rowley at the re-commissioning of the highway project which was abandoned after Brazilian construction company OAS Construtora went bankrupt in 2015.
But today I want to congratulate all who left their homes and came to the Brian Lara Academy to demonstrate that we are not all foolish in Trinidad and Tobago! Rowley said the protestors claimed they blocked the highway to move government into paying more attention to the opening of the Childrens Hospital.
He then criticised those who were opposed to naming one of the stands at the stadiums Academy after Sachin Tendulkar. He said the idea for the naming did not come from government but from Lara, as a means for encouraging sports tourism.
And when Brian Lara suggested that he wanted to use Sachin Tendulkars name on that academy, it was not because as - our ridiculous friends say in the Opposition - that we wanted to use Tendulkars name to sanitise any project. But Brian Lara wanted to open to the world an academy where Brian Lara and Sachin Tendulkar would have been the show piece in world cricket.
Tendulkars name would have exposed Trinidad and Tobago to the largest cricket market in the world in India, Rowley said. But in TT that matters not, all that mattered was racial dotishness because some people in this country cannot avoid including race in their discussion in every single thing that they do. Rowley said the reason given for the stalling of the project was that it would have cost as much as $250M to complete, making it feasible to shut down.
However, the government completed the project with a little less than $90M. And Gary Sobers told me on Friday night it is one of the best stadia in the region. Rowley then turned his attention to the Childrens Hospital. He criticised former Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar for opening that Hospital one year before it was actually completed. In answer to widespread calls for the hospital to be opened, Rowley said several interested parties involved in, that kind of business, were invited to submit proposals on how the hospital could service locals and foreigners, while also being an income earner.
In the next few days, Rowley said, I am advised by the Minister of Planning and Development that the team we put together to evaluate the proposals would submit its report. That report would come to Parliament and if we get a proposal that is satisfactory, in the next few weeks we will tell you exactly what Cabinet has decided will happen with that hospital.
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Govt signs off on CPL US$1m final
T&T Guardian Reports.
The Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba will host the playoff and final match of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) come September. The news was announced today by the Minister of Sport & Youth Affairs Darryl Smith, who first mentioned the government interest last month to host the grand finale at the newly opened venue.
At the opening of the now premier venue, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley indicated that the facility was part of the countrys renewed drive at sport tourism. Describing the Academy as a showpiece for cricket, the Prime Minister fully endorsed the promotion of the business of sport through tourism that would bring events and visitors to our shores and with them valuable foreign exchange.
Meanwhile, Minister Smith expressed his satisfaction that the Academy has been selected for the fifth season finale of the exciting regional tournament saying, What better tribute could we ask for the Academys namesake and the cricket loving citizens of T&T? The CPL has become a true spectacle for the game and is enjoyed by cricket lovers across the Caribbean and the world. When the CPL officials visited last month and discussions began, I was quietly confident. We will ensure that it will be one of the best finals in the tournaments history.
The last time T&T hosted the showpiece final was in 2015 at the Queens Park Oval in St Clair at a cost of US$3.5m eqvilant to TT$24.5M to taxpayers.
Minister Smith worked very closely with Sports Ambassador Brian Lara to negotiate the US$1M bid and thanked him for his assistance. Apart from saving our country US$2.5M (TT$17.5M) from the last time it was hosted in T&T two years ago, what is even better is that the US$1M will actually be paid in TT dollars, the equivalent being TT$6.7M which saves on our limited foreign exchange.
The icing on the cake is that 50 percent (TT$3.35M) will be paid in kind including a waiver on the cost of the rental of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy, ground transport from PTSC, Police, Fire, hotel accommodation, etc. The other half will be paid in cash.
The Playoff and Eliminator matches will be played from September 5-7, while the title match will takes place on September 9.
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$13 million Brian Lara Ground upgrade complete
JELANI BECKLES (NEWSDAY).
THE Brian Lara Recreation Ground in Santa Cruz, which cost $13 million to upgrade, was officially re-opened on Tuesday.
The project took two years to complete and includes a car park and a refurbished pavilion, which seats 500 people. The facility also includes a multi-purpose court, cricket practice nets and a children's play area.
A number of officials attended the opening including former MP for St Ann's East Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Sport Company of TT (SporTT) chairman Douglas Camacho and Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs deputy permanent secretary Claire Davidson-Williams. The San Juan/Laventille Regional Corporation was also instrumental in the work done at the facility.
Dr Gadsby-Dolly said the facility is especially for the children of the area. "We recognise (the children) this morning...because it is for them more than for us. This facility having been built will benefit the residents of Santa Cruz and we are so happy to be at this event this morning."
Gadsby-Dolly knows the facility is in good hands. "I know the residents of this community will use it well. I know that they will take maximum care and respect of the facility."
She said it is pleasing that a facility under Lara's name is complete. "This ground is named after one of our global sporting legends and the community of Santa Cruz is always very proud to acknowledge Brian Charles Lara's start in this community. His family is still here and so we are very happy to be able to have the ground live up to its very illustrious name."
Lara, a TT and West Indies batting legend, was born in Cantaro Village, Santa Cruz.
The MP thanked all those in Santa Cruz for making the opening possible and looks forward "to the transformation these types of spaces bring to the community."
Davidson-Williams said, "We at the Ministry of Sport and Youth Affairs are committed to providing first-class facilities to our youth population by creating a platform that can significantly enhance their capabilities in sporting activities, youth development (and) positioning them as next generation change makers who can contribute to more sustainable policy and opportunities."
Davidson-Williams urged people to "see this facility as an opportunity to improve your skills and to find meaningful ways of occupying yourselves with meaningful activities."
She urged residents to maintain the facility. "I challenge you to ensure that it is used in an effective way and maintained in its pristine condition, so that it last beyond generations."
Camacho thanked community activist John Williams for his enthusiasm in urging him in getting the facility complete. The SporTT chairman said the project took longer than expected but "it is really indeed a pleasure and an honour to eventually be able to deliver this."
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BLCAan amazing ground
By Vinode Mamchan (Guardian).
Facilities manager at the BLCA Haresh Ragoonath a no-nonsense man.
When the entire country is drenched in rain you can pack your cricket gears if you are up for it and head to the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) in Tarouba, South Trinidad.
The drainage at the sprawling facility is about the best you can find in the world of cricket.
At this years Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL) there have been many instances where the rain has belted down on the venue and the outfield looks like a pond but in no time, the umpires are calling the play.
On Thursday evening, the Trinbago Knight Riders (TKR) was due to play at the facility against the Jamaica Tallawahs and assistant coach of the franchise, Imran Jan, made a call while on the drive down from the bubble at the Hilton Trinidad in Port-of-Spain to find out if play would be possible because the team bus was in the vicinity of the Grand Bazaar Mall, Valsayn, and it was pouring. Similarly, to down at the BLCA and the outfield took the look of a very large swimming pool.
Within minutes of the rain subsiding facilities manager, Haresh Ragoonath issued instructions and the outfield took a turn of a very busy corner as men were fully engaged in working on different aspects of the field.
As soon as the TKR team arrived at the Tarouba venue, the players were able to go unto the outfield and begin their warm-up exercises with the match going ahead as planned, much to the amazement of many.
Ragoonath speaking to Guardian Media Sports said the drainage at the venue is second to none.
We have excellent drainage at this facility and we keep on telling people and rain can only stop cricket while it is falling. Once the rain is done we have cricket here on average 20 to 25 minutes after, depending on the downpour.
Ragoonaths efforts were seen again yesterday (Sunday) when it looked impossible that any cricket match would be played for the entire day. With two matches carded for the venue on day five of CPL action, the TKR was due to play the Barbados Tridents at 10 am, while the Guyana Amazon Warriors were due to play the St Lucia Zouks at 2.15 pm.
Heavy overnight and early morning rain left areas in South flooded. The rain stopped around 9.40 am at the BLCA and the match between the TKR and Tridents got off at 10.30 am.
This facility which was due to be completed in time for the 2007 International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup in the Caribbean was completed three years ago and since then it has been the hub of cricket in the country.
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Bassarath: Pakistan matches set for Tarouba
Roger Seepersad (T&T Express).
T20s FOR LARA
While there is still no certainty about the resumption of domestic cricket in Trinidad and Tobago in 2021, T&T Cricket Board (TTCB) president Azim Bassarath insisted the sport will bounce back, as he revealed plans for the return of international cricket to the country, including the debut of the Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) as a venue for mens international cricket.
Bassarath is also optimistic that fans could be allowed back into venues sometime next year. The Covid-19 pandemic forced the shutdown of all major sports in March.
However, international cricket resumed in June when the West Indies embarked on a bio-secure tour of England. Franchise cricket followed, with Trinidad successfully hosting the Hero Caribbean Premier League in a bubble before the West Indies travelled to New Zealand for their second tour during the pandemic.
The Windies will embark on their third international tour in the pandemic as they head to Bangladesh in January while regionally, Cricket West Indies (CWI) is planning to host a shortened Super50 Cup in February followed by a shortened West Indies Championship four-day tournament.
Meanwhile, Trinidad has not hosted a Test match since Sri Lanka in 2018 while India was the last international side to play in Trinidad in 2019 for a pair of One-Day Internationals at the Queens Park Oval, in Port of Spain.
While outlining the TTCBs plans for 2021 on Monday, Bassarath revealed that Trinidad will be hosting Pakistan for two Tests and two T20 Internationals next year.
We will have four international tours (in the Caribbean) and Pakistan will be coming to Trinidad to play two Tests and two T20s. The first two T20s of that series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy on the 14th and 15th of August, so we are doing what we can to provide a lot of cricket for spectators and everyone involved in the sport, Bassarath said.
Should those matches come off as planned, it will be the first time that the BLCA will be hosting international mens cricket.
Originally targeted to host matches in the 2007 ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup, the venue never became available until 2017. In that year it hosted its first-ever international match when the West Indies womens team played Sri Lanka in a One-Day International.
As for spectators, the TTCB boss is optimistic that if T&Ts Covid-19 infections remain low after Christmas and into the new year, fans could be allowed back into stadiums in time for the Pakistan series or even earlier.
The reason I mentioned spectators is because we are hoping to have spectators allowed back at the venues by that time. We are also planning our T20 tournament as a Festival at Tarouba from the 20th-29th of May so I hope that 2021 brings a lot more ease and comfort in terms of getting rid of the virus and also where people can rest assured that all their health issues will be taken care of and when they are allowed back to see games, we will see large numbers, the TTCB boss added.
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Brian Lara Cricket Academy to host T20Is in money-spinning England tour.
T&T Guardian Reports.
ST JOHNS, Antigua Brian Lara Cricket Academy (BLCA) will host an international involving England for the first time when the World champions tour the Caribbean next December for a money-spinning eight-match white-ball series.
The venue, located in Tarouba in south Trinidad, will stage the final two fixtures of the five-match Twenty20 International series on December 19 and 21, Cricket West Indies announced Tuesday.
Only last year, the stadium hosted its first-ever international when West Indies went down to India by 68 runs in the opening T20I of that five-match series.
Kensington Oval in Barbados will host the opening T20 International on December 12 before the series moves to the National Stadium in Grenada for the second and third T20I on December 14 and 16.
The tour will get underway with One-Day Internationals at the Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua on December 4 and 6, with Kensington Oval staging the third and final ODI on December 9.
We are delighted to be able to confirm the England match schedule and to welcome once again their many travelling fans to the region for a pre-Christmas white-ball tour, said CWI chief executive, Johnny Grave.
This tour will be a major economic boost to the host countries, as well as providing our fans with the chance to see some of their favourite players in action against one of our biggest rivals.
The tour will also help with our ongoing venue preparation and event planning for one of the biggest events ever to be staged in the region, the ICC Mens T20 World Cup, which takes place in June next year.
We also look forward to announcing the fixtures and venues for the India tour of the West Indies in July and August very soon.
England toured the Caribbean last year January for a five-match T20I series which the hosts captured 3-2, and then returned in March for a three-match Test series which they lost 1-0.
England are the reigning ODI and T20I World champions while West Indies are ranked seventh in T20Is and ninth in ODIs. - CMC
SCHEDULE
December 3: 1st ODI Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
December 6: 2nd ODI Sir Vivian Richards Stadium, Antigua
December 9: 3rd ODI Kensington Oval, Barbados
December 12: 1st T20I Kensington Oval, Barbados
December 14: 2nd T20I Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
December 16: 3rd T20I Grenada National Stadium, Grenada
December 19: 4th T20I Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad
December 21: 5th T20I Brian Lara Cricket Academy, Trinidad