Political Bad-Mouthing in Trinidad and Tobago Sullies Opening of Stadium Named for Cricketer Brian Lara · Global Voices
Flora Thomas

Brian Lara at the Lord's Bicentenary Anniversary Match, June 22, 2014. Photo by Paul Hudson, CC BY 2.0.
In international cricketing circles, Brian Lara is a rock star. Deemed one of the greatest batsmen of all time, he is practically like royalty in Trinidad and Tobago, the land of his birth. But his name (and the fact that he lent it to the country's new stadium in south Trinidad) has been something of a political football ever since the controversial stadium — the construction of which was mired in allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement by previous governments — was finally opened under the People's National Movement (PNM) administration.
There was heated online debate about whether the stadium itself should have been a priority for the current government, especially in trying economic times. In the public Facebook group New Politics, Jenn Tetenbaum asked:
CAN D BRIAN LARA ACADEMY ENRICH THE LIVES OF T&T PEOPLE? IT'S AN ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
Devan Mahase responded:
wonder if the multi billion $ stadium came with ultrasound dept, mt. hope patients could go there
Mount Hope is a public hospital that has had its share of controversy; the country's public health system often falls short of the demands made on it. Opposition senator Khadijah Ameen also pushed the stadium versus health care angle of the narrative, quoting from a newspaper report about protests regarding the government's decision to open the stadium while the nearby children's hospital, built under her party's tenure, remained closed.
Facebook user Allan Karim added:
“I wonder how Brian Lara felt passing the brand new CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL closed on his way to open the Shed of Shame?”
While members of the country's opposition party (and other politically aligned Facebook groups) downplayed the numbers in attendance at the stadium's opening, several Facebook users posted photographic evidence that the stands were full.
When Lara himself spoke out, explaining that he felt “embarrassed and disappointed” over misconceptions surrounding the stadium, Ricki D. Ramgoolie, commenting on the UNC's Facebook page, said, “Yes Brian…. sing for your supper!”
Upon reading similar comments, Facebook user Colin Chalmers suggested, tongue firmly in cheek, that “maybe the first match at the Stadium should have been Indians vs Africans.” Trinidad and Tobago is, for the most part, politically divided along ethnic lines, with the opposition United National Congress‘ (UNC) support base being primarily Indian and the PNM's being largely black. Lara and his sporting accomplishments always seemed to transcend race, however — until the stadium came into play.
Marlon Rampersad retorted:
Imagine. the PP [coalition People's Partnership government, of which the UNC was a part] had completed the BLCA [Brian Lara Cricket Academy] and is today opening it. now imagine Brian Lara walking onto the field to greet Kamla [former prime minister].
now, Imagine what the PNM party hacks would have said about Lara.
Meanwhile, on the CCN TV6 Facebook page, Ed Reid played devil's advocate:
As I recall the story. One day Patrick Manning [former prime minister and leader of the PNM] asked Brian Lara how could Trinidad and Tobago get a 1000 Brian Laras. Brian explained to him that he was just fortunate to have the Cricket talent that he has. But most importantly, he told Mr Manning that all over the world where he had played cricket, some countries have a cricket Academy where they teach young potential players the rudimentaries of the game of cricket.
Young players will live in the Brian Lara Academy where they will train, lift weights, be trained in proper dieting, have the benefit of psychologists, have their bowling and batting actions filmed, analyzed, and improvements in techniques will be worked on.
Sports is not a hit and miss guessing game again. Sports is big business.
So here is my question to you Mr and Mrs UNC Naysayer.
In 2020, your young son has been observed and chosen as a candidate to enter the Brian Lara Cricket Academy. Scouts from all around the world done start comparing the little boy from Barrackpore as the next Lara.
Cricket is his passion and he is a boss student at Naparima.
Would you allow him to attend the Brian Lara Cricket Academy?
Nalini Dial, who was a member of one of the parties in the former People's Partnership (PP) coalition government, sought to cut Lara down to size:
Brian Lara I just want you to know that it's not YOUR money that built that stadium. It is the people's money. So next time when you are referring to the stadium, please don't say ‘ MY stadium’. Say OUR stadium. Ok? You don't have to start sounding like the PNM now just because they name it after you.
Others took jabs at the pedigree of cricketing personalities who were at the opening; despite local squabbles over the issue, there was some disappointment that former Indian cricket captain Sachin Tendulkar, for whom a stand was named at the stadium, failed to show up at the opening as promised.
Despite it all, there were many netizens who spoke out in Lara's defense, and praised his resilience. Bevon Xavier said:
Its [sic] a honor to watch Brian Lara west indies cricket batting legend and record title holder 400 not out batting in a cricket match in his own Brian Lara stadium which was official open [sic] today in Trinidad..
Michael Blair Blenman agreed:
Some things happen late in life…Big Respect to Brian Lara ..”
One netizen, Natalie Jaikie, had had enough of the Lara adoration:
Brian Lara is the best thing since sliced bread. We know this. Deep down I'm happy that the stadium is a tribute to him but exactly how long must the country thank him? Oh gosh man, yuh have a promenade, yuh have a stadium, yuh get to name the stand, just now we go have the re-brand the country as Trinidad and Brian Charles Lara…
In the end, Facebook user Rhoda Bharath cut to the heart of the controversy:
“How to make the celebration fo a Cricket god into a political and race issue? Ask a Trini”
But Wired868 was not prepared to leave the issue there, lashing out at both sides of the political aisle:
No amount of noise from the Opposition could keep their supporters away from seeing the Prince of [Port of Spain]. I doubt if there was any political persuasion not represented at the opening.
However, the Opposition were not the only ones to misinterpret what Friday meant.
The Government, likewise, mismanaged the event at every stage, the scoring of political points appearing to take precedence over all else. This was underscored by Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs Darryl Smith’s insistence that this was the first time Lara had been engaged in any meaningful way in the development of the facility. […]
Of course, the supporters of the PNM will place all the blame at the feet of the Opposition. It seems to me that the politicians believe that this entire enterprise—construction, refurbishment, official opening, etc—was really about them. […]
The politicians may not publicly admit it—the arrogance of partisanship would not allow them so to do—but they know that there are moments over which they have neither control nor influence. […]
Friday was not about the PNM or the UNC; it was about Brian Lara and his people, the people of Trinidad and Tobago.