Brian Lara to visit Dominica post Erika

Brian Lara. Photo credit: CCNTV6
Brian Lara. Photo credit: CCNTV6

Former West Indies cricketer, Brian Lara, is expected to visit Dominica on Monday September 14, 2015 as a representative of the Trinidad and Tobago government to determine this country’s post-Erika assistance needs.

According to the CCNTV6 website, www.tv6tnt.com/news , Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, is sending special envoy Lara to meet with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit “to determine the nature” of additional assistance that Trinidad and Tobago can give to Dominica in the wake of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika.

The report quotes a release issued on Friday by the office of Prime Minister Rowley as stating that Lara, “in the capacity of special envoy, will hold discussions with Prime Minister Skerrit to determine how Trinidad and Tobago may further assist its CARICOM neighbour in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Erika, which devastated the island on August 27th 2015…”

Trinidad and Tobago was among the first set of Caribbean countries to respond after Tropical Storm Erika struck by providing assistance to Dominica in search, rescue and recovery operations.

Lara is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest cricketers of all-time. He holds several cricketing records, including the highest individual score of 501 not out in first class cricket and the highest individual score of 400 not out in a Test innings.

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33 Comments

  1. Francisco Telemaque
    September 15, 2015

    I wonder all of those people who are questing Brian Lara inelegance, and background; I wonder if they are half educated as that man? if you people are degrading Lara, because he played cricket, that is a very stupid notion! Let us go back to the late 1940’s into the late 1950’s, and focus on Sir, Laray Constantine, Trinidad born, he was a lawyer by profession in his day only the elite educated played West Indies cricket, that is why traditionally all the people who were selected to represented the West Indies were selected from Jamaica, Barbados, Trinidad, and Guyana.
    Why? Because the opportunity for a college education was synonymous on the islands mentioned.
    In the days of Weeks, Worriel, Walcout, even to Sir Garfield Sobers, Wesley Hall, Charles Griffith, Gilcrest, of Barbados, all or these guys are very educated people. Do not make comparisons with most of the people in Dominica playing cricket today. Even in Dominica at one time if you had not attended DGS, or SMA, one…

    • Francisco Telemaque
      September 15, 2015

      Even in Dominica at one time if you had not attended DGS, or SMA, one could not get selected to play first class cricket representing Dominica, in Dominica, with the hope of making it unto the Windward islands cricket team, no matter how well one played; and you had to be light in complexion, and have a family name to go along with that.

      So one should realize at home only the sons of the bourgeoisies made the team: that is our nations history!

      Notice in Trinidad after politics the politician assimilates into society holding other paying positions, that is because of their educational background, they easily move on to bigger and better things, Just because most of the plays in Dominica, has never attended college, and do not have an academic degree does not mean everyone who plays, or played cricket are the same as our players, some of which had not attended secondary school!

  2. wtf
    September 14, 2015

    All of these countries in the Caribbean a sub developing countries just like Dominica, and have to reserve funds also for their country for we are in the hurricane season. How much help are we expecting them to give. We have to look to develop countries and Nations. Dominica need serious help so it could be rebuilt. If all you do want put Dominica up for sale. Let a colony or nation come and buy it. For Dominica is the only country that hasn’t move on since it gain independence almost 37 yes ago.

  3. wtf
    September 14, 2015

    That is how Dominican like it to be scrapping the bottom of the barrel. When all they had to do is just say (Nation wide state of Emergency) and real help from Developed countries would come. No they do want that.

  4. Skenith John Baptiste
    September 14, 2015

    Have him visit the Volcanoes training at the Windsor Park!

  5. Trevor Johnson CM
    September 14, 2015

    Special Envoy means that he would be meeting with the PM to assess our needs based on what our PM would be seeking.. It does not mean that he would be assessing our needs himself. If the PM of Trinidad wanted to assess what is needed he would have sent a team of construction experts.

    Give Lara a chance to do his work. At least the T&T PM is seeking to assist.

  6. K.Killian Anselm
    September 13, 2015

    I Thank you Dr. Keith Rowley, Newly elected PM, island of my second home (TnT) in sending special envoy Lara to meet with Honorable Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit “to determine the nature” of additional assistance that Trinidad and Tobago can give to Dominica in the wake of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika.

    Trinidad and Tobago selection of Brian Laura as “Special Envoy” is certainly a wise choice.

    SE Laura is one of the most humble and sincere men that I have met.

    Trinidad and Tobago was among the first set of Caribbean countries to respond after Tropical Storm Erika struck by providing assistance to Dominica in search, rescue and recovery operations

    • Tjebe fort
      September 14, 2015

      I see people licking their siro from the most unsavory places.

  7. "Break Every Yoke" Tasha
    September 13, 2015

    ” Prime Minister Dr. Keith Rowley, is sending special envoy Lara to meet with Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit “to determine the nature” of additional assistance that Trinidad and Tobago can give to Dominica in the wake of the devastation caused by Tropical Storm Erika.”

    We say thanks to you Mr. Prime Minister Rowley. I do hope that similarly, President Obama, will send Donnie Mc Clurkin and Tasha Cobbs as SPECIAL envoy to determine how the USA can further help us rebuild our country. I hope the duo do not tell Obama that we do not need money because we are a very rich country that were able to give them over $300k for one night of performance during the 2014 election.

    In like manner, we also hope the PM of Jamaica, Ms. Portia Simpson Miller, sends Beres Hammond as Special envoy, to see how Jamaica could be of further help to Jamaica after tropical storm Erica destroyed us.

    • Allan samuel (Jerry)
      September 14, 2015

      You had to display your political biasness and ignorance in this forum, SHAME ON YOU. This shows how much you are highly educated in political ignorance and versed in international stupidity. Please excuse my fellow lone wolf Dominicans who do not understand the term NATIONAL UNITY, I apologize to all the governments involved on their behalf.

    • NYPD
      September 14, 2015

      God help you

  8. Finance Minister
    September 13, 2015

    Mr. Skerrit, can you please give an update of how much relief funds we have received since the storm? That is very, very important because we need to know if we have exceeded the $32 million Dollars the Government spent in the re-election campaign.

    I know you are very busy but just in case you find some spear time, can you also inform the nation on the amount received thus far from those foreign gospel artists that came to release a RED blessing on our island?

    • True
      September 14, 2015

      You think the Hon. PM have time for your childish and wicked comments? I can tell you were not affected by the disaster!!

  9. rob
    September 13, 2015

    Isn’t he an honorary Dominican?

  10. Passing cloud
    September 13, 2015

    We want people like Pastor /Artist Donnie Mc Clurkin and Tasha to give us our money back because although their presence during the election campaign helped Skerrit and the DLP win the election, it sure does not appear they released a blessing on Dominica, cause see what we got 8 months later. Skerro how much did we pay them again? How much did we pay Beres Hammond of JA to perform again?

    PM Skerrit, how much did we spend on winning the last election again? Was it some $32 million dollars? Sir, I am quite sure we have gotten every cent we spent back.

    Brian Lara and fellow election citizen Shiv Chanderpaul will arrange a cricket match in Barbados, to see if all those Bajans that scored big money during the 2014 election can help us out too. Hartley Henry knows all of them and all donations should be paid to Mr. Henry only, since we know we can trust him to help us because he has a true heart for Dominica.

    Labor Ka Twavye!

    • The Real Facts
      September 13, 2015

      You are a lucky person who survived T.S. Erika. For your gratitude, you should be grateful to God and mellow your words. Have you not learned anything from this storm, to be kind? Some people never learn.

  11. Passing cloud
    September 13, 2015

    It will be great to have Brian Charles Lara in Dominica! Oh, but wait a minute nou, did Brian ever get a passport or cashed in on election money from us nou?

    I want to see fellow citizen, Chanderpaul who got a passport. In fact I do expect Shiv to get a bunch of ex players like Lara, Ambrose, Richards and others, to play a charity match for us in Barbados, so that all those Bajans that cashed in big time during our election, whether as poll stars, advisor, or those that printed Labor Ka Twavy Tee shirts, and manifesto could contribute. Is Hartley Henry from Barbados?

    I expect Pastor/ artist Donnie McClurkin and Tasha Cobbs to organize a big concert for us, somewhere in the USA to see if we can get anything close to the amount we paid them last December to perform at DLP re-election campaign. Didn’t we pay Donny some $250K for one night? I am quite sure Tasha Cobbs got a good amount to “Break Every Yoke”

    What about Beres Hammond? He got some $135K. We need our money back…

  12. Tout Twele
    September 12, 2015

    The power of sports when you are recognized by your country men. Trinidad is a developed country. Yes I….

  13. Grace
    September 12, 2015

    Please remind me of Brian Lara experience and training.

  14. WM
    September 12, 2015

    I welcome the continued support provided by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as we rebuild post TS Erika.

    I also take this opportunity to congratulate Prime Minister, Doctor, the Honourable Keith Christopher Rowley, the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on their victory at the recent General Elections. :wink:

  15. Francisco Telemaque
    September 12, 2015

    Right at this time is the best opportunity of Skerrit to ask, and start negotiating with the Government of Trinidad for help once again in building an International Airport!

    We remember the one which the UWP, and Edison James was building; the very one which the Labor Party shut down when Rosie Douglas, Ian Douglas, Athie Martin, Roosevelt Skerrit, Pierre Charles old man Revere, old goat, Ambrose George, and many of them who are dead, claimed we did not need, based on Ralph Gonzalez advise.

    The government of Trinidad & Tobago undertook 80% of the cost. Though Skerrit should not be held accontable for the wasting of that money there is no reason why he should not ask the government of Trinidad for help in with building an new International Airport.

    If we are to receive help in this respect from any government, it will be from the Government of Trinidad & Tobago: I stake my life on that; nevertheless since Skerrit was involve in chasing the Trinidad, engineers, and…

    • Francisco Telemaque
      September 12, 2015

      Since Skerrit was involve in chasing the Trinidad, engineers, and contractors out of Dominica, when they shut the project down, he might be ashamed to seek help from Trinidad, to revisit a project that would be in operation more than twenty-five years ago.

      The took Ralph Gonzalez advise, not build an International Airport in our country, while Ralph went home to St. Vincent and ensured he built one for his country and people!

    • Francisco Telemaque
      September 13, 2015

      “Though Skerrit should not be held accontable for the wasting of that money”

      I do not know how I made that simple mistake; it should read Though Skerrit “should be held accountable for the wasting of that money.” By now everyone must have realized that the digging up of the Melville River, made no sense. If he spent one dime repairing that parking lot, as soon as another flood returns in the area, it will suffer the same fate!

  16. WM
    September 12, 2015

    I welcome the continued support provided by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago as we rebuild post TS Erika.

    I also take this opportunity to congratulate Prime Ministers, Doctor, the Honourable Keith Christopher Rowley, the People’s National Movement (PNM) and the people of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago on their victory at the recent General Elections. :wink:

    • Me
      September 14, 2015

      Keep politics out of it brother, for once please!

  17. Big Bannan
    September 12, 2015

    AND?????

  18. Titiwi
    September 12, 2015

    Brian who? O.K. the guy was a world class cricketer with a big head to match. But is he all of a sudden an expert on disaster assessment as well? Honestly, he is more than welcome but I am truly stumped.

    • The Real Facts
      September 13, 2015

      Some people as you on this Website think you are an expert, know-it-all. Why not him? He has intelligence and common sense, not so?

    • Francisco Telemaque
      September 13, 2015

      Mr./Miss little fish, fry or sprat, funny how you regard yourself as the smallest fish to go up the rivers of Dominica seasonally. One thing you need to know is that if you pick any seven people from the streets anywhere in Trinidad, and you get into a conversation with them Educational or otherwise, you will soon discover that perhaps six of the seven is college educated.

      Bryan might be more qualify than you can imagine, unlike most Dominicans who are usually selected for position simply because of their political connections. We have an Ambassador at the United Nations, who dose not know how to pronounced the word “Thousand.” I’ve heard him many times say Townsend!

      There was another one in the coalition days in England been interviewed By the BBC, when they ask him if the tourist they are anticipating to visit Dominica did not happen: His responded “well if they doh want to come they can kiss our a..!” It does not take a rocket scientist to sit and talk to Skerrit, or…

      • Francisco Telemaque
        September 13, 2015

        It does not take a rocket scientist to sit and talk to Skerrit, or to travel to the places of destruction, and make an assessment. For your information, that guy might even be better educated than or magnificent, our illustrious no degree Prime Minister Skerrit!

        Dominica is the only place I know one can play magistrate, and sit in judgment over the citizens of a country without attending law school, and obtaining a law degree, the term jurisprudence seems not to be in the vocabulary, of the government, and our judicial system.

    • believer
      September 14, 2015

      No need to be stumped.

      You really don’t have to be an expert in disaster relief to ” hold discussions with Prime Minister Skerrit to determine how Trinidad and Tobago may further assist” which is his mission.

      He is a special envoy as the report said. And that is not uncommon… several countries do that as “experts in disaster relief ” are in short supply.

      • Me
        September 14, 2015

        True, you do not need to be an expert to discuss anything with the P.M. He knows everything already.

  19. the fly
    September 12, 2015

    Dominica welcome mr Brian lara and the Government of T and T you have always been a good friend to Dominica thank you and God Bless.

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