LEADER of the Opposition and former President of Guyana Bharrat Jagdeo has issued a congratulatory message to both the men’s and women’s West Indies cricket teams following their triumphs at the World T20 on Sunday.In a statement, the Opposition leader said, “Just as the February victory of the West Indies Under-19 Team stunned tournament favourite, India, to capture the ICC 2016 Under-19 World Cup and inspired the senior teams in their march through their tournaments, the ultimate success of our three teams will inspire our West Indian nations.”
“As leaders, we are also inspired by the teams’ fortitude, resilience and true grit to overcome obstacles in all other aspects of the national endeavour,” continued the statement.
The former president added that cricket has always been the glue that binds the mosaic of people in the Caribbean region together, in the aftermath of the country’s colonial legacy – even as it played a major role in overcoming the scars of that legacy.
“As a Region, together, we have achieved much on the cricket fields. Today, with the victories, against all odds, in all three ICC World Tournaments – the Trifecta of Cricket – we stand on the cusp of igniting another period of West Indian cricketing genius on the world stage,” the statement read.
He committed his party and by extension the government’s support in whatever form is needed to achieve that goal.
He also acknowledged the role that our youths in the Under-19 Team played in inspiring their seniors in their tournaments and offered the most heartfelt congratulations to those seniors in the Men’s and Women’s Teams for bringing the trophies of victory in the 2016 ICC T20 World Cups back to the West Indies.
His statement came on behalf of the People’s Progressive Party/Civic (PPP/C) as well as the left side of the house.