Wednesday, July 30, 2008
PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad – Former sport minister Manohar Ramsaran has called on government to award Guyanese batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul the highest national award – The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. With the Independence Day Awards approaching on August 31, Ramsaran has advised the ruling People’s National Movement (PNM) to award the left-hander who this week attained the number one ranking on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Ratings.
“I think that the government should seriously look into giving the nation’s highest award to Chanderpaul because he has done a great service to Caribbean cricket,” said Ramsaran, who served as minister under a United National Congress government.
“Everyone knows that once Chanderpaul is not batting for the West Indies we have no chance of winning matches. This young man has sacrificed a lot to reach where he has and his appetite for the game is great because of his commitment to the West Indies team.
“He is a great example for young people in the Caribbean to follow because he shows that there are rewards with hard work. Even members of the West Indies team must look up to this great batsman.”
Ramsaran stressed the fact that Chanderpaul, now rated the world’s best batsmen by the ICC, was really great news for West Indies cricket which had been in the doldrums for quite a while.
“Chanders is now rated number one by the ICC and this is no mean feat,” Ramsaran said.
“I think he definitely deserves our nation’s highest award and if he gets it then it would do a lot for Caribbean integration.”
The United National Congress is the country’s main opposition party
Source: Guyana Chronicle