Lara needs positive vibrations

Dear Editor: It’s cricket time again. We might have rain this Easter weekend and Brian Lara will be blamed.

Brian Lara was booed in Guyana (because Carl Hooper was deposed as captain). He was booed in Jamaica in his first match as WI captain, and again in Barbados in that historic match against the Aussies in 1999. West Indian people remain non-progressive and insular. How much more does this man, who is short in physical stature, but a giant in talent, who has done more in one day for the upliftment of the West Indies than ninety-nine percent would do in a lifetime, have to endure? As he grows as a man and a captain, he is making a concerted effort to change the fortunes of his embattled and young team. Let us support him.

We find it so easy to criticise, identify the faults in others, rather than strengthen the positive. Maybe, just maybe, our team would perform better if they had good and positive support, rather than “they go get dey tail bus’ anyway”. It is difficult to overcome hostility, negative vibrations and strange — sometimes frightening umpiring decisions. These are even more difficult to overcome while playing “at home”. So when our team comes to Port-of-Spain, let us fill the Oval, let us cheer our team and captain. Remember they are representing us. Let the air be filled with positive vibrations. If that minor miracle was to occur, we would enjoy a long overdue spectacle at the Queen’s Park Oval. Forward ever, backward never. Let us rally!

Dr Keith Clifford
Diego Martin

PS We must thank Carl Hooper for his efforts and wish him well in his retirement.