Lequay calls for fast action on stolen luggage

President of the Trinidad and Tobago Cricket Board of Control (TTCBC), Alloy Lequay has formally written Minister of Works and Transport Franklyn Khan yesterday concerning the loss of luggage by the Australian cricket team at Piarco International Airport. The normally mild-mannered Lequay said he was very upset by the incident on Tuesday which has tarnished the country’s image internationally. ”After the loss of luggage I was very upset. It was not the first time that this thing has happened at Piarco. I said I was going to write the relevant authorities and yesterday I had three letters hand delivered to them. I wrote to Minister Franklyn Khan, the Commissioner of Police and to BWIA,” Lequay said. “The contents of the letters was very short and direct. I told them that this situation has caused the country and the region a terrible embarrassment and hence they must act quickly to bring the culprits to justice,” the cricket boss added.

This is the fourth such occasion that a touring cricket team has been robbed at the airport. The Australians have suffered on three occasions, while the South Africans also had their stuff stolen in 2001. In 1999 Australian paceman Glenn McGrath lost his luggage at Piarco and was lucky to have it returned to him intact a couple days after. The estimated $10,000 loss suffered by the Australians has captured international headlines and raises concerns especially since the region will host the 2007 World Cup. ”We are going to host the next cricket World Cup and it would be very embarrassing for people around the world to read of this fiasco. We need to do some serious investigation into this matter and bring the perpetrators to justice. This I think is the only way we can put an end to this embarrassment,” Lequay said. The Australian team left Grenada yesterday for Bermuda for a short holiday before making the journey home. They won the Tests 3-1 and the One-Day International series 4-3. West Indies will take on Sri Lanka in a three one-dayers and two Test matches later this month. The Sri Lankans are expected in Grenada and will play their first match against a Shell Academy side.