Manning: Cultural troupe for Germany

Government is going to have to approach local FIFA boss, Jack Warner, for football tickets for the World Cup Finals.  Prime Minister Patrick Manning disclosed yesterday that Government would be seeking to get tickets for itself as well as for those Trinidad and Tobago football fans who are prepared to make their own arrangements to reach Germany. Speaking at a post-Cabinet news conference, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said that Government was proposing to send a cultural troupe, consisting of a steelband, calypsonians and an Indian cultural group for the World Cup Finals in Germany.

He said Government hoped to attract attention, investment and jobs to the country with this initiative. “Accordingly, we are going to have to engage in appropriate discussions with those in authority in football in Trinidad and Tobago to ensure that we have the requisite number of tickets to be able to do that. “And also Government has to respond to all of the calls we have been having from the national community — people who have supported football from the inception to now, who wish to go to Germany, and who are prepared to make their own arrangements,” he said.

FIFA controls the tickets for Trinidad and Tobago. The PM said a place in the finals in Germany was an opportunity for the country to distinguish itself, not just on the football field, but was also a chance to showcase the country as a good destination for investment,  and as a place of cultural diversity. Asked if he was concerned about accountability, Manning said the Minister of Sports was dealing with this issue. He said he was not aware of any “Operation Get Warner” within the PNM.