PM:

A hero’s welcome would be given to the Soca Warriors. But they would have to wait until their return to Trinidad and Tobago to find out how Government plans to reward them for their accomplishment.

Prime Minister Patrick Manning, speaking at a news conference at Whitehall shortly after the team’s 2-0 defeat by Paraguay, stated: “I wish to assure them that they will get a reception the likes of which the country has never seen before and we would announce how they would be honoured at that time.”

Manning praised the level of patriotism in Trinidad and Tobago which reached “benchmark status” by yesterday. Manning however observed that it would be a “major challenge sustaining this spirit of patriotism.” He said, “when the Cabinet meets on Thursday we will be discussing some elements of this.” Manning rededicated Government’s support for the “advancement” of sports at all levels. “We have now been demonstrating our world-scale capability in a number of sports — football, cricket, cycling, althetics and swimming. The Government now has to carefully consider how it would support a national effort in every area that the world class capability is being demonstrated,” he said. Manning said Government had a “good idea” of how it would reward the team, but he did not want to speak prematurely.

Manning said he planned to talk to captain Dwight Yorke later about arrangements for the team’s return “at the earliest opportunity.”

While the Prime Minister dismissed reports of a public holiday, he said the team had put Trinidad and Tobago on the map “and it didn’t matter whether they won, drew or lost.”

“We have won in a big way,” he said, adding that the Trade Minister was putting together a trade and investment mission for Europe.

He said the supporting artistes had also won — Phase II (and others who made mas’ in Germany). He noted that many people in Germany who never heard of Trinidad and Tobago became supporters of the Soca Warriors.

Manning said he had no doubt that Beenhakker had earned a place not only with the team but in the hearts of citizens of this country.