PM rewards Soca Warriors

Here is the full text of Prime Minister Patrick Manning’s speech at the Thank You Rally for Trinidad and Tobago’s Soca Warriors at the Hasely Crawford Stadium on Saturday June 24, 2006 in which he announced monetary and national awards for members of the team.

This is one of the happiest occasions for me, as Prime Minister, to address the people of our nation. I feel extremely honoured, and on behalf of the entire nation, let me say how grateful I am to the Soca Warriors for providing this unprecedented opportunity.

The Warriors have filled the hearts of our entire nation with pride. I can remember only one other moment in our history which moved this nation so fundamentally. It was our historic march, led by our Founding Father, for the recovery of Chaguaramas. We were victorious then in 1960; and almost half a century later, we are triumphant now in 2006.

History is today in the making, ladies and gentlemen. Let us therefore salute the Soca Warriors for the victory of Trinidad and Tobago on the fields of Germany. Let us assure them of a cherished place in the annals of our nation.

They scored five main goals for this nation over the last two weeks. What are these goals, some may ask. Well let me tell you. The first is that they made the name of Trinidad and Tobago known through almost every nook and cranny of the world.

Today, you cannot escape Trinidad and Tobago at the global level. Now, people at all levels in the international family, from the hierarchy to the man in the street, can point to our place on the map, which has been made sparkling by the courageous, determined, skilful and often dazzling performance of our team in Germany. Our footballers have stirred the curiosity and interest of hundreds of millions, in the civilisation we are building in this country. That is one of the first goals that they scored. They emblazoned the name of Trinidad and Tobago across international skies and kept our flag flying high in the global arena. They deserve our applause for that.

Then there is their second goal. They showed that the smallness of a country should not be an impediment to the attainment of excellence in human endeavour. Of course we have done it before with individual effort in various fields. But this experience turned out to be quite special. Here was our national team, representing the aspirations of all our people in a popular and global arena, in a national pursuit of excellence. Our Warriors showed that we are capable of being among the best.

They are therefore exemplars to all, especially the young, that the world is also ours to command. They showed that quality and competence, the potential of every individual, are the true requirements to make one’s mark in any field and at the highest levels in the international arena. The Warriors have now joined that small and select band of nationals excelling in so many areas including literature, politics, art and sport who, with distinction, have achieved individual and national glory on the international stage.

They are an inspiration. They have shown character. Character is critical my friends. It is character that takes you beyond the boundary. The Warriors have demonstrated the class and character of this small nation. They deserve more than our gratitude for this important goal that they scored for Trinidad and Tobago. And we must remember the discipline which was demonstrated even when critical decisions went against us. They deserve your applause for that.

Thirdly, they scored a goal for our culture. The Government ensured that our team was supported in Europe by a cultural contingent representing our dynamic diversity. And the Warriors played their role. Because of their performance, they ensured that wherever our cultural ambassadors went, they received rapturous attention. We saw it on TV. Curiosity was quickly transformed into infectiousness and given full range, it seemed that our steelband, calypsonians, dancers and musicians could have stolen audiences away from the football arena.

We were ready to take Germany by storm. And we did, in very many ways, according to reports that have come to the Cabinet during our brief sojourn in that country. We have now proved what we can do at the international level in the cultural field. We have always known it, but the Soca Warriors have cleared the way for our further growth in this area. They have made room for the cultural expression of Trinidad and Tobago on the international stage. Goal for Trinidad and Tobago.

Fourthly and very importantly, there is now room for our further economic growth. Score another for the Soca Warriors. We are already world-class players in the energy sector; but now the international business community will hear more about Trinidad and Tobago, the emerging economic giant of the Caribbean, where opportunities now abound for investments in almost all fields of economic activity.

Trade and investment missions, accompanied by cultural troupes, are already being planned for all parts of the world, in our own hemisphere but also to Europe, Asia, the Middle and Far East. The first mission to Europe starts at the end of July and will include:

• a steelband

• a cultural contingent representative of our diversity;

• professionals to articulate clearly and cogently the attributes of Trinidad and Tobago as a location for investment

Over the next few months we shall send similar missions to South America, Central America, North America and the Far East.

My friends, because of the Soca Warriors, we are now even better prepared for international relations in any field whether it be in LNG, steel, ammonia, or methanol. We are now more inspired than ever to take on the world.

Our Soca Warriors have brought the goal of further economic development to Trinidad and Tobago.

Finally, and perhaps the greatest goal that the Warriors have scored is not in the fields of Germany but right here in the hearts of our people. The prevailing view is that never before has this diverse society been so unified in a common cause. We moved as one. Ladies and gentlemen, it was Team Trinidad and Tobago on the fields of Germany.

People of all races, classes, political and religious persuasion had one common emotion written across their faces as they spoke, thought and witnessed the performance of the team. This was love for Trinidad and Tobago. All other reactions stemmed from that love, which today continues to prevail.

Football has therefore succeeded where other efforts have failed. This has provided a clear lesson to all who aspire to public life. Be as honest, committed, devoted, competent and loyal in your endeavours as a Soca Warrior, and you will win the hearts of all the people of this plural society. It is clear.

There is really no need for deviousness or divisiveness. Let your soul shine forth as in our team, and you too will score the goal as they have done, which is to win the love and admiration of the entire nation.

Ladies and gentlemen, these are the five major goals that, in the view of the Government, the Soca Warriors have scored for Trinidad and Tobago during their campaign in World Cup 2006. These are achievements which would benefit both present and future generations. I am sure you will agree that the team deserves just, fair, and reasonable reward for their tremendous contribution to national development.

Well, here is what we have decided. The Cabinet has deliberated on this matter and has authorised me as Prime Minister to make the following announcements:

• The sixteen players who were part of the squad but who were not selected for Germany shall receive an award of two hundred and fifty thousand dollars each; that is, two hundred thousand in units from the Unit Trust Corporation and fifty thousand dollars in cash.

• The three assistants to Mr Beenhakker shall receive two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash.

• The Chaconia Medal Gold, the nation’s second highest award, shall be awarded to the twenty four footballers of the national squad who represented the nation in Germany by way of a special investiture today.

• These twenty-four players shall receive from the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago one million dollars each; seven hundred thousand in units from the Unit Trust Corporation and three hundred thousand in cash.

• Mr Leo Beenhakker shall also be awarded the Chaconia Medal Gold, as well as one million dollars in cash.

Ladies and gentlemen, outstanding leadership must always be recognised and rewarded. Mr Dwight Yorke, after an illustrious career, was called out of retirement to lead the Soca Warriors in this World Cup campaign. How well he has done. He has been an inspiration, leading by example, an indefatigable fighter, a skilful allrounder, creating, attacking and defending, an ubiquitous presence all over the field in our country’s cause, a positive leader and an articulate helmsman.

• Mr Dwight Yorke, in addition to the Chaconia Gold, will receive a gift from the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago of one and a quarter million dollars; one million in units from the Unit Trust Corporation and two hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash.

Additionally, Ladies and gentlemen, as soon as he is available, he will join Brian Lara as a Sports Ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago in the international community. Let us therefore welcome His Excellency Dwight Yorke, Ambassador for Sport of Trinidad and Tobago.

As you can see, on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago, we reward our heroes. Congratulations to all of them and may they prosper and put to good use your bounty to them. They must face the future with economic security.

Therefore they must save for a rainy day. Remember Warriors. Now you are strong and in the limelight. Time will eventually take its toll, as it does on all of us. Your country has today thanked you and rewarded you. Save, Warriors, like Shaka and Kelvin. Save. To help you, the Governor of the Central Bank has been requested to arrange a workshop on Money Management for those players who are available. Set an example for others in the national community to follow.

We now go forward. To South Africa in 2010. We must not only go to South Africa. We pass that stage. We must now qualify for the second round. And not just that. We must be among the favourites to win the next World Cup. Don’t you agree ladies and gentlemen? Haven’t our Soca Warriors told us we can do it? Don’t we owe it to them to eventually bring that great prize to Trinidad and Tobago? This is why this Government will ensure that we do everything possible to build on this achievement. I therefore now declare South Africa 2010, a national objective. Consequently, I invite Mr Leo Beenhakker and Ambassador Yorke for discussions with the Prime Minister at a mutually convenient time, to help in determining the role that the Government should play on our road to the World Cup in South Africa.
At the same time, my friends, let me take this opportunity to thank, most sincerely, Mr Austin Jack Warner for his contribution to the success of the Warriors and to the development of football generally.
Were it not for his efforts we might not have made it to Germany and today’s celebration would not have been possible. I extend a special invitation to him to be part of the proposed high-level discussions on the way forward for football in Trinidad and Tobago.
Let me also make it abundantly clear that whilst we are euphoric today about football, the Government is just as committed to the development of all sports in this country. We have a two-pronged policy.

One is to ensure the country’s total participation in sport and the other is to develop high performance athletes as has been already demonstrated by the Soca Warriors, our national cricketers, cyclists, athletes, swimmers and netball players. We shall, in the first instance, pay particular attention to the talent that now obviously resides in cycling and swimming.
Therefore, when the much derided Tarouba Sporting Complex is completed, you will see why this Government, like the Soca Warriors, has never yielded to the doubters and naysayers who have voluminously expressed the most uninformed views and commentaries on this development. They don’t know, for example, that Tarouba will be a world class facility for the training and development of West Indies Cricket. Yes, my friends, that is just one part of our plan for this facility and for sports generally.
Another is the establishment of a Magnet School of Sports which whilst it places emphasis on the development of sporting talent must also nurture and emphasise academic development. This is an essential element in high performance sustainability. The other elements are (1) Compulsory Sport Forms one-three (2) CXC examinable at Form five. Last year’s top CXC student in Sports in the Caribbean came from TT.
Let me also therefore tell you that the Ato Boldon Stadium will now become the home of the National Football Team of Trinidad and Tobago. The Soca Warriors has inspired us all. An entire stadium will now be devoted to the national team. And in tribute to Hasley Crawford and other heroes, the Mannie Ramjohn facility will be used mainly for the development of track and field in this country.
You see where we are heading, ladies and gentlemen? We going for gold. Many goals. It is the stars and stardom for all our talented youth who are willing to be as disciplined, committed and industrious as our cherished Soca Warriors.
And that has to be the main message of our valiant team. It is to our young people. You can no longer complain about lack of inspiration. This is now your time. The Soca Warriors have pointed the way. The Government is providing the opportunity. Let us see you now. Rise and be inspired by the five goals scored by the Soca Warriors. Make Trinidad and Tobago proud as they have done.

This is a beautiful country given to us by Almighty God. Let us therefore make a loud and joyful noise in praise and thanks for his bounty and mercy. And let us pray that our Heavenly Father continues to bless our beloved nation.
Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen. Thank you Soca Warriors of Trinidad and Tobago.