The Government is currently in negotiations with the organisers of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to host this year’s CPL T20 tournament at the Brian Lara Academy in Tarouba, according to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley.

“It is quite possible that we may be hosting the CPL tournament at that venue and other venues,” he said. Addressing PNM supporters yesterday at the party’s Annual Family Fun Day at the Eddie Hart Ground, Tacarigua, Rowley said, if the discussions are successful, the facilities would be used for what they were intended.

He said, the facility is not just a cricket ground but an academy.

To this end, he said, Government is proposing to use the Brian Lara Academy as a campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago in the pursuit of degrees in disciplines such as sport management.

He urged young people in particular to make use of the academic opportunities available for the development of sports.

“Notwithstanding the nonsense going on now with West Indies cricket,” Rowley said, “We believe that we can strengthen West Indies cricket right here in Trinidad and Tobago.” Government has also made available, he said, the Ato Boldon Stadium so that football players and administrators can have a base for administration, playing and training. Government is also working towards the establishment of hotel facilities in the Couva area to provide accommodation to those who use the stadium, swimming and cycling facilities in the area.

The objective, he said, would be to market that area as a sporting zone.

He said he visited the site of the Diego Martin Sporting Complex last week and found that the foundation is almost ready for the fabrication of the structure. Once completed and in use, he expects more sporting champions to come out of the area. For Tobago, he said, Government was in discussions with the Sandals Resort for the development of a world class golf course, which would bring the number of golf courses in Tobago to three. These will supplement those in Barbados and Jamaica, enabling the Caribbean to host golf tournaments at the highest level.

“We could look forward to the day when such tournaments would be held in Tobago.” As sporting facilities become available, he is asking people to respect them to develop the national potential. Noting the current state of the economy given the decline in the price of oil and gas, and the costs at which the facilities were being built, Rowley said he expects the facilities would also be used to generate their own income.