By Carol Matroo, www.guardian.co.tt

Regional leaders have been asked to award West Indies cricket captain Brian Lara with the Order of Caricom, Prime Minister Patrick Manning said yesterday.

Manning, interviewed in Point Fortin, said he had contacted his Caricom colleagues to discuss a regional award for Lara.

However, he said Cabinet still had to decide on how T&T would honour the Santa Cruz-born star batsman.

There is much speculation about what would be appropriate for a man who already had the nation's highest award, the Trinity Cross.

On Monday, Lara reclaimed the world batting record and became the first player to score 400 runs not out in the history of Test cricket during the third day of the Fourth Test against England in Antigua.

A special meeting, which was in progress up to late yesterday afternoon at Whitehall, was held among representatives from various Ministries to discuss the matter.

Sports Minister Roger Boynes said yesterday that it was a "brainstorming meeting."

"We are listening to everyone," he said in a brief telephone interview yesterday.

"We are paying attention to talk shows, what is being written in the newspapers, recommendations made by members of the public.

"We are putting together all the ideas and recommendations and we will decide what to put on the table when Lara returns home."

Boynes said Government was leaning toward leaving a legacy in Lara's name for the youths of the nation.

"That is our guiding light," he said.

However, he was unable to say where this light was leading.

"Right now there is a tremendous feeling of pride and joy in the country and T&T has to be proud of Lara," Boynes added.