Prime Minister Patrick Manning who is in Malta attending the Commonwealth Summit yesterday extended congratulations to "His Excellency Ambassador Brian Charles Lara on his outstanding performance yet again in scoring another double Test century in Adelaide, Australia, achieving the highest aggregate of runs by any cricketer ever in the history of the game of cricket."

A release from Whitehall stated:

The Prime Minister is extremely delighted that Trinidad and Tobago continues to excel in the international arena of sport including the recent qualification of the national football team for the World Cup finals in Germany next year.

This is not to forget the success of Mr Hasely Crawford's gold medal in Montreal and other medal winners over the years, and now Ambassador Lara's magnificent milestone.

These colossal feats follow the national pride experienced with the first places attained by Penny Commissiong, Giselle La Ronde and Wendy Fitzwilliam who have all contributed significantly to place Trinidad and Tobago centre stage in the community of nations.

Indeed, amongst others, our national scholars, who have distinguished themselves by placing first and second in various subjects over all students in the world, have kept the national flag flying.

These demonstrations of a tiny country with a mere 1.3 million population endowed with a diversity of rich talent must serve as an inspiration to our young aspiring citizens to bear in mind the national watchwords of discipline, production and tolerance.

Trinidad and Tobago is full of pride and congratulates His Excellency Brian Charles Lara.

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