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Mieiaybtan
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
SPORT
DR. WILLIAMS AND SPORTS ...
PRIME MINISTER Dr. Eric Williams, whose sudden death occurred on Sunday night, was a fine
sportsman in his youth, representing Queen's Royal College at soccer and cricket. He captained the
"Royalists" soccer team and played both games while at Oxford University In England.
Dr. Williams, in his book "Inward Hunger", linked a fall he suffered while playing football with the
deterioration of his hearing and his eventual use of a hearing aid.
During the early part of his term of office first as Chief Minister, then as Premier and finally as
Prime Minister of the independent nation (Republic) Dr. Williams often took time out from his busy
Schedule to attend local sporting events. In his last two terms, however, the Prime Minister seldom
accepted Invitation to sport, although he is said to have kept in touch with both local and international
sports happenings and could carry on a discussion on any of them.
SOBERS AND ATHLETICS
Dr Williams will be remembered for the role he played when former West Indies captain Gary
Sobers was being pressured by the Guyana Government for having played cricket in Rhodesia. The
Trinidad and Tobago Prime Minister got Sobers to apologise and sent another former Barbadian Test
star, Wes Hall, to Guyana with the apology, since Sobers could not go there.
Dr. Williams also played an important role in local track and field athletics, holding a meeting with
disputing officials of the now defunct AAA of Trinidad and Tobago and the National AAA, which led to
the NAAA taking over national control. But the NAAA have since been riddled with controversy.
Despite numerous calls for Government to step into local sporting squabbles mainly in athletics,
cricket, cycling and football Dr. Williams and his People's National Movement Government steered
clear of the issues, stating that it was not their policy to meddle in the internal affairs of national
sporting organizations. Annual grants to national sporting clubs were maintained, with the total sum for
this year (announced last month) being $1.7 million.
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
DR. WILLIAMS
AND SPORT...
PRIME MINISTER Dr. Eric Williams, whose
sudden death occurred on Sulnday might, was a
fine sportsman n ia youth representing Queen's
Royalo ae t soccer and cricket. He captained
the "eya soccer team and p0ayd both
games while at Oxfrd Univerasty in Enila
Dr. Williams, in his book "Inward Hun.r"
linked a fall he suffered while playing football
with the deterioration of his hearing and his
eventual use of a hearing aid.
During the early part of his term of oCae first as Chi
Mbnter, then as Premier and finally as Prih Mister of
the idependt nation (Repbc) br. Wiliam oen took
time out rm his btu schedule to atend local 9
evenct. In his last two terms, heever the Prime te
seldom accepted Invltation to sport, aItbough he Ia said to
have kept in touch with both local and international sports
happenings and could carry on a discau5 a any of aim.
SOBERS AND ATHLE IICS
Dr. Williams will be remembered for the role he played
whoy former West Indies captain Gary Sobers was
pressured by the Guya Government for having d
cricket in Rhodesia. The Trinidad andTobaO Prime r
rot Sobrs to apogift and est another former Barbadian
Test sa, Wea Hal, to Guyana with the apology, since
Sober could =ot po there.
Dr, Witarn asno played an important role in loca track
an ffid feld etic, holding a meeatng with disput officials
of the now dtfuct AAA of Trnidad and Tobago and the
National AAA which led to the NAAA taking over national
control. But the NAAA have ine bee riddled wth con-
troversy.
^uayjiiian
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
fE Fil
Dtpite natmeruts calls for Government to step into local
sportin auables main lv in atbhletbc cricyckt and
footbaLf- Dr, Willia=u a*d his Paopleg National A extent
Governt steered clear of the isues, stating that it was
not their policy to wmdle t the internal affairs of national
sporn organtlsatl Annual grant to national spiting
clubs were maintain, withthe total sum for thi- year
(announced last motth) being 1 .7 millk.
SHkLVING STADIUM
Dr. Wlliams took quite some knocking for having served
plans for a national stadium in the first two decades be waa
m office. He said at times that the reason for selviag those
stadium plans was that the money was urgently neeed in
those days for education, health and community devel-
opment.
Until the money boom which brought the S20 mtllon Jean
Pierre Complex, and now the $70 millk soccer athletics
adium and controveraa 240 million horeracng complex
at Caroi, Dr. WUUami' Government slowly worked towards
improvement on the regional pons centres.
Following Hasly Crawford's historic gold medal triumph
at the Montreal Olympics in 1976, Dr. WFilliams anounoed
that he was doubling the 5100 mio Sports Fund, which has
financed the Jn Perre Complex and is paying for te
ian
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
SaOc r aDthoc, .tlium, o rae et the proposed
for-par west Port dt Sp3ain Pdd Park, The oher
tfj will bhe a swimming and diving pool and a cycling and
arena
Dr. r wdred work to ftop on the King George V.
Pak a fw years ago. Eventually, the George V. Park plan
was scrapped and the venue reverted t the wlginal plan of
getting up a sports centre or schools. This too, has hit
anaa and little work has bea done.
MONEY'S NOT THE PROBLEM
Like his "Moey is not the Probem" statement on Hasely
Crawford's return, Dr. Williams hb never explained in depth
why he stopped work on King Geore V. Park a few years ageo
One trend of taught that the me inter wanted to
appeal the diagmrtled St. Cair residents, who feared that
somh am ilty there wold reduce the value ef their property
and diturb the from their night's rest.
I any case, the King George V. Park plan at that tune
was for schools playground not the sort of sadum it was
being turned into, with regular First Clta North Trinidad
asoor belag played there
It must be said that Eric Estace Willams played the
game and played it weni
Mieiaybtan
Trinidad Guardian Reporting 1981 March 31
USED WITH PERMISSION
SHELVING STADIUM
Dr. Williams took quite some knocking for having shelved plans or a national stadium in the first two
decades he was in office. He said at times that the reason for shelving those stadium plans was that the
money was urgently needed in those days for education, health and community development.
Until the money boom which brought the $20 million Jean Pierre Complex, and now the $70 million
soccer athletics stadium and controversial $240 million horseracing complex at Caroni, Dr. Williams'
Government slowly worked towards improvement on the regional sports centres.
Following Hasely Crewford's historic gold medal triumph at the Montreal Olympics in 1976. Dr.
Williams announced that he was doubling the $100 million Sports Fund, which has financed the Jean
Pierre Complex and is paying for the soccer athletics stadium, second stage of the proposed foru-part
west Port of Spain Regional Park. The other stages will be a swimming and diving pool and a cycling
and hockey arena.
Dr. Williams ordered work to stop on the King George V. Park a few years ago. Eventually, the
George V. Park plan was scrapped and the venue reverted to the original plan of setting up a sports
centre for schools. This, too, has hit snags and little work has been done.
MONEY'S NOT THE PROBLEM
Like his "Money is not the Problem" statement on Hasely Crawford's return, Dr. Williams has never
explained in depth why he stopped work on King George V. Park a few years ago. One trend of thought
is that the Prime Minister wanted to appease the disgruntled St. Clair residents, who feared that such
amenity there would reduce the value of their property and disturb them from their night's rest.
In any case, the King George V. Part plan at that time was for a schools playground not the sort of
stadium it was being turned into, with regular First Class North Trinidad soccer being played there.
It must be said that Eric Eustace Williams played the game and played it welt.
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