Statement by T&T Sport Minister

Mon, Jul 14, '14

Trinidad and Tobago's Ministry of Sport has released a written statement from Anil Roberts, the Minister of Sport, regarding the discontinuation of the name "Trinidad and Tobago" by the CPLT20 franchise originally known as "Trinidad and Tobago Red Steel".

With respect to the use of Trinidad and Tobago as part of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) franchise team Red Steel's title, the Honourable Anil Roberts, Minister of Sport releases the following statement.
 
The name Trinidad and Tobago is reserved exclusively for citizens and nationals of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. The Trinidad and Tobago brand, as it relates to national, regional and international sporting competition, is for the exclusive use of National Governing Bodies (NGBs) which are duly constituted and recognised by the government and people of Trinidad and Tobago as the representatives of their respective sports. The 49 NGBs, funded by the Ministry of Sport and the Sports Company of Trinidad and Tobago, select national athletes and national teams based on the fundamental criteria that all athletes are citizens of Trinidad and Tobago. Therefore, with specific regard to cricket, the brand Trinidad and Tobago can only be attached to national teams duly selected by the Trinidad & Tobago Cricket Board.
 
The CPL, as a private organisation engaging in a for-profit enterprise, builds team franchises that may consist of nationals from countries across the globe, based in a particular country. The CPL does not meet the criteria stated above and therefore cannot include the use our beloved country's to distinguish their Red Steel franchise.

Nowhere in the world are sport franchises given country names. The IPL, the NBA, the EPL, the NFL and all other franchises carry the name of city or region e.g. Mumbai Indians, Boston Celtics, Manchester United, New Orleans Saints. If this were not so, we could possibly see James Rodriguez or Cristiano Ronaldo or Andrea Pirlo or Yaya Toure suiting up for Argentina in tomorrow's World Cup finals! So the position is clear, and will continue to be clear for centuries to come, that the brand Trinidad and Tobago is owned by a sovereign nation and can only be attached to teams that are 100% comprised and representative of citizens of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
 
During several meetings held with leaders of the CPL, they accepted their error in using name Trinidad and Tobago during the 2013 tournament. The CEO clearly understood the argument made by the Minister and removed the name Trinidad and Tobago from all branding and signage representing the locally-based franchise in the 2014 CPL.
 
Minister Roberts wishes the owners of this private league the greatest financial success for the duration of the 2014 edition of the exciting T20 tournament. He however reiterates that there can be no negotiation, discussion nor compromise on the use of the sovereign name of Trinidad and Tobago in the Caribbean Premiere League.