Trinidad and Tobago gold medallist Keshorn Walcott will receive $500,000 for his feat at the recent World Athletics Championships at the Japan National Stadium in Tokyo.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar made the announcement at the Diplomatic Centre on Tuesday, where she hosted Walcott, 400-metre silver medallist Jereem Richards, and CPL T20 champions, the Trinbago Knight Riders.
“We will be giving to Keshorn, for that gold, in accordance with the Cabinet policy, $500,000. We propose to rename the North Eastern Regional Multipurpose Sport Facility in Sangre Grande the Keshorn Walcott Multipurpose Sport Facility. In addition, Keshorn, we think you will serve very well as a Sport Ambassador for Trinidad and Tobago. You may know or may not know that being a Sport Ambassador will entitle you to the grant of a diplomatic passport — of course, subject to due diligence by the authorities. So you will be able to travel in and out.”
For copping the silver medal in the 400 metres event at the recent World Athletics Championships, Jereem Richards will receive $250,000. The Prime Minister said Cabinet is discussing other rewards for the track star.
CPL T20 champions, the Trinbago Knight Riders, will be honoured on Republic Day.
“How do we honour you? At Cabinet discussions earlier today, many things came forward, and so to honour you as a team, we have proposed that you be given the Chaconia Gold Medal of Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow at our Republic Day awards ceremony.”
The Prime Minister said Kieron Pollard and Nicholas Pooran will be named Sport Ambassadors and will be granted diplomatic passports as well.