THE EDITOR: The football loving public would like to know the reason for the Minister of National Securitys prolonged procrastination in issuing Brazilian-born Jose Luis Seabra a TT passport that would make him eligible to represent this country in the final round of the 2006 Concacaf World Cup qualifying series.
t has been a long time since the Vibe 105 W Connection midfielder applied for TT citizenship. However, there has been no forthcoming reply from Martin Joseph. Determinedly and desperately, the W Connection midfielder is only too willing to represent this country which he now considers to be his adopted homeland. Spending over five years in Trinidad, Seabra has shown the merit of his worth and was recently awarded the 2004 Player of the Year by his club. Unquestionably, he will be an asset to the Soca Warriors world cup campaign. Moreover, Bertille St Clair, the coach is extremely keen on having the Brazilian in the Trinidad and Tobago line-up.
The South American has satisfied all the criteria for citizenship via the process of naturalisation naturalisation is the act of giving an alien or foreigner citizenship. According to Comptons Encyclopedia (www.broderbund.com) the criteria for a person qualifying for citizenship is as follows:
(1) The person must have lived in the country for a specific amount of time.
(2) Intend to live permanently.
(3) Have a command of the countrys language
(4) Be healthy and of good character.
Most often, governments grant citizenship to athletes from foreign nations on the basis that they can contribute favourably in their respective sporting discipline, thus, promoting their countries image and status. Some notable athletes who have been granted citizenship to represent a foreign country are as follows:
(1) Merlene Ottley, Jamaica-born, represented her country for over two decades in the field of athletics and is currently running for her adopted country, Slovenia, even in the twilight of her career at age 40.
(2) Wilson Kipketer, born in Nairobi, Kenya, the 800 metres world record holder now represents Denmark in the field of athletics.
(3) Aggressive and deadly striker, Robert Brown, born in Jamaica is an influential member in the Panama football team, an opponent of the Soca Warriors in the upcoming 2006 Concacaf World Cup qualifiers.
(4) Russian born, Preki, who could not speak English well was hastily granted a US passport in three days to play soccer for the USA national peam.
Seabras application merits worthwhile consideration. Many football lovers have expressed their frustration and annoyance by the inexplicable delay in granting the versatile W Connection player a TT passport. In the spirit of national interest, Honourable Minister, do all in your power to accelerate Jose Luis Seabras application. It is essentially worthwhile that the best players represent this country in this crucial stage of the campaign. It is imperative that FIFA Vice President Jack Warner, former UNC Minister of Sport Manohar Ramsaran, W Connection President David-John Williams, Junior Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds, sports writers, Minister of Sport Roger Boynes sensitise the ministers awareness, interest and enthusiasm about this issue, and of the many benefits to be derived from this country qualifying for the 2006 World Cup in Germany.