Sporting icons of the island’s northernmost have been memorialised with the renaming of the former Gros Islet Mini Stadium. The venue will henceforth be known as the Francis Baba Lastic Grounds, just one of several changes for the multipurpose facility in the town of Gros Islet.
Over the past 18 months, the playing field, which hosts cricket, rugby, football, and schools’ track and field, has undergone a major transformation. New lights have been installed. A wall and a grandstand have been built, and parking bays erected. Still to come are a new pavilion and a second stand.
Every part of the stadium will commemorate Gros Islet’s rich sporting history. The main venue is named in honour of Lastic, a long-time Northern United footballer, who went on to play professionally in Trinidad & Tobago. A silky defender, he also played for the national team before transitioning to coaching. He leads the Gros Islet men’s team and is an assistant coach of the Piton Boyz.
Patrons will enter the grounds via Charlie Sonson Drive, named after the iconic squash player and they can sit comfortably in the Alton Crafton Stands, the main grandstand.
In time to come, the John Eugene Stands will be erected on the west side of the facility, thus showing appreciation for two of the greatest cricketers and cricket coaches ever from the community.
The pavilion that currently houses the Gros Islet Post Office, at the southern end of the ground, will be refurbished and repurposed into the Elijah Joseph Youth and Sports Centre. Joseph was a midfielder for Northern United, W Connection, and the national men’s football team. The new facility will include gym equipment for the use of athletes from the area.
Finally, just above the Lastic Grounds, basketballers, volleyballers, and netballers will be able to use the Terry Verdant Multipurpose Court. Verdant is a former national volleyballer turned coach, and he remains active as a golfer.
In officially declaring the venue open, Member of Parliament for Gros Islet and Minister for Youth Development & Sports, Kenson Casimir, cited an impressive and exhaustive list of Gros Islet greats. Among the current and former athletes he called were Olympic 400m runner and multiple national record holder Michael Joseph, golfer Regis Gustave, volleyballer Sabina Louis, and netballer Samantha Gustave-Edward.
Minister Casimir pledged to back the formal documentation of the community’s sporting legacy through the years. Among the titans of Gros Islet sports, he noted the many contributions of his predecessor as MP for the district, Lenard ‘Spider’ Montoute. Montoute was recalled as a stellar track and field athlete, footballer, and administrator.
