Aloof and elusive, Prince of Trinidad continues to charm

PORT OF SPAIN: Saddled across the Chancellor Hill in St Ann’s, just overlooking the majestic Queen’s Park Savannah, Brian Lara’s house is pretty much the envy of

PORT OF SPAIN: Saddled across the Chancellor Hill in St Ann’s, just overlooking the majestic Queen’s Park Savannah, Brian Lara’s house is pretty much the envy of the country. Located adjacent to the office of the president and the home of the prime minister, with a panoramic view of Port of Spain, you would think Lara’s house would be the most protected in the country. So when one found the back gate open, hopes of meeting the legend started building. To be on the safe side though, the house bell outside the gate was put to good use.

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But when no one came out, one decided to try his luck by peeping inside. Manicured gardens and cobbled stone walls surrounded a house in brick red and white. A Mercedes Benz, with a custom license plate, raised hopes that he might be inside. He has two more of those, people say, all custom made after the records --- 375, 400 and 501 --- he holds. But before one could be more adventurous, a house staff came out and requested not to take any more pictures. “Is he here?” “No,” he said. “He is at the golf.” “When will he return?” “No idea.” Adequately dissuaded, one still left a visiting card with him. Another attempt at trying to catch a glimpse of the Prince of Trinidad at his home failed too.

One was told that is how the legend normally is – aloof from a lot of things, especially the media but in his own way, he keeps doing his bit when not kept busy by golf. You would assume such a property would be kept away from the eyes of the public. But earlier this year, he had opened his house to a boxing bout organised by the national boxing federation. Apart from that is the Brian Lara fete, one of the most expensive parties held every year during the Trinidad and Tobago carnival.

In fact, for a long time, party management used to be one of the portfolios handles by Lara’s business interests. And people didn’t mind paying through their nose to be rub shoulders with the prince himself. Normally a pretty relaxed region when it comes to handling cricket celebrities, Lara still evokes the shrieks.