ACCOLADES poured in yesterday for the West Indies team on their victory.

In a statement issued to the media yesterday, Prime Minister Kamla Persad Bissessar said:

"The victory of the West Indies cricket team as World T20 champions is testament to the resilience and tenacity of the region's never-say-die spirit and serves as a reminder to West Indians that international greatness and talent is not determined by the size of our nations, but rather by the extent of our drive and passion."

She congratulated captain Darren Sammy and the entire West Indies team, noting that eight of 15-man squad were Trinidad and Tobago nationals.

"This World T20 Cricket Championship title certainly reminds us of the power of sport to inspire and unify people of all races, classes and creeds."

"As a region we are all buoyed by this victory and again congratulate and thank this group of proud West Indians whose determination, work ethic and sacrifice allowed the rest of us this historic day to cheer and bask in the glory of international success," she said.

Chairman of the Congress of the People (COP) Joseph Toney described the victory as a fire that has "surely rekindled the pride of West Indies cricket built on the strong shoulders of generations of Caribbean cricket icons".

In a statement issued to the media yesterday, Toney added:

"Our boys played consistently well throughout the tournament, peaking in today's finals.

"They deserve to be champions, having demonstrated character, hard work and patience in achieving their success. All our citizens can well emulate these traits to achieve success in their field of endeavour, thereby instilling patriotism in every heart of our beloved nation and the Caribbean at large," he said.

Toney further commended the Sri Lankan team for a game well played, adding that the game has "lifted the spirits, hopes and aspiration of all Caribbean people".

The People's National Movement (PNM) also joined the national community and the entire Caribbean by extending congratulations to the cricketers.

In a statement issued to the media, Ashton Ford, PNM's general secretary, described the team's performance as an "outstanding display of professionalism that would undoubtedly be recorded as one of the most significant achievements in the history of West Indies cricket".

Ford added that he hoped the win would serve as an inspiration to all young sportsmen and women in the future, as it also "comes on the heels of the outstanding achievements of the Caribbean athletes at the recently concluded London Olympics 2012".

"On behalf of the political leader of the People's National Movement, Dr Keith Rowley, chairman, and members of the party, we salute our players on this glorious day of winning a prestigious world title," he said.