West Indies captain Brian Lara. AFP PHOTO

Lara, whose mother suffered from cancer for 10 years and died in January 2002, said the launching, based in Woodbrook, taking in its first patient in March, was a bittersweet moment for him, because it brought back memories of the passing of his parents. Lara lost his dad to a heart attack in 1989.

"What a bittersweet moment for me," Lara was quoted as saying in a Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) sports report. "As Trinidad and Tobago is about to inherit the first state-of-the-art cancer treatment centre, it also brings back to me memories of my loving parents."

"My dad passed away in 1989 of a heart attack, another concern for all in the medical field, and also my mom who passed away in 2002, and that is definitely something that has an alliance to this because she died of cancer," he added.

Lara said one of the reasons for him accepting the invitation from the Medcorps Group, which comprises a number of health providers in Trinidad & Tobago, to attach his name to the centre was that care would be furnished to all, including those who can't afford the treatment.

"I wish it was around 10 to 15 years ago. But today onwards, we can boast of having a state-of-the-art cancer centre that is going to be for the very rich to the very poor and that is definitely something that I want to put my name to. It is a great honour," said Lara.

"For any man, his name is a major part of his legacy... Today, I say the cancer centre is definitely going to leave a legacy for myself and I place my name and my commitment on my field of play in your hands to ensure that the longevity through the test of time is going to be most successful cancer treatment centre in the region."