President given keys to City of San Fernando

President George Maxwell Richards received a hero’s welcome at a civic reception hosted by the San Fernando City Corporation at the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday evening. The function was attended by scores of Southern business personalities, politicians and social-ites, including Prime Minister Patrick Manning; Labour Min-ister Larry Achong; House Speaker Barindra Sinanan; and South Chamber president, Wayne Moze. And, while several artistes stood out in a star-studded cultural performance in honour of the President, it was calypsonian Ras Kommandar, with his revamped version of David Rudder’s “Trini to the Bone”, rechristened “Max to de Bone” that had the large audience waving and singing along. Reigning Miss Best Village, Reshma Soodeen, provided an enchanting East Indian dance that caused the President to comment afterwards on the “superior quality of local artistes.” The President, accompanied by First Lady, Dr Jean Ramjohn- Richards, who was also born in San Fernando, was presented with the keys to the City by Mayor Gerard Ferreira.