President to talk on Govt policy

PRESIDENT George Maxwell Richards will open the Second Session of the Eighth Parliament today at 10 am at the seat of democracy, the Red House, Port-of-Spain.

It is the first ceremonial opening that President Richards will be addressing. The highlight of the event is expected to be his statement to the Parliament in which he will enunciate Government’s policy. Senate president, Linda Baboolal, who at last year’s opening, gave the “throne” speech, because then President Arthur N R Robinson was ill, will be missing this ceremonial opening. Baboolal, along with Independent Senator Ramesh Deosaran, left last weekend for Canada on a week-long attachment to the Canadian Parliament where they will be studying the operations of that Parliamentary system. Today’s ceremony will begin when the Clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate simultaneously read the Presidential Proclamation. The Speaker of the House, Barry Sinanan will announce that the President desires to address Parliament. The Speaker will then suspend the sitting to meet and escort His Excellency to the Parliament Chamber. At this stage the sitting of both Houses will be suspended and Senators will enter the Parliament Chamber.

The President, meanwhile, will inspect the Guard of Honour during a military parade on the grounds facing Woodfood Square. The President accompanied by the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President of the Senate (Rawle Titus) will enter the Chamber and proceed to the Dais. During the procession to the Chamber a fanfare will be sounded and the National Anthem played. In the Chamber there will be the judges, who will have formed a procession from the Hall of Justice; diplomatics, MPs and their wives and other specially invited guests — all of whom will be waiting to hear the President’s address. Members of the Christian, Hindu, Muslim and Orisha faiths will say prayers before the President is invited to address the Parliament. The President will then leave the Chamber accompanied by the Speaker of the House and the Vice-President of the Senate. Members of the Senate will leave the Chamber after this.