Mandela happy to be in TT

TIME STOOD STILL at Piarco International Airport and in Trinidad and Tobago last night as former South African president Nelson Mandela set foot on local soil at 10.06 pm and expressed his pleasure to be in the twin-island republic. All the confusion over the last several days between Government and CONCACAF about the protocols governing his visit, vanished as the 86-year-old Mandela was greeted at the foot of his plane by Prime Minister Patrick Manning and CONCACAF president, Jack Warner.

From as early as 8.30 pm, there was a flurry of activity at  Piarco Airport as members of the TT Regiment hastily laid out the red carpet and secured a section of the tarmac for the arrival of Mandela’s jet. In fact, the entire airport was ringed with a heavy army and police presence. There were three Emergency Medical Services ambulances on stand by. Meanwhile inside the airport,   Government Ministers and other VIPs such as Chief Justice Sat Sharma, House Speaker Barry Sinanan and Senate President, Dr Linda Baboolal, started to arrive one by one.

Members of the public, crammed the Pizza Boys restaurant on the upper concourse, hoping to catch a glimpse of the revered freedom fighter and watch the ongoing preparations as the TT Regiment band and guard of honour made their final preparations. The Prime Minister and his wife, Education Minister Hazel Manning, arrived at Piarco at 9.18 pm, fresh from an official  reception at President’s House where former South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu was the guest of  honour. Mandela’s late arrival prevented him from attending that reception.

The suspense appeared to be over as the Lear jet landed at 9.30 pm and taxied towards the main terminal. However, it was the jet bearing FIFA president Sepp Blatter who was quickly escorted by Warner towards the terminal. “I am happy to be back in Port-of-Spain. To TT and especially to my good friend and colleague Jack Warner. I am looking forward to the visit here, and to the (CONCACAF) Congress in Grenada the next day (on Saturday),” Blatter said to the reporters who swarmed around him.

Asked what were South Africa’s chances of winning the bid for the 2010 World Cup, Warner (who is also FIFA vice-president) leapt to Blatter’s defence. “Always a hard question from you,” he told reporters. The primary reason for Mandela’s visit to the Caribbean is to convince CONCACAF to support South Africa as the site for the 2010 World Cup. Blatter’s entourage had just vanished into the airport when the Prime Minister, flanked by several Government Ministers emerged on the tarmac, hinting that something was about to happen. At 9.50 pm, a private jet bearing the insignia of the South African government approached the terminal building, spurring police and soldiers into action as they secured the immediate area around the plane. 

Finally at 10.06 pm, a happy-looking Nelson Mandela slowly alighted from the plane to be greeted by Manning and Warner.  With a broad smile which illuminated his face, the former South African freedom fighter told both men that he was happy to be in TT. He then proceeded to greet TT Defence Force Chief of Staff, Brigadier Ancil Antoine and other top military brass and inspect the guard of honour arranged for him.  Mandela was then introduced to Sharma, Baboolal, Sinanan, 12 Government Ministers and members of the diplomatic corps who turned out to greet him.

The Prime Minister remained glued to Mandela’s side as police officers and soldiers struggled at times to keep a buffer zone between the two men and the media. Manning was observed frequently whispering in Mandela’s ear as the proceedings went on. After exchanging pleasantries for a few more minutes, Mandela and Manning were ushered into a private car — an Audi — which sped off towards the Hilton Trinidad, which will be home to the former South African president for the next 24 hours.  The common question asked by ordinary citizens to reporters as they departed the main terminal was: “Did you see him?”