Low-flying blimp causes stir at parade
THE MINISTRY of National Security’s blimp stole the show yesterday during the 43rd anniversary Independence Day parade at the Queen’s Park Savannah. The aircraft flew very low over the parade, allowing the public an up close and personal view. Despite the sweltering heat, hundreds of onlookers converged on the Savannah for the event, many of them wearing their national colours and using umbrellas to beat the heat. The blimp hovered high above the Savannah from around 7.30 am. It accompanied the TT Defence Force contingent during the parade, descending close to the ground during the display of mechanical units and drawing thunderous applause from the crowd. The blimp then took off into the sky and continued to hover above the parade venue. Other National Security units to cause a stir were three aircraft from the TT Defence Force, two helicopters from the Special Anti-Crime Unit (SAUTT) and three National Security helicopters. Government Ministers began arriving at around 7.50 am, starting with National Security Minister Martin Joseph and his wife. Shortly after was the arrival of Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma and his wife and Prime Minister Patrick Manning and his wife, Education Minister Hazel Manning. Manning shook hands with the CJ upon his arrival and was also greeted by Minister Joseph. The President’s wife, Dr Jean Ramjohn-Richards was greeted by dignitaries when she arrived just before President George Maxwell Richards, who was accompanied by his Mounted Escort and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine. Richards then proceeded with the traditional inspection of the parade, moving along the front rank of each detachment. Represented at the parade were contingents from the TT Regiment, the TT Coast Guard, the TT Volunteer Defence Force, the TT Police Service, the TT Cadet Force, the TT Police K9 Detachment, the TT Fire Service, the TT Prison Service, the TT SRPs, the TT Municipal Police Service, the St John Ambulance Brigade, the TT Red Cross Society and the National Safety Brigade and all their mechanical units. The parade moved out of the Savannah at 9.15 am, with the various detachments continuing the march through the streets of Port-of-Spain to King George V Park where they were later dismissed.
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"Low-flying blimp causes stir at parade"