1,000 guests for Max inauguration

MORE THAN 1,000 guests have been invited for the inauguration of the new President on Monday March 17, at President’s House. The possibility exists that several Heads of State around the Caribbean will be coming to witness the gala ceremony scheduled to begin at 5 pm on the eastern grounds of the premises. Everything is in place to take them from Piarco Airport to President’s House, Napier Pillai, executive assistant to the President confirmed.

Professor Max Richards, former UWI Principal, will take over as President of the Republic from Arthur NR Robinson. With nine days to go, preparation has begun. The stage where the actual swearing in ceremony will be held, was under construction yesterday. Members of the Regiment were on site marking off the area where the Regiment band will be staging the military parade to mark the occasion. While plans have been put in place to facilitate the media, no improvements have been made since the last inauguration in 1997 when Robinson was sworn in. Television cameras and newspaper photographers have been placed on the most distant end of the grounds, making it almost impossible to capture the actual ceremony. At a media briefing yesterday, Captain Cheryl Richardson, who is in charge of preparations, warned media personnel about moving onto the area where the Regiment band and guests will be assembled.

Another stage has been earmarked for the media, but yesterday media representatives expressed dissatisfaction with the location. That area makes it impossible for the photographers to capture the swearing in. Another hiccup in the proceedings seems to be accreditation for the media. The Govern-ment Information Service sent out application forms before Carnival asking media persons, covering the inauguration, to submit two photographs for accreditation. But yesterday, Capt Richardson said otherwise. On arrival at President’s House on March 17, media representatives will be given a pass (without a photograph) to gain access to the ceremony. So as of yesterday, it is not clear which pass the media will use. There are several ceremonies to mark the occasion. At 10 am on Saturday March 15, the Minister of Public Utilities will host a reception at Crowne Plaza where new stamps will be unveiled to the public.

The stamps will feature the inauguration of the International Cri-minal Court (ICC) of which Robinson played a leading role in its establishment. Robin-son left last night for the Hague, Holland to attend the inauguration of the ICC on March 11. Trinidad and To-bago’s nominee Karl Hudson-Phillips QC is one of the 18 judges of the ICC. Robinson will feature on the stamps with the President of Italy at the signing of the Statute of Rome in 2002. President Robinson will be given a grand military send off at 3.30 pm on March 15. Uniformed personnel will line the Queen’s Park Savannah as Robinson is led away, marking the end of his six-year term as Head of State. The following day, the President-elect will host a reception at President’s House at 6.30 pm. President Robinson has already begun his move to his private residence at Ellerslie Park, St Clair. Newsday learned that stuff belonging to the Robinsons have already been removed from President’s House as the couple prepare for private life once again.