Carnival flavour welcomes Richards to President’s Office

THE REGIMENT BAND gave the new President a true Trini welcome yesterday at the inauguration ceremony at President’s House. George Maxwell Richards, well-known as a mas player and fete organiser, entered a new phase of his life when he was sworn in by Chief Justice Sat Sharma as the country’s fourth President.

It did not take the 1,000-odd guests long to realise that Richards was being given a true Trini Carnival welcome from the Regiment Band. The first and last tune played during the ceremony was Scrunter’s “Jumbie”. And as if that was not enough, the band stood in front of the rostrum with 200 guests and played Machel Montano/Drupatee’s “Real Unity”. And the tune which blends well for the new President, David Rudder’s “Trini to the Bone” was played, bringing smiles and chuckles from the guests.

A lot of planning went into the ceremony, and although security officials said there were minor hitches during the inauguration, to the naked eye, there was none. Security was tight in an out of the President’s House. Nothing was left to chance as everyone had to pass through a metal detector and was subjected to searches by Special Branch officers. A wide cross-section of the community turned up for the ceremony. The diplomatic corps was well represented, including American Ambassador Dr Roy Austin and British High Commissioner Peter Harbonne, whose thoughts may have been on the impending war with Iraq.

Former President Sir Ellis Clarke was there, but his successor Noor Hassanali and his wife Zalayhar were not. Former Chief Justices Cecil Kelsick and Michael de la Bastide turned up, with another ex-CJ Clinton Bernard missing the show. Former Presidents of the Senate Dr Wahid Ali, Emmanuel Carter, and Ganace Ramdial attended, so too did ex-House Speakers Nizam Mohammed, Hector Mc Clean and Dr Rupert Griffith. The Government was well represented although National Security Minister Howard Chin Lee was notably absent.

Members of the UNC Opposition who had voted against Richards’s appointment turned up including chairman Wade Mark, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, Adesh Nanan, Dr Fuad Khan, Winston Dookeran, and Gerry Yetming. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday was said to be landing at Piarco from London at the time of the swearing-in. He had accompanied his wife Oma for medical attention.

The stage, which took on an Arabian appearance, was draped in the national colours. This stage mounted adjacent to the residence, accommodated 200 persons. Three large tents were set up on the northern end of the ground to hold the other 800 persons, who entered from the President’s Grounds area. Following the arrival of the Chief Justice and the Prime Minister, Mr Patrick Manning and Mrs Manning there was an air of anticipation for the new President. At 4.54 pm, Professor Richards accompanied by five police outriders and his full complement of police officers, drove into the official entrance of President’s House.

All eyes turned as Richards and his wife Dr Jean alighted from a brand new Mercedes Benz, an addition to the Presidential fleet. Then followed their children Mark and Maxine in another vehicle. At exactly 5 pm, Richards was invited by the Speaker of the House of Representatives Barry Sinanan to take the oath. With the Chief Justice at his side, Richards read the oath: “I, George Maxwell Richards, do swear by almighty God that I will bear true faith and allegiance to Trinidad and Tobago and to the best of my ability preserve and defend the Constitution and the law, that I will conscientiously and impartially discharge the functions of President and will devote myself to the service and well being of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.”

He was immediately congratulated by his predecessor, President Robinson, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. After prayers from four members of the religious community, President Richards was treated to a display by the Regiment Band. As a special tribute, Private Tessa Richardson of the Regiment sang  Psalm 121, earning her sustained applause at the end of the rendition. President Richards then gave his inaugural speech which left some of the guests applauding at various times. It was clear that this President will be vocal during his tenure in office.

Before departing the rostrum, President Richards was given a 21-gun salute. He then retired to his sitting room where he chatted with his predecessor, the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice. Then it was time, as Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, to greet the top military men - Commissioner of Police Hilton Guy, Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine, Commissioner of Prisons Leo Abraham, Chief Fire Officer Lennox Alfred, Colonel Peter Joseph, commanding officer of the Regiment, and Captain Garnet Best, commanding officer of the Coast Guard. Their Excellencies left the sitting room and mingled with guests on the lawn.