Restore President’s House

Government, rather than commit hundreds of millions of dollars of taxpayers’ money to construct a new Parliament building to replace the Red House as the seat of Parliament, merely to relocate the Office of the Prime Minister to the Red House, should instead move speedily to repair and renovate President’s House. In turn, the money required would be a mere fraction of the cost of a new building to house Parliament and the Prime Minister’s Office could remain where it is at Whitehall. It is nothing short of disgraceful that the present Head of State, President George Maxwell Richards, has not been able to occupy his official residence, situated in St Ann’s, since taking up office, because the century old imposing structure has been allowed to slowly deteriorate over the years. In its present condition it is uninhabitable, and President Richards’ use of it has been limited largely to an annexe constructed several years ago.

The President, who was discharged from the St Clair Medical Centre on Sunday, after having been admitted there last Thursday with an irregular heartbeat, has had to continue residing at his private residence in St Joseph and commute between there and his office on a daily basis. It would be a task daunting even for a man much younger that the President, who is in his early 70s. In addition, it should have been entirely unnecessary. Admittedly, he and his Police escort use the Priority Bus Route between St Joseph and Port-of-Spain. Clearly, however, the very act of commuting to his official residence cannot be regarded as satisfactory. Indeed, it may qualify for the Guinness Book of Records, as President Richards may very well be the only Head of State in the world, who has to commute several miles each day from his private residence to what should be his official residence. This has given rise to the unamusing situation in which someone invited by His Excellency to President’s House (in essence the annexe) may take a few minutes to get there, while his host may take approximately one hour!

Traditionally, the country’s Presidents have received visiting heads of state, ambassadors and high commissioners accredited to Trinidad and Tobago and other dignitaries at his official residence. It is a not dissimilar courtesy that would be extended to President Richards should he pay a visit to another country. Additionally, President Richards, as any of the three Presidents before him would have entertained not only dignitaries, visiting or otherwise, but service organisations, among others, at his official residence. Government, by its relative inaction, however, has placed the President in the somewhat awkward position of not being able to literally throw open the doors of President’s House as would have been the case in former years. A few months ago, for example, when President Richards hosted an official function for the legendary South African freedom fighter and former President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, tents had to be set up on the lawn of President’s House for the purpose.

Unfortunately, Mandela was unable to attend as his flight had been delayed. Despite the clear inconvenience to the Head of State, Government having already refurbished the Prime Minister’s residence at St Ann’s insists on mixing up its priorities and is planning to relocate the Prime Minister’s Office to the Red House. Whether, the revised plan is for the Office of the Prime Minister to occupy the whole of the Red House or part is immaterial. The Red House should remain as the seat of Parliament, and reserved for this and offices directly related to the business of Parliament. In turn, the interests of Trinidad and Tobago would be better served should the official residence of the President be restored with dispatch.