USA celebrates July 4 in Chaguaramas

Seeing the numbers of people pouring into the Convention Centre and the security on hand the fanciful might have thought the US had come to take back Chaguaramas, especially as the car parks on both sides of the road were near-capacity by 6 30 pm.

Guests toiled up two flights of stairs cheered on by various members of the Embassy and US citizens shaking hands and wishing them a happy Independence Day. Having reached the top of the stairs they then checked in with a bevy of beauties consulting lists and ticking off names before urging guests to proceed to the reception proper where waiters were ready to refresh them with drinks and nibbles.

As the evening wore on more and more people flowed into the reception room, the noise level rose to such a pitch that a regular e-mail mate of mine (the latest version of a pen-pal) who was also at that reception sent me the following message the next morning: “What a bash! Very noisy though, but fortunately, the long speeches were inaudible,” which, to my mind, was fair comment.

Before the formal proceedings the Samaroo Jets Steel Orchestra entertained with selections from Broadway and other shows. Then came the presentation of the Flags, the National Anthems of TT and the USA, the speeches and the toasts.

These were followed by an entertainment in song and verse by the pupils of Guiaco Presbyterian School competing, somewhat unsuccessfully, with the chatter of guests — which was a pity and somewhat discourteous to these young people who had travelled so far and practised so hard for this occasion. The programme noted that for the rest of the evening the Samaroo Jets would entertain guests, Newsday left them to it for the peace and quiet of the balmy tropical night and dinner beside the sea in Chaguaramas.