New President takes oath today

PREPARATIONS have been completed and the stage, draped in the national colours, is set for this evening’s swearing in of Trinidad and Tobago’s fourth President, Professor Max Richards. He replaces President Arthur NR Robinson who served for six years.

Professor Richards will be sworn in at 5 pm on the south lawn of President’s House by Chief Justice Sat Sharma. He will deliver the only speech at the ceremony and will receive a 21-gun salute. Over the last week, members of the Defence Force and staff at President’s House have been finalising the format for this evening’s lavish affair to which at least 1,000 guests have been invited. The gala event is expected to get underway promptly at 4.30 pm and is not expected to last more than an hour. Traffic around the Queen’s Park Savannah, from St Clair roundabout to St Ann’s roundabout will be restricted from at least an hour before the ceremony.  ACP (North) Celestine Richards assured Newsday that there would be adequate security for the occasion with officers from all nine police divisions and army personnel included in a massive security detail.

Invited guests are expected to be seated by 4.15 pm. Among the distinguished gathering will be former Presidents Sir Ellis Clarke and Noor Hassanali, members of the diplomatic corps, former Chief Justices, Caricom Secretary General Edwin Carrington, Members of Parliament, Permanent Secretaries, heads of Government services, UWI Vice Chancellor Rex Nettleford and Principal of the St Augustine campus, Bhoe Tewarie. All government MPs are expected to attend. Some Opposition UNC MPs have confirmed their attendance, while others say their presence will depend on their schedule. Opposition Leader Basdeo Panday will not attend because he is due to return home from London this evening at about the time of the function.

Outgoing President Robinson will make his entrance just before 4.30 pm to be followed by his successor President Richards. A fanfare will be sounded. The oath will then be administered to Richards by CJ Sharma at 5 pm. Congratulations are to be offered to the new President by his predecessor, Robinson, Prime Minister Patrick Manning and CJ Sharma. The Presidential colours will be displayed and Chief of Defence Staff Brigadier Ancil Antoine will invite President Richards, the new Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to inspect the troops comprising two detachments of the Defence Force. Prayers will be offered by various religious leaders after which Richards will deliver his inaugural address.

The National Anthem is to be played and a 21-gun salute will be given to the new President welcoming him to office. The troops will then march off and President Richards and new First Lady Jean Richards, accompanied by their aide-de-camp Lt Commander Hyram Mohammed, will go into President’s House. A reception will follow.