Memorial unveiled in Dr Williams’ honour

Reginald Vidale, Chairman of the Committee, said that he wrote a letter to Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, asking for Republic Day to be renamed “Dr Eric Williams Republic Day” but he has not yet received a response.

“You see that is the kind of respect that those who should know better give to the legacy of the Father of the Nation, my nation, your nation, Trinidad and Tobago,” said Vidale.

Vidale, who also pronounced San Fernando to now be the capital of Trinidad and Tobago, asked the audience to “Look around again and tell me who you see.” Sitting in the audience was Deputy Political Leader of the PNM, Joan Yuille Williams, Deputy Mayor Junia Regrello, former Education Minister, Marilyn Gordon, former MP, Jennifer Johnson, and other members of the City Corporation’s council. Regrello, after welcoming the obelisk’s building, gently rebutted Vidale’s claim by noting Joan Yuille Williams’ presence.

“Our political leader is engaged in matters of state that are very critical at this time and our Deputy Leader Ms Joan Yuille Williams is representing the Political Leader and Prime Minister at this time.” Regrello, referencing Vidale’s anger at not being responded to by the Prime Minister, said “it is not that your recommendation is not being considered, it is just that these things take time. We must just learn to have a little patience as these things do take time and consultation.” Regrello ended his speech with what he called one of Dr Eric Williams’ favourite Biblical quote.

“How blessed it is for men to dwell together in unity.” The obelisk, unveiled on what would have been Dr Eric Williams’ 105th birthday, is the latest work of the Dr Eric Williams Memorial Committee which has been advocating for the introduction of symbols to remember the “Father of the Nation” for the past 34 years. According to Vidale, permission was granted for the construction of the obelisk by former San Fernando Mayor, Dr Navi Muradali in 2013 after “the shortest meeting in the history of the Council” jumped at the opportunity to have it done. It stands on Harris Promenade, the latest statue to grace “Heroes Row”, as Vidale called it, which includes statues of Marcus Garvey, Mahatma Ghandi, and Simon Bolivar.

Sponsored by Chief Executive Officer of the Belgrove Group of Companies, Keith Belgrove, the obelisk is clad in black tile and reinforced concrete, its foundation is 20 feet into the earth and it stands on a base of four feet before shooting another 13 feet upward.

According to Belgrove, the structure was engineered by Cion Archibald, constructured by Peter Phillip, and its granite engraving was designed and done by Anthony Dickson, one of his own employees.

Belgrove spoke about the symbolism of the obelisk.

“An obelisk symbolises the dispersement of negativity, and we find that in our move from a colony to a nation. An obelisk reaching to the sky to God represents power - to march from Chaguaramas, winning independence, what more shall we say about power? The obelisk also represents harmony in the way it was constructed. How else can we describe harmony except every creed and race find an equal place?” Belgrove shared his hopes to one day change the obelisk from concrete to “solid granite.”