Govt apologises for neglecting President

He was speaking to Newsday yesterday after having fallen on the steps on the ampitheatre at Wednesday evening’s opening of the National Library Complex on Abercromby Street, Port-of-Spain.

Asked how he was feeling President Richards replied: "Very, very well. There was no damage whatsoever. I merely slipped. Absolutely no damage was done. I am completely fit and none the worse for missing the steps. As you may have noticed, the step was very tall. It was just a normal slip".

President Richards said he preferred to focus on lauding the evening’s events to launch the library. He said: "I was most impressed with the programme and the way it was conducted. I was very happy to be there, and I am hoping to pay a visit to see the entire facility in the not-too-distant future.

A Government source told Newsday that its protocol officers had contacted President Richards to apologize for having breached protocol by the early exit of Prime Minister Patrick Manning and Cabinet Ministers which had left the President unattended, just before his mishap.