Silver plated Coat-of-Arms

THE EDITOR: I was most surprised last Friday on entering the forecourt of Parliament and to witness Prime Minister Patrick Manning arriving in his official car bearing not the usual PM 1 number plate, but a silver plated Coat-of-Arms. As far as I can recall, the Coat-of-Arms number plate is reserved for the Head of State, who is the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. It replaces the crown when we were a colonial outpost. In fac, the President’s fleet of vehicles all carry a bronze-plated Coat-of-Arms. I thought for a moment that Mr Manning had borrowed the President’s car for the day or that he was signalling his intention of accepting Mr Basdeo Panda’s suggestion of an Executive Presidency in the context of Constitutional reform.

Now we can fully understand why Mr Manning is so obsessed with converting the Red House into the Prime Minister’s Office. I remember as well, that during the reception following the 2004/2005 opening of Parliament in the Rotunda of the Red House the then Sargeant-at-Arms had to bellow above the din, to announce the arrival of Mr Manning and his wife, Hazel. It went something like this, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago the Honourable Patrick Manning and Mrs Manning.” So it is a silver-plated Coat-of-Arms for Mr Manning’s car, a bronze-plated one for President Richards. Silver for Manning, bronze for President Richards.

HARRY PARTAP
MP-Nariva