Faintings at Independence parade

PARAMEDICS were kept busy yesterday morning, as at least seven young members of the protective services participating in the 41st Independence Parade at the Queen’s Park Savannah, had to be escorted off the parade ground. One of them, a female soldier, dropped to the hot pitch before she could be escorted off. She was taken away by stretcher. The faintings comes a week after a similar situation at the anniversary celebrations of the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) at Teteron Barracks, where four soldiers fainted. The humid conditions are believed to be the reason for the faintings. However other persons question  the frequency with which it is occurring.  One concerned person told Newsday that soldiers are supposed to be fit and be able to stand up to all types of conditions and insisted there had to be another reason for the faintings which should be investigated.

However, Public Affairs Officer of the TTDF, Capt Cheryl Richardson, told Newsday, “it wasn’t a case of the soldiers being unfit but “ it appears as though they want to do everything correct by standing straight and stiff and they probably need to learn relaxation techniques.” The faintings which caused murmurs among the large number of spectators at the Grand Stand, prompted one woman to blame “the kind of food they feeding them.” However, besides the faintings, the parade as usual showed off the discipline and pride of the various detachments whose members shone in their ceremonial uniforms. This year’s parade was the first for President George Maxwell Richards who was warmly applauded on his arrival at the Savannah at 8 am.

He was preceeded by his wife Dr Jean Richards and daughter Maxine; Prime Minister Patrick Manning and wife Hazel; Chief Justice Sat Sharma who received the nation’s highest award the Trinity Cross last evening and his wife and Minister of National Security Howard Chin Lee. No members of the Opposition UNC attended. Commander Garnet Best of the Coast Guard was in charge of this year’s parade, usually a job held by  Chief of Defence Staff, Brigadier Ancil Antoine. Brigadier Antoine instead escorted the President with another Defence Force member on horseback. The President arrived on an open tray army jeep, to which a tent was attached. He was first invited to inspect the parade by Commander Best before taking the salute as each detachment of the various units marched past. Spectators in their hundreds, demonstrated their patriotism as they dressed in mostly red, white and black. While they showed their appreciation for all the units, the applause was notably louder for the Canine section of the Police Service, the fly-by of the aircraft and helicopters and the members of the Fire Services. A 21-gun salute was given prior to the 9 am departure of His Excellency. The marching bands playing calypsos led the parade off the Parade Ground down Frederick Street, through Park Street and then Tragarete Road to the St James Barracks where it was dismissed.