Remembering the Robinsons...and welcoming the Richards
Dublin Core
Title
Remembering the Robinsons...and welcoming the Richards
Subject
Presidents
Presidents' spouses
Description
Article about Arthur N Robinson and Professor Emeritus George Maxwell Richards.
Creator
Angela Pidduck
Publisher
Daily News Limited
Date
2014-03-23
Format
PDF
600dpi
Language
English
Type
Text
Image
Still image
Coverage
Trinidad and Tobago
Text Item Type Metadata
Text
BK ANGELA PlDDUCK
LIKE quite a few of my colleagues, I have had the historic pleasure of being involved with the Republic’s first President, Sir Ellis Clarke, through Justice Noor Hassanali, to Arthur N Robinson and now the fourth, Professor Emeritus George Maxwell Richards.
Last Sunday morning’s invitation to then President Robinson’s presentations to beneficiaries of the 2002 Republic Ball would have been my farewell to the Robinsons.
The Republic Charity Ball is organised by The Multi-cultural Club, which was formed after Their Excellencies, President and Mrs Robinson had attended the Caricom Governor Generals and Presidents' meeting in Barbados in 1999.
Her Excellency was invited, along with the other First Ladies, to tea with Lady Clifford Husbands. There the First Ladies were introduced to The Multi-National Women’s Group, formed along the lines of similar groups in the Commonwealth, to organise one major annual fundraiser on the premises of the First House. Last year’s was the Multicultural Club’s second Ball in this country.
The money raised is used to purchase goods and/or services on behalf of the recipients who are required to submit a report to the Club after use of the donations. A priority in handling of The Multi-cultural Club’s money is transparency. Accounts must be audited on an annual basis and receipts and expenditure from the Ball must be published for the benefit of all volunteers, sup-porters and beneficiaries. Sunday Newsday has assisted with publication from its inception. Kathleen Boswell Inniss, a member of the Board of Directors of the Muti-Cultural Club, was presenter for the very short ceremony; Mariev Wade, wife of the High Commissioner for Canada, also a member of the Board, moved the vote of thanks.
Representatives of the six recipient organisations thanked the Club and took the opportunity to bid farewell to the Robinsons. They were Maureen Ashby for the Coterie, Gwen Grannum for Friends of PoS General Hospital, Michael Arneaud for the Trinidad and Tobago Legion, George De Pena for the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Hubert Dolsingh for the Blind Welfare Association and Sandra Pyke-Anthony for the Young Men‘s Christian Association.
Anne Margaret Robinson, who has acted for her mother on the Board of Directors, expressed deepest appreciation and gratitude to her father for always having had the good of the country at heart.
It was her intention to propose that her father’s reflections of what he had learned through the presidency be shared with the wider population at some stage in the future. The Club presented this young, single mother, who has valiantly stood by her parents throughout their six-year term in office, with a beautiful plaque in appreciation for her help on what was the last day of service with her parents.
Not even the hot and dusty afternoon could detract from the excitement of the Inauguration of the 4th President of our Republic on the grounds of the President’s House at St Ann’s.
Not even the fact that the greater number of guests seated under large tents at the northern end of the ground were unable to see the special guests on the podium at the western end of the ground dampened the spirit of expectancy of a historic moment.
It was indeed a great moment in the life of the President’s House. George Maxwell Richards, Professor Emeritus in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering, UWI, took the oath of office in a strong and clear voice under the watchful eyes of Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma.
The new President’s inspection of the Guard of Honour accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Aide-de-Camp and the Guard Commander, was followed by inter-religious prayers by Bishop Calvin Bess of the Anglican Church, Reverend Carlyle Thorne of the Evangelical Churches, Acharya Karmananda, Spiritual Leader of the Divine Life Society, and Brother Noble Khan of the Muslim Community.
The President’s Inaugural Speech, which has already been reported more than once, covered a wide range of topics.
And if there was ever any doubt about his love of calypso, his many quotes from people like David Rudder and the late Andre Tanker would have convinced the strongest sceptics.
Dr Jean Richards, accompanied her husband wearing a Monika Bishop creation of varying shades of blue.
A tunic top of pale blue chantilly lace fitted over a shaded blue chiffon (from periwinkle to royal blue) long dress. And while the back of the skirt was slim, two swirling panels at the front showed to full advantage the many shades of chiffon.
Pewter silk shoes and handbag to match; white gold jewellery with pendant and earrings of the same colour tone as the dress were the accessories chosen by the First Lady.
At the end of the formal ceremony, while guests enjoyed a relaxed Trini-to-the-bone reception, President Richards showed the path which he intends to follow during his term of office, informally standing in the open grounds, warmly welcoming and chatting with his guests who had already been each presented with an attractive wooden paper knife Inauguration souvenir created by Signature 2000 of The Signature Collection Limited.
LIKE quite a few of my colleagues, I have had the historic pleasure of being involved with the Republic’s first President, Sir Ellis Clarke, through Justice Noor Hassanali, to Arthur N Robinson and now the fourth, Professor Emeritus George Maxwell Richards.
Last Sunday morning’s invitation to then President Robinson’s presentations to beneficiaries of the 2002 Republic Ball would have been my farewell to the Robinsons.
The Republic Charity Ball is organised by The Multi-cultural Club, which was formed after Their Excellencies, President and Mrs Robinson had attended the Caricom Governor Generals and Presidents' meeting in Barbados in 1999.
Her Excellency was invited, along with the other First Ladies, to tea with Lady Clifford Husbands. There the First Ladies were introduced to The Multi-National Women’s Group, formed along the lines of similar groups in the Commonwealth, to organise one major annual fundraiser on the premises of the First House. Last year’s was the Multicultural Club’s second Ball in this country.
The money raised is used to purchase goods and/or services on behalf of the recipients who are required to submit a report to the Club after use of the donations. A priority in handling of The Multi-cultural Club’s money is transparency. Accounts must be audited on an annual basis and receipts and expenditure from the Ball must be published for the benefit of all volunteers, sup-porters and beneficiaries. Sunday Newsday has assisted with publication from its inception. Kathleen Boswell Inniss, a member of the Board of Directors of the Muti-Cultural Club, was presenter for the very short ceremony; Mariev Wade, wife of the High Commissioner for Canada, also a member of the Board, moved the vote of thanks.
Representatives of the six recipient organisations thanked the Club and took the opportunity to bid farewell to the Robinsons. They were Maureen Ashby for the Coterie, Gwen Grannum for Friends of PoS General Hospital, Michael Arneaud for the Trinidad and Tobago Legion, George De Pena for the National Centre for Persons with Disabilities, Hubert Dolsingh for the Blind Welfare Association and Sandra Pyke-Anthony for the Young Men‘s Christian Association.
Anne Margaret Robinson, who has acted for her mother on the Board of Directors, expressed deepest appreciation and gratitude to her father for always having had the good of the country at heart.
It was her intention to propose that her father’s reflections of what he had learned through the presidency be shared with the wider population at some stage in the future. The Club presented this young, single mother, who has valiantly stood by her parents throughout their six-year term in office, with a beautiful plaque in appreciation for her help on what was the last day of service with her parents.
Not even the hot and dusty afternoon could detract from the excitement of the Inauguration of the 4th President of our Republic on the grounds of the President’s House at St Ann’s.
Not even the fact that the greater number of guests seated under large tents at the northern end of the ground were unable to see the special guests on the podium at the western end of the ground dampened the spirit of expectancy of a historic moment.
It was indeed a great moment in the life of the President’s House. George Maxwell Richards, Professor Emeritus in Chemical Engineering at the Department of Chemical Engineering, UWI, took the oath of office in a strong and clear voice under the watchful eyes of Chief Justice Satnarine Sharma.
The new President’s inspection of the Guard of Honour accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Aide-de-Camp and the Guard Commander, was followed by inter-religious prayers by Bishop Calvin Bess of the Anglican Church, Reverend Carlyle Thorne of the Evangelical Churches, Acharya Karmananda, Spiritual Leader of the Divine Life Society, and Brother Noble Khan of the Muslim Community.
The President’s Inaugural Speech, which has already been reported more than once, covered a wide range of topics.
And if there was ever any doubt about his love of calypso, his many quotes from people like David Rudder and the late Andre Tanker would have convinced the strongest sceptics.
Dr Jean Richards, accompanied her husband wearing a Monika Bishop creation of varying shades of blue.
A tunic top of pale blue chantilly lace fitted over a shaded blue chiffon (from periwinkle to royal blue) long dress. And while the back of the skirt was slim, two swirling panels at the front showed to full advantage the many shades of chiffon.
Pewter silk shoes and handbag to match; white gold jewellery with pendant and earrings of the same colour tone as the dress were the accessories chosen by the First Lady.
At the end of the formal ceremony, while guests enjoyed a relaxed Trini-to-the-bone reception, President Richards showed the path which he intends to follow during his term of office, informally standing in the open grounds, warmly welcoming and chatting with his guests who had already been each presented with an attractive wooden paper knife Inauguration souvenir created by Signature 2000 of The Signature Collection Limited.
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Citation
Angela Pidduck, “Remembering the Robinsons...and welcoming the Richards,” Angela Pidduck's Writings, accessed May 18, 2024, https://angelapidduck.omeka.net/items/show/3.