| Related Links: | Articles on Trinidad |
| Letters Menu | Archival Menu |
The 77-year-old Robinson, an old veteran politician who became the choice of former Prime Minister Basdeo Panday as President for a five-year term that should have ended in March last year, remained in office for a further year with the consent of new Prime Minister Patrick Manning, who had originally opposed his election as Head of State.
Today, the 71-year-old retired Principal of the University of the West Indies St. Augustine Campus, Max Richards, who was the governing People's National Movement's choice as new President, and opposed by Panday's United National Congress, is scheduled to be ceremonially sworn in as the country's fourth Head of State today at President House by the Chief Justice.
An open supporter of Prime Minister Manning's PNM, Richards had earlier been rejected in 2002 as Speaker of Parliament. But he has promised to be impartial and encourage harmony during his five-year term as President.
In between Robinson's assuming the presidency in 1997 and the succession, by elections, of Panday, now Opposition Leader, by Manning as Prime Minister, the outgoing Head of State and his former ally, Panday, were to engage in open verbal warfare.
In the process the presidency, the highest office in the country, became most highly politicised since Trinidad and Tobago attained republican status in 1976.
President Robinson, speaking at the weekend following a ceremonial inspection of a Guard of Honour mounted by the Trinidad and Tobago Regiment, said he was leaving office with a "tinge of sorrow" but also with "pride".
Declaring that the country was facing "a bright future", Robinson said to the people of Trinidad and Tobago: "I leave you boldly in office but I do not leave you in spirit. My spirit will always be with you and I hope, will encourage you and inspire you..."
In recognition of his role in helping the establishment of the International Criminal Court and the official inauguration of the court last Tuesday, the government released on Saturday three postage stamps to mark Robinson's contribution for the ICC.
The stamps issued variously show: Robinson with United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan (TT$1); another with him and other international figures who were instrumental in the ICC's creation (TT$2.50 stamp); and the third stamp, worth TT$.75 with the ex-President and Phillippe Kirsch, current President of the ICC.