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TT builds on British heritage

Posted by CaribShout on November 28, 2009 at 10:43pm
TRINIDAD and Tobago has built solidly on “the British heritage that history has bequeathed to us,” President George Maxwell Richards said on Thursday evening as he hosted a banquet in honour of Queen Elizabeth II. “Out of that heritage there has developed a people who have been able to make and who continue to make significant contributions worldwide, in many different fields in several countries,” Richards said in a speech delivered at President’s House, St Ann’s. The gala banquet saw Prime Minister Patrick Manning, members of Cabinet and the Opposition as well as other dignitaries attend, dining under white tents set up outside of President’s House. All enjoyed dinner on gold-plated fine bone china, with tables adorned with orange and yellow chrysanthemums and set with Arthur Price silver cutlery and crystal. On the menu was a Caribbean leaf salad, poached red snapper filet, “Twin Island Spiced Slice of Chicken Breast” and a banana mille-feuille with a “passion” sauce. Renowed tenor Eddie Cumberbatch, of the Lydians, also performed for the guests. “As Your Majesty is no doubt aware, over many years, beginning in the 1940s, a large number of the migrant population from Trinidad and Tobago made their way to the United Kingdom, some for academic enhancement, some to seek a better life, as they perceived it,” Richards said. “Today, the diaspora remains very substantial, particularly in England and is part of the second and third generation British, as popularly described. This has reinforced our connection, at the level of ordinary people, who, having maintained their links with their mother country, Trinidad and Tobago, are, to a certain extent, the face of Trinidad and Tobago in Britain.” “Not least, by way of culture, our country remains well-known in the United Kingdom and your country has provided opportunity for many of our men and women in sport to hone their skills.” “In football, for example, a number of them have excelled there, enabling their respective clubs to advance. We recall, also, our glory days, as part of the West Indies cricket team, which proved that the student can be as good as the master and ignited the crowds at Lord’s,” Richards said. “We are not minded to dwell on present fortunes, and we are determined to rise again. Our strong people interface has enhanced our relationship, tremendously.”
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Tags: caribbean, caribshout, tobago, trinidad

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