Police Mounted Branch
TriniView.com Reporters
Recorded: August 31, 2007
Posted: September 05, 2007
The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago celebrated its 45th Anniversary of Independence with its annual Independence Day parade at the Queen's Park Savannah. Trinidad and Tobago gained its independence from Great Britain on August 31st 1962; the Union Jack (British flag) was lowered and the Trinidad and Tobago flag was raised for the first time.
This year's Independence Day commemoration started in the northern area of the Savannah as thousands of spectators, many of whom were dressed in national colours, gathered for the parade opening which started at 7:30 a.m. on what turned out to be a bright sunny morning.
T&T Coast Guard
The parade kicked off with the march of the armed contingent which featured detachments from the T&T Regiment, T&T Coast Guard, T&T Air Guard, T&T Defense Force Reserves, T&T Police Service and the T&T Cadet Force, led by the band and corps of drums of the T&T Regiment and the T&T Prison Service Band. The neatly dressed officers in disciplined formations led by the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, George Maxwell Richards, paraded in front of the crowds gathered.
They were followed by the unarmed contingent that consisted of the T&T Fire Service, T&T Prison Service, Special Reserve Police, St. John's Ambulance Brigade, Municipal Police Service and the T&T Red Cross Society. Ambulances, army jeeps and horses were also part of the display, but it was the aerial display by the Air Guard that most fascinated the spectators. There were several low flying aircraft including two Eurocopters, which hovered close to the ground and then ascended in spinning fashion drawing applause from the spectators. Missing from the aerial display was the infamous Skyship, commonly referred to as the Blimp, which was said to be undergoing repairs.
President George Maxwell Richards
Present at the ceremony were the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, George Maxwell Richards, his wife Dr. Jean Ramjohn-Richards, Prime Minister Patrick Manning, Mrs. Hazel Manning, Acting Chief Justice Wendell Kangaloo, Senator Martin Joseph, Minister of National Security, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Arnold Piggott and Winston Dookeran, C.O.P. political leader.
From the Queen's Park Savannah the parade route led to the King George IV Park where it ended. Later on that day were the annual fireworks display at Queen's Park Savannah and the National Awards Ceremony at the Prime Minister's residence.
Independence Day Parade and Awards 2007 in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=206539
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