By Kimberly Ramkhalawan
March 21, 2023
Lucky Number seven, was how she herself, Her Excellency, Christine Kangaloo, described becoming the twin island Republic of Trinidad and Tobago’s newest head of state, its seventh in line and its second consecutive female to hold the office.
She takes over from her predecessor, Paula Mae-Weekes, a retired Justice of Appeal of the judiciaries of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and The Turks and Caicos Islands.
Kangaloo’s swearing- in ceremony took place at the Queen’s Park Savannah on Monday, which is located a stone’s throw from the President’s house. A state appointed residence, which its latest inhabitant is hoping to make more accessible to the public, especially the youth. These were just some of the remarks the newly installed head of state shared in her inaugural message to the nation.
Part of her agenda she intends to spearhead while in office, is the revise the current protocols which dictate traffic rules for the transporting and commuting of the head of state.
She leading the way, also gives rise to Trinidad and Tobago’s first husband, a title often given to wives of Male president office holders, as First lady. Her husband, Kerwyn Garcia, is also an attorney at law In introducing him by her side, she shared that it was her desire for him to work closely with her in the many projects she intended to spear head in demystifying the role of the President..
One such initiatives she hopes to see is the use of the President’s house for more public engagements aimed at uplifting the youth. Kangaloo shared “I would like to see the Bandstand put to regular use as a platform for new and emerging young artistes. I would like to see the main ballroom and the grounds of President’s House used to host displays such as art exhibitions by primary and secondary school students and I would like to see the public areas at President’s House opened up to facilitate endeavours such as book club meetings and programmes to introduce young people to music.”
Another she spoke of, was the introduction of a panyard model utilized all year round, which provided enrichment activities to community at-risk youth as something tailored as being an effective youth delinquency prevention programme, and not just utilized in the lead up the Carnival.
In her first act as the 7th President of Trinidad and Tobago, Her excellency received a Presidential Salute accompanied by the National Anthem and a Twenty-One Gun Salute.
The ceremony also saw norms broken included the breaking of the Presidential Standard was next, followed by the Presidential Salute, while the National Anthem was played simultaneously.
The event also saw Chief Ricardo Bharath Hernandez of the Santa Rosa First People and president of the Inter-Religious Organisation Pundit Mookram Sirjoo the conduct the invocation. With Kangaloo being a girl, from Trinidad’s southland, San Fernando, a musical interlude by the Southernaires Choir performing Melanie Hudson’s ‘I will always be there for you’, a tune with lyrics which was deemed most appropriate to her planned endeavours during her tenure.
The ceremony was widely attended by many dignitaries, including diplomats stationed in Trinidad and Tobago, Ambassadors and High Commissioners, including the US’s recent appointment to Trinidad and Tobago, Ambassador Candace Bond.
But it was the newly installed president’s 94 year old mother, Barbara Kangaloo, who turns 95 later this month, that seemed to warm the heart of the President most.
Her taking the oath, comes after she was appointed by the majority of the Electoral College in parliament back in January after retiring her position as President of the Senate. The selection was something that did came with much clamour and noise, with the Opposition citing her position within the ruling political party, PNM, as well as former ministerial posts and current state board positions held by her relatives. This was something frowned upon, as is norm, that a President is often appointed with the notion of being impartial and without political roots in the governing party, despite it being part of the entire Executive arm of the state.
And while reference was made to the Opposition leader in the messages and speeches delivered at the ceremony, they were not to be seen at the event. During the weekend, there was rumour that a memo had circulated within the Opposition’s party not to attend the event. Its Chief Whip had denied any plans to boycott the event, however, no members were seen, something to which its National Security Minister, Fitzgerald Hinds describes as being ‘classless’.
The opposition had said upon her selection as president, that it was simply the becoming of the ‘government’s rubber stamp puppet’, and its interference is arms of state which were supposed to be separate from the ruling party.
In addressing this in her inaugural speech, President Kangaloo said, “I am not at all unmindful of the fact that there are those that express disquiet with my occupying this new role, and for who, for one reason or another, might not currently be fully on board with assisting me to achieve these goals. I know that there have been voices from certain quarters that have given the impression that such collaboration might not as easily be forthcoming as one might have hoped” and “To any and every such voice, I repeat Merchant’s invitation in song so beautifully sung this morning by my beloved Southernaires choir to ‘let us forget spites and grudges and concentrate’ and to ‘come let us sit and try to relate’.”
She was mindful to pay respect to her predecessors, drawing reference to each of their successes during their tenure, while she shared special thanks to her family members, as the ones she didn’t need to convince to work and support her.
The term for the 61-year-old president is expected to last five years, carrying her to 2028.