On the eve of the arrival of Venezuela President Nicolas Maduro, another historical link between T&T and Venezuela was marked by the unveiling of the bust of the Latin American Liberator, Simon Bolivar, in San Fernando. As Venezuela celebrated its 202nd anniversary of independence, Venezuelan Ambassador to T&T Cormoto Godoy Calderon and San Fernando Mayor Navi Muradali unveiled the bust at Harris Promenade.
The bust joined statues of other liberators and heroes erected on the promenade. It stands close to that of Mahatma Gandhi. Other statues included Marcus Garvey and T&T’s first Olympic medal winner Rodney Wilkes. Chairman of the Dr Eric Williams Memorial Committee Reginald Vidale, who delivered brief remarks, questioned why a statue of T&T’s first prime minister had not been erected on the promenade as well.
Delivering brief remarks, Social Development Minister Glenn Ramadharsingh said the Government was looking forward to the arrival of the Venezuelan president today. He said the Government was working on a project to use music to fight crime. The southern city has deep Spanish roots. It was christened San Fernando de Naparima by the country’s last Spanish governor, Don Jose Maria Chacon.