Suspended People’s National Movement member Christine “Twiggy” Livia yesterday sashayed on to the red carpet at and into the Parliament building, showing off her invitation to the ceremony.
Livia, who joined the political party in 1968, was suspended and faces disciplinary proceedings along with two other members, radio talk show host Ricardo Welch, otherwise known as the “Gladiator” and Barry Garcia.
Livia said she had been invited by Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley and stopped for photos before walking into the Parliament building at Tower D, Wrightson Road, Port-of-Spain.
Moments later she exited the building after being directed to an air-conditioned tent set up for invited guests near the Waterfront’s fountain.
While some guests sat in an enclosed tent, roughly 200 others sat under five open tents in the sweltering heat, looking at a large screen set up to show the ceremony.
Retiree, Ainsley Smith (not his real last name) said he had witnessed the opening ceremony of Parliament at the Red House and at the Waterfront but preferred the Red House.
“There was more history there. It felt a lot bigger,” he added.
Smith, who was there with his wife, said they were excited to see all of the new ministers but especially the new Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, who they had voted for in the September 7 general election.
However, they were disappointed as both Rowley and Opposition Leader Kamla Persad-Bissessar used a side entrance to enter the building.
Most of the crowd gathered to witness the opening ceremony was elderly with the only exception being a primary school class and a few young women in red PNM T-shirts, with the words “We did it” printed on the back.
The crowd cheered excitedly as the Speaker of the House Bridgid Annisette-George and President of the Senate Christine Kangaloo were announced.
They also cheered as the Prime Minister and several Government Ministers took their parliamentary oaths.
However, boos could be heard as Persad-Bissessar and her Opposition colleagues were sworn in.
The crowd also jeered President Anthony Carmona but later cheered when he slammed the racist comments on Facebook following the election.