PORT OF SPAIN – The fourth president of the Trinidad and Tobago – Professor George Maxwell Richards is dead.
Richards, who was 86, died on Monday, following a heart attack.
Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley in offering condolences said Trinidad and Tobago had lost a much-loved son of the soil
The Prime Minister said Richards, who served in the highest office of the land from 2003 to 2013, carried out his duties with class and distinction “even as he remained grounded in his love for all things Trinidad and Tobago especially Carnival and soca music.”
“Max as he was affectionately known by the citizens of our twin-island republic, struck you as a man who was not only accomplished but also enjoyed life to the fullest. He distinguished himself as a true patriot throughout his career, first as a chemical engineer with Shell then as a staffer and eventually Principal of the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies.”
“Moreover, one would be hard-pressed to ever be part of or overhear a conversation where the name ‘Max Richards’ is mentioned and not hear the admiration that people had for his love of culture and his down to earth nature.”
The Prime Minister said flags on public buildings will be flown at half-mast in accordance with the directive of the Minister of National Security.
He said further details of funeral arrangements will be released after consulting with the Richards family.
With Richards’s passing, all former presidents of Trinidad and Tobago are now deceased. (CMC)
