A TRIBUTE TO

HIS EXCELLENCY ARTHUR N. R. ROBINSON

TC, OCC, SCFORMER PRESIDENT AND PRIME MINISTER OF

THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Sunday 13th July 2014 at 2:30 pm

St Peter’s Eaton Square, 119 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AL

The High Commission for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

His Excellency Arthur N. R. Robinson TC, OCC, SCHonorary Fellow St. John’s College, Oxford

Honorary Vice President of the International Association of Penal Law

Former President and Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

and Chairman of The Tobago House of Assembly

“Here I stand, I am committed with everything I have or shall have to the future of this land, and I declare my determination to join with all citizens of whatever class, race, creed or religion who wish to see respect restored for their fellowmen, who desire honesty and decency to have a place in our public life, who wish to preserve our national community and our democracy, and who are prepared to strive for an equal place for our sons and daughters, our brothers and sisters, our mothers and fathers, of whatever age, class, creed, race or previous condition.”

A. N. R. Robinson - August 29th 1970

BIOGRAPHICAL SUMMARY(Prepared by the Robinson Family)

THE HONOURABLE ARTHUR NAPOLEON RAYMOND ROBINSON, TC, OCC, SC

Arthur N.R. Robinson was one of the most experienced statesmen in Trinidad and Tobago, the Caribbean region and the Commonwealth. He was in public life for over 45 years and was the only person who held all three of the highest public offices in Trinidad as well as Tobago. He was the Chairman of the Tobago House of Assembly, the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.

In 1990, when taken hostage in the Parliament building with other Parliamentarians by a small group of Muslim fanatics in an attempted coup and called upon at gun point to direct the security forces to withdraw and surrender, he defiantly resisted with the command to “attack with full force.” By his heroic stand he inspired others to save the constitutional democracy of Trinidad and Tobago at the risk of his life.

Mr. Robinson represented his country at many international conferences and at the United Nations (UN). He was acknowledged as a visionary and in 1989, during his tenure as Prime Minister, introduced in the General Assembly of the United Nations, the proposal for establishing an international criminal court or other international criminal trial mechanisms with jurisdiction over persons engaged in the most serious violations of international criminal law. Mr. Robinson, with renowned scholars and Non-Governmental Organisations, pursued this matter relentlessly. Tribunals for the trial of persons who committed gross violations of international criminal law have since been established in respect of Rwanda and Bosnia-Herzegovina.

In September 1999, he was elected Honorary Vice President of the International Association of Penal Law (one of the world’s oldest scholarly associations), a distinction conferred upon a highly select group of persons whose contributions to international criminal justice

and human right is highly recognised. In 1999, Mr. Robinson was nominated by senior officials of “Parliamentarians for Global Action” for the Nobel Peace Prize. Mr. Robinson’s work and association with the UN and its agencies has generated new and positive dimensions to relationships between the UN and developing countries.

Mr. Robinson was also at the forefront for fundamental reform in the approach to poverty reduction and eradication with the United Nations System and other international agencies in order to support a holistic and integrated response to poverty and equity issues. As a consequence of this intervention, Trinidad and Tobago became the first nation to access resources from the Poverty Strategies Initiative Fund of the United Nations Development Programme.

Mr. Robinson was instrumental in the development of several regional initiatives including: a Caribbean Court of Justice; the West Indian Commission chaired by Sir Shridath Ramphal, appointed in 1989 to chart a future course for the region; the Caribbean Economic Conference and CARICOM Awards (for distinguished service to the Caribbean region). He spearheaded the movement for greater participation and power-sharing by the smaller island of Tobago in the unitary State of Trinidad and Tobago. He successfully led the movement in Trinidad and Tobago for electoral reform including abolition of voting machines and return of the ballot boxes.

Mr. Robinson provided Dr. Eric Williams in 1956 with the formula of words to be sent through the Governor to the Secretary of State for the Colonies, The Right Honourable Alan Lennox-Boyd, which the Secretary of State used to instruct the Governor. The formula was, “the nominated element must not be used to frustrate the elected majority.” By this means, two People’s National Movement legislators, Victor Stollmeyer and W.J. Alexander were nominated to the Unicameral Legislative Council by the Governor. Thus Mr. Robinson played a critical role in the appointment of the first and only Chief Minister of Trinidad and Tobago and the formation of the first People’s National Movement Government.

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ORDER OF SERVICECongregation stands

Procession of the National Flag of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago

Congregation remains standing

NATIONAL ANTHEM OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Led by CSI Steelband Forged from the love of liberty In the fires of hope and prayer

With boundless faith in our Destiny We solemnly declare; Side by side we stand,

Islands of the blue Caribbean Sea This our Native Land,

We pledge our lives to thee

Here every creed and race find an equal place, And may God bless our Nation

Here every creed and race find an equal place, And may God bless our Nation.

Congregation remains standing

Opening Prayer:by Canon John Metivier

Congregation remains standing

HYMN‘STAND TOGETHER FOR WHAT WE BELIEVE’

Chorus:Stand together for what you believe,

work for what must be done, Love each other in all that you do,

Till all my people are one.

Spread the peace, my brothers; spread it everywhere;

Make the world know right from wrong; Help the world to care.

Chorus

Open your hearts, my brothers;Lend a willing hand;

Show the lonely and the poor That God is in our land.

Chorus

Sing out the joy of living; Sing your song on high;

The truth of mankind is that heWas born to live, not die.

Chorus

Know that he is with us, In everything we do

Though hard times many lie ahead Peace will follow through.

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Congregation sits

THE OLD TESTAMENT READINGExcerpt from the Holy Bible read by

Mr. David Hinkson, Immigration Attaché

Psalm 91

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High,

thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord Congregation: Glory to you, O God

MUSICAL INTERLUDEThe B.I.G. Choir performing ‘Lord I’m Available to you’

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by

stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord Congregation: Glory to you, O God

Congregation remains seated

THE NEW TESTAMENT READINGExcerpt from the Holy Bible read by

Mr. Marlon Choo Ying, Immigration Attaché

Hebrews 11 Verses 1-2; 32-40

Congregation remains seated

TRIBUTES:Robinson Family - Ms. Achi-Kemba Phillips, Tourism Attaché

Tobago House of Assembly - Ms. Nickesha Smith, Second SecretaryOffice of the Prime Minister - Ms. Keisha Rochford-Hawkins, Second Secretary

CULTURAL INTERLUDE:Speech band performed by Mr. Rion George, Mrs. Raisa Oldroyd,

Ms. Karimah Farrell accompanied by Caribbean Master Drummers

Message from the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobagoread by Mrs. Reshma Bissoon-Deokie,

Acting High Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London

THE NEW TESTAMENT READINGExcerpt from the Holy Bible read by

Mrs. Karen Thomas, Trade and Business Facilitator

The Gospel Reading: John 14:1-6, 27

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God[a]; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the

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world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Reader: This is the Word of the Lord Congregation: Glory to you, O God

Homily Father Edmund Cargill-Thompson

Musical Interlude The B.I.G. Choir performing ‘Total Praise’

Prayers of Intersession Father John Metivier,

Mrs. Asela El Morsey, Muslim SocietyPandita Arsha Gosine MBE, Hindu Society

Recessional‘BATTLE HYMN OF THE REPUBLIC’

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord:He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:His truth is marching on.

Refrain :Glory, glory, hallelujah!Glory, glory, hallelujah!Glory, glory, hallelujah!

His truth is marching on

I have read a fiery gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:“As ye deal with my condemners, so with you my grace shall deal;

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Let the Hero, born of woman, crush the serpent with His heel,Since God is marching on.”

RefrainHe has sounded forth the trumpet that shall never call retreat;He is sifting out the hearts of men before His judgment-seat:

Oh, be swift, my soul, to answer Him! be jubilant, my feet!Our God is marching on.

Refrain

He is coming like the glory of the morning on the wave,He is wisdom to the mighty, He is succour to the brave,

So the world shall be His footstool, and the soul of Time His slave,

Our God is marching on.

Refrain

Flag Bearer leads the Procession of the Celebrants down the aisle.

The Congregation is asked to remain standing while the National Flag bearer proceeds down the aisle followed by the Acting High Commissioner for the

Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and Celebrants.

END OF SERVICE

Signing of Condolence Book(At church and at the Reception)

ReceptionPlease join us for refreshments at the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission,

42 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8NT.

(4:00pm - 5:00pm)

Participants

Mrs. Reshma Bissoon-Deokie, Acting High Commissioner, Trinidad and Tobago High Commission, London

Fr. John Metivier

Fr. Edmund Cargill-Thompson

Flag bearers: Officer Cadet Mc Inniss Officer Cadet Oliverie

Ms. Keisha Rochford-Hawkins, Second Secretary

Ms. Nickesha Smith, Second Secretary

Mr. David Hinkson, Immigration Attaché

Mr. Marlon Choo Ying, Immigration Attaché

Ms. Achi-Kemba Phillips, Tourism Attaché

Mrs. Karen Thomas, Trade and Business Facilitator

Mrs. Asela El Morsey

Pandita Arsha Gosine MBE

The B.I.G. Choir

CSI Steelband

Mr. Rion George

Mrs. Raisa Oldroyd

Ms. Karimah Farrell

Caribbean Master Drummers

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NATIONAL SONG OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

GOD BLESS OUR NATIONGod bless our nationOf many varied races

May we possess that common loveThat binds and makes us One.

Let it be known around the WorldThat we can boast of Unity

And take a pride in Our Liberty.God bless our isles

Of tropic beauty rareOf flaming poincianaAnd shady immortelle

The warm and sparkling watersThat beat upon our shores

Beat out a tune that seem to tellWe take a pride in Our Liberty.

God bless our leadersGive them grace to guide

Bestow on them thy judgment wiseTo rule our land aright

To keep the flag of freedom high that we may sing most lustilyWe take a pride in Our Liberty.

NATIONAL MOTTO OF THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Together We Aspire, Together We Achieve

NATIONAL WATCHWORDS Discipline, Production, Tolerance

1. January 23, 1987- Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Arthur N.R. Robinson delivering the budget. photo: guardian.co.tt

2. October 4, 1990 - Prime Minister Arthur N. R. Robinson of Trinidad and Tobago addresses the 45th session of the General Assembly. photo: UN Photo/John Isaac

3. March 19, 1997 - The Hon. Authur N. R. Robinson at his inauguration as President. Then Chief Justice Michael de La Bastide presided over the ceremony at The President’s House. photo: newsday.co.tt

4. December 1, 1998 - H.E. Authur N. R. Robinson, then President of Trinidad and Tobago, Emma Bonino, European Commissioner and Kofi Annan, Secretary-General of UN, during the Press Conference at the UN Headquarters after the establishment of the International Criminal Court. photo: Umberto Stefanelli

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HIGH COMMISSION FOR THE REPUBLIC OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO42 Belgrave Square, London SW1X 8NT

Tel: 020 7245 9351 Fax: 020 7823 1065