Former president and prime minister Arthur NR Robinson is hoping that the renaming of the Crown Point International Airport in his name serves as a platform for unity betwen the two main political parties in Tobago.
Robinson said so on Thursday as he addressed those gathered at the official name change ceremony of the airport to the ANR Robinson International Airport. He said: "What has struck me most forcibly has been the unity of heart, the unity of voices, the unity of spirit that has emerged on this occasion." He added: "The occasion spells one word: Unity... The unity of our people, the unity of our leaders and all demonstrated today in this little island of Tobago." The control tower is the Robinson Tower.
The official renaming ceremony took place on Thursday at the Domestic Departure Lounge of the airport.
The event took place before a packed audience which comprised past and present politicians and other high profile people in T&T who came out to pay homage to Robinson. In his remarks, Minister of Works and Transport Jack Warner said he was happy his Government accepted the initiative of the Tobago House of Assembly to rename the airport. He said he was also satisfied that Robinson was able to experience the memorable event. "Far too often, we wait until people die and after they die we say so many nice things so we have chosen to do this differently and this is why we are here today with Mr Robinson and I want to thank the THA who had the brainchild of this idea of naming the airport after Mr Robinson and I will like to thank the Prime Minister for having her Government implement the idea of the THA" Warner said.
Also addressing those present chief secretary Orville London described Robinson as a man of class. He said Robinson was most fitting for the accolade because he had lived his life in a positive way to influence others.
"We are herebecause Mr Robinson is a special man with special attributes and that is what allowed him to achieve so much in just one lifetime." Prime Minister Kamla Persad–Bissessar, in her address, said Robinson was a premier son of the soil who touched the lives of many people around the world. She said it was a unanimous decision to rename the airport after Robinson.