Oh! What a wonderful day at St Martin Welfare Association.

It was the annual breakfast celebrations and it started promptly at 9.00 a.m. on Saturday, June 2. On the arrival of the President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, Professor George Maxwell Richards, the Chaplain of the Association, Fr Michael Makhan led the congregation in the singing of the national anthem.

A short welcome address by the president of the association, Frank Cooper followed. The distinguished gathering included Archbishop Edward Gilbert, the Hon Eulalie James, Minister in the Ministry of Community Development, Culture and Gender Affairs, Councillors Peter John and Ashtine Thomason of the Port of Spain Corporation, Vernon Gillette – a well known business man in the community, former diplomat Jerome Jones, representatives from several NGO’s and government ministries and approximately 250 senior and needy citizens from the area.

In his address, Mr Cooper reminded guests that the Service was in thanksgiving to Almighty God, for the many graces received by the Association’s chaplain. The St Joseph RC Choir, led by Sharon Cooper, accompanied the congregation in the singing of the various hymns and also rendered a couple solo items.

A sumptuous breakfast, organised by the Association’s members, Claudia Ottley and May Cherrie, was then served and judging by the empty plates, it was delicious.

The featured speaker was Hazel Brown, the coordinator of NGO’s, following which the President, Professor George Maxwell Richards addressed the gathering.

He commended the Association for another successful breakfast and expressed his pleasure at the camaraderie, which was evident in the large gathering comprising seniors, pre-schoolers and young people.

He observed that this type of outreach made a huge difference in the lives of our citizens. He further noted that self-esteem was an aspect of human development that must never be ignored and he therefore considered this social gathering as one aspect in the fulfilment of that need by letting them know that every one of us had value, without this, he felt that many of our young people and even seniors would be lost or at risk because no one took the trouble to help them.

The President concluded his remarks by wishing the Association and its supporters continuing success in their work in the communities they served.

Claudia Ottley then presented the guest speaker, Hazel Brown, with a beautiful bouquet.

Jerome Jones gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Association and a short variety contest ensued with renditions from the choir and the senior citizens themselves.

The highlight of the morning however was a musical interlude by the Nostrand Symphony Steel Orchestra.

The band braved the inclement weather, and even though the tent rental persons never turned up, they did not let the lack of shelter dampen their spirits.

They gave a very spirited performance to the delight of young and old who could be seen chipping and tapping their feet in time with the music.

After the concert, 300 hampers consisting of food and toiletries were distributed. The items contained in these hampers were generously donated by several corporate sponsors and individuals with the UK, American and Syrian Lebanese and the Canadian Women’s Clubs making significant contributions. Indeed without their input our breakfast would not have been as successful as it was.