Further attacks On 27 July 1990, armed insurgents stormed the Parliament chamber where the House of Representatives was in session, taking hostage of the then Prime Minister, several of his cabinet Ministers and other Members of
Parliament.The Red House and the Mace suffered gravely from the gunshots that were fired. After the failed coup, sittings of both the Lower and Upper Houses were temporarily held at the auditorium of the Central Bank, but with the opening of the fifth session of the third Parliament on 5 November 5 1990, sittings resumed in the Red House, not at its customary place, but at the southern chamber. It was not until 26 July 26 1991, that the tradi- tional chamber was restored to its original status, and Parliament recon- vened there with a rededication and memorial service in which a com- memorative plaque bearing the names of all those killed in and around the Red House was unveiled. An eternal flame, symbolizing "the need to be ever-vigilant in the protection of our democracy" was also lit outside. It stands atop a mar- ble cenotaph on the eastern lawn with an inscription of the oath of allegiance of Members of Parliament, the national anthem, the affirmation of the people and the names of the victims of the attempt- ed coup. A general service medal with a design of the Red House, for loyal service during the 1990 attempted coup was awarded to serving Members of the Trinidad & Tobago defence force in 2002. In 1992, the Red House became,
once again, the centre of controversy when a decision was taken to remove the resident sea serpent wind-vane on top of the building, in order to replace it with a white painted cop- per dove bearing an olive branch in its beak hours before the ceremonial opening of the parliamentary session.
Philatelic tributes to the Red House There have been a number of phila- telic releases paying tribute to the Red
House.To commemorate the Queen’s first royal visit to Trinidad & Tobago in 1966, the postal services released a set of four stamps one of which portrayed the Red House
Parliament building and an image of the Queen. As part of the definitive series of
1969-1972, a set of 16 stamps was released depicting various aspects of our national symbols, industry, tourism, flora &
fauna.The highest denomination of $5 portrayed the Red House with the Queen’s pro- file die-stamped in gold
foil.There are also examples of this stamp with the Queen’s head omitted, this spec- imen commands prices well in excess of £300. Trinidad & Tobago had the hon- our to host the 15th CPA annual conference in 1969. On 23 October the postal services released a set of four stamps featuring the Parliament chamber and national fags (10c), John
F.Kennedy College Complex of the University of the West Indies (15c), parliamentary Maces (30c) and Cannon and CPA Logo (40c). In 1976, to commemorate the inauguration of the Republic a set of three stamps and miniature sheet were released (26 July 1977) show- ing the National Flag (20c), Coat of Arms (35c), and the Red House (45c).
In 1982, the Central Bank of
Trinidad & Tobago also released a 12kt $100 commemorative gold proof coin featuring the Red House, in honour of the 20th Anniversary of
independence.This numismatic proof coin was minted in limited quantity by the Franklin Mint in Pennsylvania, USA. In 1983, Sir Shridath Ramphal, the then Commonwealth Secretary- General, invited all Member States to issue a set of postage stamps to com- memorate Commonwealth Day.A set of four stamps was released (14 March) featuring the Red House Parliament (10c), satellite view of Trinidad & Tobago (55c), a “nodding donkey” oil pump ($1) and map of Trinidad and Tobago ($2). However, the postal service did
not release a commemorative postage stamp issue when Trinidad & Tobago once again hosted the 45th CPA annual conference in 1999. In commemoration of the 40th
anniversary of Trinidad & Tobago’s independence and to mark the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, the government agreed that tribute should be paid to these two
360 The Parliamentarian 2008/Issue Four
milestone events and that an appro- priate stamp issue should be released.
Designing the stamps I was appointed by the cabinet to conceptualize and design this special issue. Four stamps were released (23 Sept), the first for the independence anniversary featured a painting by a local artist entitled “the University of Woodford Square” showing first Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams addressing a public rally in the band- stand of Woodford Square with the Red House in stunning detail in the background. The three Golden Jubilee stamp designs chosen were selected from actual photographs from the royal visit in
1966.They featured Queen Elizabeth at government House ($3.75), at City Hall in Port of Spain ($4.50) and addressing Parliament at the Red House ($5.25).HRH Prince Philip wore the uniform of a colonel of the Trinidad & Tobago regiment of which he was then honorary colonel- in-chief. For the centenary of the birth of Sir Solomon Hochoy, this country’s first Governor-General in 2005,I was again invited by the government to design a postage stamp issue to hon- our this distinguished national icon. The release of five stamps and sou- venir sheet designs (22 Aug) por- trayed Sir Solomon Hochoy with Prime Minister Dr Eric Williams ($1), HIM Emperor Haile Selassie 1st of Ethiopia outside the Red House ($2.50), Lady Thelma Hochoy ($3.75), HM Queen Elizabeth II ($4.50) and inspecting a guard of honour before the ceremonial open- ing of Parliament ($5.25). For the 2007 centenary of the re- opening of the Red House building, a set of four stamps and miniature sheet were released (14 Sep) featuring the Red House in 1907 ($1), the Parliament chamber ($2.50), the cenotaph and eternal flame ($3.75) and the rotunda and fountain located inside the Red
House.The $15 miniature sheet depicted a panoramic view of the Red House from Woodford Square. Today, the Red House stands as the seat of the nation's Parliament, as a symbol of fortitude and democracy for the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
Philatelic Tributes
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