The Society of St Vincent de Paul made a courtesy visit to the President of the Republic, His Excellency Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona on July 19.
His Excellency was unable to attend the Society’s 160th Annual Mass at Holy Rosary Church on June 11 but wanted to be updated regarding the work of the Society and requested a visit from the executive.
The President reflected on his own days of being a member of the Society while attending Presentation College, San Fernando. He spoke about the joy he got especially during Easter season, when he and other members visited the sick and the poor to bring lunches and other forms of assistance to the less privileged. Some of his most interesting visits were those made to the San Fernando waterfront areas.
SVP National President Rudolph Boneo and his executive highlighted some of the burning issues impacting the work of the Society with finance placed at the top of the list. Boneo gave His Excellency an update regarding the difficulties sometimes experienced in receiving funding from the State on joint projects between the parties.
The President assured the Society of both his support for their work and his assistance in this most important work on behalf of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. Before the end of the visit, Boneo presented one of the Society’s 160th commemorative jerseys to His Excellency. – SVP