George Maxwell Richards
George Maxwell Richards TC (born December 1, 1931 in San Fernando , † January 8, 2018 in Port of Spain ) was a Trinidadian politician. He was the country's president from 2003 to 2013.
life and career
Studied and worked as a chemistry professor
After attending school, he worked from May 1950 to September 1951 as a trainee for a British oil company in Trinidad. This was followed by a degree in chemical engineering at the University of Manchester , which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in 1955 and a Master of Science (M.Sc.) in 1957 . From 1957 to 1965, Richards was a manager at Shell Trinidad Ltd. active. In 1963 he received his doctorate in philosophy (Ph.D.) from Cambridge . In 1965 he became a lecturer in chemical engineering at the University of the West Indies. In October 1970 he was appointed professor at the chair of chemical engineering at the University of the West Indies. There he was also deputy rector and provisional chancellor from August 1980 to May 1985. From October 1984 to May 1985 he was also the acting rector. From May 1985 to November 1986 he was rector of the University of the West Indies. As a chemical engineer, he was also a member of the Association of Professional Engineers of Trinidad and Tobago, the Chemical Engineers Institute in London , the Institute for Petroleum in London and the Royal Society for Chemistry in London. Richards has also served on the boards of several companies. In addition, he was chairman of the National Training Authority, the National Advisory Council and the Institute for Naval Affairs. He was also chairman of the State Commission for Salary Assessment from January 1977 to March 2003.
In 1970 Richards was awarded the Trinity Cross , then the highest order in Trinidad.
Presidency
On March 17, 2003, Richards was elected President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago to succeed Arthur NR Robinson . He was the first president of his country who was not a lawyer. The office of president in Trinidad and Tobago is primarily ceremonial in peacetime; In addition to the formal appointment of the Prime Minister and the members of the Senate, it includes almost exclusively representative tasks. In 2008, Richards was re-elected. Both terms of office were inconspicuous, he rarely interfered in day-to-day politics, but was generally praised for his understanding of the law and his loyalty to the constitution. In 2009 he came under fire for a plagiarism scandal in a state commission and for his unfortunate replacement of the commission. In 2012 he reprimanded the then government for the hasty and, in his opinion, rash introduction of a law to suspend criminal proceedings that had been pending for more than ten years, which resulted in violent protests among the population.
On March 18, 2013, Anthony Carmona Richards succeeded him in the office of President.
Richards died of heart failure in January 2018.
Individual evidence
- ↑ Biography on the website of the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved October 27, 2015 .
- ↑ OTP.tt: recipient list of the Trinity Cross. Retrieved March 27, 2018 .
- ^ Former President George Maxwell Richards dies January 8, 2018, retrieved March 5, 2018.
- ^ Principled Richards . In: Trinidad Newsday . January 9, 2018.
- ↑ PM says no to max . In: Trinidad Express . December 18, 2012. Accessed April 11, 2020.
personal data | |
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SURNAME | Richards, George Maxwell |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | Trinidadian politician; President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (2003 to 2013) |
DATE OF BIRTH | December 1, 1931 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | San Fernando |
DATE OF DEATH | January 8, 2018 |
Place of death | Port of Spain |