Rename parkfor Hyarima

THE EDITOR: In 1962 when TT gained its independence from Britain, the representative of Queen Elizabeth II, the Princess Royal, visited Arima and the then mayor, Percy Cezair, renamed the Arima Savannah Princess Royal Park in her honour.

Princess Royal is really a substantive title and not an actual person’s name. It is an award by a British monarch to his/her eldest daughter, hence there have been seven Princesses Royal, Princess Mary being the one discussed. She was the only daughter of King George V.

Although the mayor’s gesture may have been prudent at the time, today I fail to see the significance, since we were being freed from the clutches of the coloniser.

So in light of the meaningful name-changing trend, I propose that Princess Royal Park be renamed Hyarima Park, after that great warrior and leader of the indigenous people of Trinidad, who was able to escape slavery and flee to the hills, where he devoted his life to protecting his people and preserving their culture and customs.

OSWALD GALLION, Arima