By Sasha Harrinanan Friday, March 8 2013

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President-elect Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona....

President-elect, Justice Anthony Thomas Aquinas Carmona, turned 60 yesterday. He began the day by attending the 6.30 am mass at Archbishop’s House on Flood Street, Port-of-Spain.

Speaking with Newsday yesterday evening, Roman Catholic Archbishop, Joseph Harris, said “after mass we went upstairs to my residence, where we had a cup of coffee.”

Although Carmona is due to be sworn in as this country’s fifth president in just over a week’s time on March 18, the Archbishop laughed when asked if he used the private time to give Carmona advice on his future role as Head of State.

“No, no. We had a general conversation about ordinary things. No special advice was given.”

Later in the day, the former High Court judge was reportedly feted by his old high school classmates from Presentation College, San Fernando.

Carmona, who served on the San Fernando High Court until his nomination, upon which he tendered his resignation, is to be sworn in at Hasely Crawford Stadium, Wrightson Road, Port-of- Spain.

This would be the second such time the venue was used for a presidential swearing-in. Outgoing President, George Maxwell Richards, made history when he was sworn-in there in 2008.

Carmona has been reported as saying he would like “an all-inclusive affair” on March 18, at a venue that would allow the public and dignitaries alike to witness his swearing-in ceremony.