Someone who looked a lot like outgoing US President Barack Obama made a surprise appearance at the opening of the $150 million New York-themed MovieTowne cineplex in San Fernando on Monday night. Just before his dramatic arrival, a news bulletin flashed across a screen announcing that Obama was a surprise visit to T&T. Then master of ceremonies Natasha Jones announced a special guest.
Surrounded by bodyguards, famed Obama impersonator Reggie Brown made his way to the podium, smiling and waving at guest.
In remarks at the event at C3 Centre, Corinth Road, Brown had the audience laughing as he apologised for the absence of his wife, Michelle, and took jabs at president-elect Donald Trump.
"What Derek had planned here trumps anything," he said, "I hate that word trump."
Brown, who has for the past eight years been traveling around the world impersonating Obama, commended chairman Derek Chin and his team on the design of the cineplex.
He said: "When I arrived here at MovieTowne I thought I was in New York."
Chin said the cineplex had been in the making for the past three years and became a reality through the collaborated effort, hard work, determination and the support of family, colleagues and staff.
Commenting on how is team had worked on the project, Chin said: "They really showed what we can do if we put our minds together. I hope this is a message to the country and both parties, to get our government moving in the right direction.
"We have to remember this is our country. If we bad talk it and break it down and mash it up who is going to suffer? Not us? So we must help to endorse the young people, let them understand there is a different mindset."
The event was attended by Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi, Local Government Minister Kazim Hosein, Housing Minister Randal Mitchell and Trade Minister Paula Gopee-Scoon, as well as Opposition MPs David Lee, Surujrattan Rambachan, Bhoe Tewarie and Dr Tim Gopeesingh.
The three storey entertainment centre has nine screens, including two super screens, as well as bars and restaurants. The new cineplex is in addition to MovieTowne entertainment centres already operating in Port-of-Spain, Chaguanas and Tobago.
Chin did not say when the cineplex will begin operating but indicated that he needed about two more months to put finishing touches on the building.