According to a well-placed Government source his visit will be as a result of an invitation from Prime Minister Manning when he (Manning) went for a medical checkup in Cuba one month ago.

It will be his first visit to the country. His elder brother, Fidel, visited this country in 1974 and 1995 when he was President.

Cuba has been involved in what is called in official circles “functional co-operation” in that there are many Cuban doctors and other medical personnel working here and Cubans are also involved in the mega farms project.

There is also Cuban expertise assisting in boxing and track and field.

The vicious potholes have been on the King Street for more than a year and, despite complaints to the authorities by motorists, nothing was done about these vehicular hazards.

“Thank God for the Royal visit. Let’s hope that she comes often”, a limer at the bar at “Nyabinghi Corner” declared.

There was a sign outside the St Joseph Cemetery welcoming the Royal Couple although the expected visit is not mentioned on the official itinerary.

Queen Sofia is expected to be driven through a small section of the town.

For the past several years, St Joseph has been celebrating “First Capital Day” on the third weekend of May.

The town was known as San Jose De Oruna when it was founded in 1592 by the Spanish colonists and declared the capital of Trinidad.

However, in 1784, Don Jose Maria Chacon, the last Spanish Governor, chose Port of Spain as the new capital.